We first fell in love with mirrored sconces during a trip to George Washington's birthplace in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Functional and flashy, the concave disco ball-like fixtures were first employed to to maximize the effect of candlelight in the nights before electricity. Although less essential now, they've lost none of their magic in contemporary domiciles...

• 1. Nicole and Colin's Streamlined Salvage. Nicole found her antique pair at the Georgetown Flea Market.
• 2 We love the sculptural quality of these mantel adornments.
• 3 We also like the traditional arrangement that Maureen Dowd used in her Georgetown home.
• 4 Finding of a matching intact pair of antique mirrored sconces is not always easy, so we love the bold use of a variety of mismatched sizes used for this collection display.
• 5 If you like the effect of candle light dispersed by a mirror's reflection, but haven't found the real deal, try Anne-Marie's simple but elegant DIY take on the classic mirrored sconce.

We love the refreshing effect that history-rich design elements have in contemporary interiors. What about you?

(Images: 1,5: Leah Moss, 2: Better Homes and Gardens, 3: Michael Arnaud for O Magazine, 4: House Beautiful)