Saturday, January 30, 2010

Before and After....The 10 Dollar Mirror


I found this cheapo mirror for ten dollars at the thrift store the other day.  I believe it goes on the back of a dresser?
I had an idea floating in my head, but it involved crown moulding.  I was terrified because I really had no idea how to cut crown moulding.  A few months back I googled a how-to and found an instructional video from This Old House that explained it so simply. I love PBS!  I am a "life-long learner!"
I chopped off the attatching legs for the dresser, and then I almost ruined it!  I stepped on it, and I heard the wood crack.  My mom always told me I was as graceful as a bull in a China shop.  I seem to have a clumsy issue. Really, my mom does tell me lovely things about myself too! :)
Anyway...I had to back the entire thing with 1x2's.  This actually made it look better by giving it a little more depth. So, it's a good thing I'm clumsy!
This is the scary part.  Look at the angle of the saw.  I believe you set the bottom at 34 1/2 and the top at 31 1/2?  I'll double check that later. You first cut one side for the side piece, then flip it over and cut again. It made a perfectly mitered piece.  The tricky part was figuring how to cut the other side and not ruin five dollars worth of crown moulding.
Look at that!  I like the mirror, but this was worth it learning how to do this!

I found this little scroll work piece and thought it might look nice on it.  It's unbelievable all the stuff I have stashed in my house.  My sister and I use to take our kids to the same preschool for two years and we would hit the craft and hardware stores intending to make stuff.  All of it is coming in handy now that I'm doing projects left and right.  The point is...I'm using it!

I glued and nailed on the moulding. I also attatched some extra small moulding on the inner rectangle.
Next came primer and paint.
I liked it in white and thought I might keep it that way, but it blended into the trim of my house. 

 So, I tried the ORB that everyone has talked about.
Why
am I the last one to know how great it is? 
I'm usually a couple years behind on everything...TV shows, movies....
 The spray was so even, and there's a slight flicker of copper in it. 


I highlighted with some acrylic copper paint to make the lines pop.

The pictures don't do it justice.  I had a hard time catching the light.

Not bad.  Now...I need a bench to go underneath. 
 Anyone have any ideas? :)



Linking to
Domestically Speaking's Power of Paint Party
A  Soft Place to Land's DIY Day
Between Naps on the Porch, Metamorphosis Monday
Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special
Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday 

42 comments:

Kirsty said...

Holy cow. I am so impressed. I have an addiction to mirrors. This one is a total catch! You did a fantastic job! I love that you added moulding and the decoration. It looks amazing!

Jess said...

It looks amazing! Way to go!

Stacy said...

wow - it looks fantastic! love that you added moulding. so unique!

Kathleen said...

You are so talented. It turned out great, and no one would ever know it is a "rehab."

S. L. said...

That is awesome...it looks brand new!!! I have always wanted to cut moulding too! Great job!!

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

it's beautiful! Great job on the crown moulding! I love how it turned out. I have several mirrors in my stash, trying to figure out which one I'm going to use for the fireplace and how I'm going to frame it out.
way to go!
gail

Debbie said...

Great job, I liked it white and love the black, you really have a great eye for turning nothing into something.

autumn said...

nicely done. this seriously looks like you paid $150+ for it! and you are right about the darker color..i really like the way it looks.

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

ps bench? ohhh, girl! you know I gotta suggest a headboard bench! lol

gail

Crafty Sisters said...

Gail....headboard bench! Great idea!


And you know...I'm going to use your awesome Purdy paintbrush I won from you too! :) I've been keeping it safe for when I paint my master bedroom.

Recaptured Charm said...

Beautiful transformation !

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

What a beau-ti-ful makeover...it looks outstanding!

Blessings,
Linda

~ Regan said...

OMG!!! I love it! YOu are so talented! Yes, I watched that clip from this old house too. Gosh, I love those guys. I need to get me some of that rustoleum, pronto. ;)

I just can't believe the transformation. Since you're so good with the thrift store revamps- keep your eye out for an old coffee table, and go check out this link....

http://vintagejunky.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-turn-coffee-table-into.html

Destination Seaborn said...

Great job! I never would have see that MUCH potential in the mirror. It looks awesome! Lisa

Lyndsey said...

Wow! It looks totally different - way to go !!!

Jill@Barnes Yard said...

It looks fantastic!
-Jill

Morgan said...

It looks wonderful!

Nicole said...

OMG.... What an amazing job! You truly are visionary! I would have never guessed the mirror started out the way it did! Wow!

Christine said...

Hi! I found you from Thrifty Chic Decor's linky party! I LOVE what you did with the mirror and you seem pretty handy, so if you're wanting a bench, you HAVE to check out this blog... knockoffwood.blogspot.com. She gives you FREE plans on how to make a ton of different projects based on looks by potterybarn, restoration hardware, land of nod....you get the idea :) Good Luck!

Kathy@theshebearofeleven said...

Love it, you did a great job!!

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

Oh my goodness, how fabulous! And how fun to now now know how to use that big power tool. Love it!

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

Now, now know how? Brown cow? Sorry about that:). I was just so excited by your post ;).

Unknown said...

THAT is Gorgeous! LOVE it!!

queenbee said...

Looks beautiful, I am so impressed how you saw something outside of the original purpose. I also want to try crown molding, but am to afraid to try and I dont own the tools at the moment.

Kelly said...

WOW! Fantastic! You did a wonderful job on this. I haven't tried that paint either but I'm thinking I'll have to pick some up next time I'm out and give it a try.

Rita Mireles said...

Wow!! Love it, Love it, Love it. Can't wait to do a mirror make over of my own.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Now that is one fantastic makeover. Guess you aren't so clumsy after all! Great work. A bench will look wonderful underneath it. Blessings, Tammy

janelle said...

no way! that is amazing!

Beth Anne said...

so beautiful! nice work!

Ashleigh said...

Impressive!

Stephanie said...

WOW!! What an incredible transformation!

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

that turned out really nice.

you did a fantastic job!

Marianne said...

Wonderful transformation! Hope you will find something you can transform into a bench soon (maybe a table or a piano stool?)

Sleepyhead Designs Studio said...

Wow-that was a makeover for sure! I have a mirror that I'm not using that looks similar to the one you did "after" you added the trim. Adding the scroll added so much to it's look. Love it!

Kristi said...

WOW I love that. It looks great white and black! Great job!

Miss Mustard Seed said...

What an amazing job! You have totally transformed the look of that mirror. I love the crown and detailed wood piece that you added to change the style and give it substance. I have to admit that I loved it in the white, but it looks good in the black as well. You had a great vision with this piece!

junkermidge said...

Oh, I really love what you did with the mirror! Great redo.
Midge

Pine Tree Home said...

WOW. What a fabulous transformation. This gives me inspiration to look at my dresser mirror. It's too matchy matchy for me right now...look what a little crown molding can do.

Pollyanna and the Pyranhas said...

What a beautiful job. It was lovely white, but equally as lovely in it's current colour.

Jen@Notes From the Heartland said...

Gorgeous! Hard to believe that is the same mirror....and you did a GREAT job on the crown.

Nurdan said...

I like it
great job

Kat Ford said...

That is amazing you are very talented! I am working on a $25 mirror makeover myself right now I might have to join this site and post pics!

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