I have this new obsession with window framed mirrors. They are pretty and whimsical and add a little extra something to just a regular framed mirror. I first fell in love with one on Pottery Barn…but for the price it was, I just couldn’t justify it…ever. Even places like Pier 1 and Target were more expensive than I could ever imagine spending on a mirror. Then, one day…the (almost) perfect mirror appeared on Zulily. For those of you who don’t know what Zulily is, it’s pretty much my obsession. It’s essentially a flash sale site with women’s clothing, kid’s clothing and home decor. The deals are amazing and a lot less expensive than One Kings Lane or Joss and Main. You just have to look every day to find the perfect steal. One morning, doing my usual still in bed glance over of the new items, I found a window framed mirror, a little smaller than I wanted, but for $79 I couldn’t resist. The only other problem with it is that it was a distressed white color, which I didn’t want. But, that’s what paint is for, right? When it arrived, the “distressed white” was more of a white with the finger painting of a 3 year old. However, it was the perfect base to make it exactly what I wanted.
I ended up buying a metallic paint in the color of Oil Rubbed Bronze, that was a suitable grade paint for furniture at Home Depot for $7.95. I sort of have this obsession with anything oil rubbed bronze. All of our fixtures and hardware are this color and I love the way it looks in our 1911 house. I also chose to not buy a spray paint. I read several reviews, and there were so many complaints about drips and poor coverage, that I decided I would have more control using an actual paint. I spent the first 1/2 hour taping each pane with painters tape, so that no paint could leak through onto the mirror. I lightly sanded the panes to ensure the paint would adhere to the wood. After the first coat, I let it try for 5 hours before applying a second. Before I knew it, the mirror was finished! I’m always so quick to want to rip off the painters tape to see my final result, but have learned the hard way that taking off the tape too soon causes paint to peel off with it… I let it dry until the next day in the porch. I love the way it turned out…and for under $100! It is currently hanging in our sun porch, and I love the way the sun reflects off of it. The paint has a slight shimmer to it that looks amazing in the sun.
To my surprise, I find out that 1 week later, my wonderful husband bought me the mirror I wanted from Pottery Barn as a little gift…and it looks perfect in the dining room:)
The Simple Elements 