كتبت عن بيت المرايا – أو قصر المرايا –  في القادسية في السابق و قررت أن أتصل بالسيدة ليديا القطان زوجة الفنان الراحل خليفة القطان لاخذ موعد لزيارة هذا البيت المليء بالقصص والمقتنيات الفنية – قمت بأخذ موعد و هدية بسيطة من لازورد أنا والسيدة سيرين الفليج. استمتعنا كثيرا بزيارتنا والتقطت العديد من الصور و لكن اكتفيت بوضع بعضها في المدونة لاني أعتقد أنه من الأفضل أن ترو الشيء على الطبيعة. الزيارة تكلف دينارين أيام الأسبوع و ثلاث دنانير أيام العطل. كل ما عليكم هو الاتصال بالسيدة ليديا على ٢٢٥١٨٥٢٢ و أخذ موعد منها – إنسانة لطيفة و كريمة – و تعطي من قلبها – المنزل يقع في القادسية قطعة ٩ شارع ٩٤ منزل ١٧ – أتمنى أن تنال صوري إعجابكم

I posted a few pictures a while back on my blog about the Mirror House in Qadsiya (link)… if my memory serves me well, my dad took us to this house years back! Then again I posted a picture on Instagram/Twitter of the house from the outside while roaming around Kuwait with Fyunka

It was right then and there that I made a call to schedule a house tour with Lydia AlQattan, the wife of Late artist Khalifa AlQattan.

I am introducing a new feature on my blog, which is  “Review with a 518 Fan” 😉 Which means I will be taking a 518 Fan with me to review places, restaurants, and maybe sneak peeks, this time it was the lovely Serene AlFulaij… Have you heard of the “Six Degrees of Separation?” It’s the idea that all living things and everything else in the world are six or fewer steps away from each other so that a chain of “a friend of a friend” statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps (link). When I met Serene, I knew her by less degrees! She is related to my Mom’s close close friends! Interesting, right? Anyways… At exactly 5:30PM we arrived at the Mirror House in Qadsiya, Kuwait, and were greeted warmly with the lovely Lydia AlQattan, wearing her own design clothes and beautiful smile. We gifted her a small box of florentines from Lazurd, but she served us cake, nuts, juice, biscuits, and her famous fresh orange juice/ginger/honey mix – TO DIE FOR! Not only she makes clothes, but she is an artist into painting, sculpture, jewelry making (I won one of her pieces in the tour), and book writer

She started of talking about how her house was attacked by the ugly termites and how she turned into a Mirror House all by herself… with help and support from her husband! First things first, “The World Hall” – or the kitchen 😉

Serene and I were speechless for a while! The house is covered with mirrors! The kitchen above, the hallway, the bathroom, living room, the stairs, the outside… its all Mirrors!!!! Tons of mirror and white cement (special mix she came up with adding glue) were used to create the mosaics! Started of with one piece she owned back in the 1960s, a cabinet she designed while her husband went out of town! That of course expanded to the entire house design due to the attack of termites… I never knew the Mirror House was designed in a way to show the “Universe”, sea life, fruit and veggies, animals.. and more! Its all about life! Beautiful concept. Below is her living room – or what she calls “Planet Earth Hall”

She used lots of Islamic verses all over the place, that are related to her concept or with a meaning to the room you are in

I wont be posting most of the pictures I have taken because I want you all to go and see it for yourself… the sharks, dolphins, sea life all made of mirrors on the walls and floors of the house. But I will show you “some” of it in this post – below is a picture taken in an interactive room in the house with star signs and astronomy feel to it – it is Taurus sign, my sign in the “Zodiac Hall” 😉

Now the fun begins… when lights are turned off and special effects are given – you are in the universe – an imaginary scene created by Mrs. AlQattan

Leaving all this and walking on the Sharks (not shown here 😉 check it out when you visit) to the bathroom with all the attention paid to details… Its the “Sea World Hall”

From there to her bedroom (not shown also) – “Universe Hall” – to the Library or what she calls “Knowledge Hall”

Mrs. AlQattan showed us some interesting books… like one of her own (above), and one precious book attacked by the termites (below)

Now going upstairs through the “Inspiration Stairs” flying with mirror mosaic birds up – see how its all linked? The theme? The idea? Creative!

The upper floor is divided into two art galleries; one of her husband, and another for her. In between, a small room with memorable articles, pictures, sculptors, and more.

That’s her husband’s gallery above… below are pictures of random framed art pieces, articles, or pieces done by friends to them… and again, back to the “Six Degrees of Separation” She knows my uncle the artist, Mahmoud AlRadwan – who was friends with her late husband! It’s a very small world we live in people 😀

This sculptor of Late Mr. Khalifa AlQattan – and it was showcased in Al Tilal Gallery a while back (link)

Moving on to some Lydia’s work of handcrafts, canvas, paintings, and recycled material turned into art pieces…. she is full of surprises 😉 Oh and I guessed one of the items (original material used) and won a necklace from her own work

Showing us one of her pieces – its all about lifeSome 3D pieces…

And off we go to the “Art Therapy” room… it was chilly and relaxing.. with some show going on and easy relaxing music in the background! This room was interactive as well with soft light show and lit pieces. She explained every single piece in that room! She really is passionate and gives from her heart

Below are also some of her own work.. paintings on special rugs, displayed in a way similar to rugs shown in showrooms

Then we were taken to the final show room… “Nucleus of the Galaxy” with glow in the dark stars and she let me and Serene play a little game with those triangles. They stick to the rug paintings. She explains “One piece added can simply change it into something else”

We went down in her space-ship-like elevator to the souvenirs shop were she let Serene play for the win – and she too won a necklace 😉 She also bought a couple of coloring books for her little ones and Lydia was kind enough to gift her another necklace of her work. Simple sweet lady she is 😉

The tour ended.. and it was one helluva visit! A different and unusual one 😉

All the work done with mirrors in the house was made by using the below instruments! Really if you are determined and your mind was set on certain goals, you can achieve them with your strong will

If you are interested to drop by, give her a buzz on +965 22518522 (notice the 518 in her number 😛 nice). The house is located in Qadsiya, Block 9, Street 94, House #17