the mirror I dreamed of

Here is the story of how I got a really great deal on a large leaning mirror but I never quite loved it...until now! 

So I got this mirror about 4 years ago for like $25 or $30...really inexpensive for a mirror this large. It's original finish was pewter- I did not like it. I painted it antique white, it was nice but not my favorite. So over the last 4 years this mirror has been antique white, really bad blue grey (not the color I intended), really bright school bus yellow (again, not intended) and then finally back to white, but this time bright white. Still, not my favorite. 

(grey blue-blah!)

(yellow- yikes!)

 (white-it's fine)

You see, the mirror had this underlying "swirly" design on the frame and it pissed me off because I don't like "swirly" things. 

("swirls"- I just threw up in my mouth)

So I had an idea about a year ago to somehow inlay wood on the frame, but then I got lazy and then I couldn't find the right sized wood and then I just got lazy again. 

But recently, I've had some extra time on my hands and before I got out of bed one morning it came to me: we have plywood laying around, we have a jigsaw that I have no idea where it came from, we have stain that we used to make frames for dan's art and we have wood glue....I got this.

So, I got to it. I cut the plywood into strips with the jigsaw (super fun), fitted them, stained them and then glued them.

 

 

 cut 

(where did this glorious tool come from?)

 fit

 more fitting

 stain


Then the mirror finally turned into this:

!!!!!!!!

 (detail of stained plywood)

Isn't she pretty?! It is rustic but modern and those damn "swirls" are gone. Our bedroom is pretty rad now, I look at the mirror a lot and I'm glad that I decided not to be lazy. I want to cut more things with the jig saw, we will see what happens next!

design : dylan's digs

My brother, Dylan, was a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama from August 2008- October 2010. We are really proud of him. When Dylan came back to the US, he wanted to live and work in DC- he had nothing. He sold of most of his possessions before he left. So when he got a job and a new apartment he needed help from his sissy. He bought a bed and I did the rest. Everything I got for him was either from a thrift store or Ikea, so it was super cheap- perfect for a returning Peace Corps volunteer's budget. Take a peek....

Our aunt gave him the white duvet cover. The sheets, blanket and rug are from Ikea. The storage chests at the end of the bed and the chest of drawers are from thrift stores. 

 The bedside table was something extra dan and I had around the house and of course every room I do is not complete without a sheets painting.

 Panama collage

There you have it. Dylan's digs. Simple and eclectic. Dan told me that he wanted to live in this room- without me.... well, at least he liked it. 

design : transformation- before and afters!

I have been working on this project casually for the last 6 months or so. I finally finished up with the rooms and I think they turned out really great.

FOYER

Shall we begin at the beginning...the rug was too large, the art was too small and the table was too cluttered and needed updated. 

BEFORE:

BEFORE:

Found a new rug, hung some sentimental photos in old family farm barn frames, updated the table and simplified the accessories.

AFTER!

AFTER!

I also added a gorgeous antique oak mirror I found at Class and Trash to make the space feel larger and to do a last minuet look before leaving the house.

AFTER!

AFTER!

DINING ROOM

Salmon walls needed to go, too much wood and too stark.

BEFORE:

BEFORE:

Toned down the pinks, added cream linen drapes and upholstered host and hostess chairs to soften all the wood and break it up a little bit with out buying a whole new dining table or chair set.

AFTER!

AFTER!

AFTER!

I also detached the glass/wood hutch from this console to really open up the room. I found this great wine rack on etsy!

AFTER!

AFTER!

KITCHEN

Not much changed here, just painted the walls the same as the dining room and living room and updated the rugs.

BEFORE:

AFTER!

LIVING ROOM:

Where do I even begin- this living room was a bit of a cluster *$#!. Swag burgundy and sage drapes-NO. Huge rug with every awful color combo you could imagine- NO. Light pink walls- NO. Very traditional cocktail/end tables- NO. See for yourself...

 BEFORE:

BEFORE:

BEFORE:

BEFORE:

BEFORE:

So here is how I saved the room with out spending a fortune on all new things. Took up the huge rug and replaced it with a much smaller square neutral rug to frame the seating area and make the space feel larger. Had the walls painted a warm light grey, added simple drapes and some pillows. I brought in an existing table he already owned for the cocktail table and bought a new end table to coordinate. 

AFTER!

AFTER!

AFTER!

AFTER!

AFTER!

AFTER!

AFTER!

 HALLWAY:

Messy shelves...

BEFORE:

I rearranged some of his art and added a partially closed table with storage drawers and a basket for books and such. It also now houses/displays his Edison Phonograph.

AFTER!

Hung some of his daughters lovely art of his son out in the empty hall.

AFTER!

GUEST BATHROOM:

Needs personality... and less pink.

BEFORE:

BEFORE:

I took down the "builder's standard" mirror and added one I found at home goods, added some art he already owned,  new shower curtain, white rugs and towels and a fantastic little rusty table he had in the basement.

AFTER!

AFTER!

AFTER!

GUEST BEDROOM:

Not super welcoming and again...pink.

BEFORE:

BEFORE:

(The table I put in the living room for the cocktail table- we had to cut the legs so that it would be a cocktail height- took 10 minuets)

BEFORE:

I love this room so much. It is so bright and inviting. I had the walls painted a very very pale blueish grey, got some new white linen drapes, new bedding and throw pillows, a rug and a nightstand. Had dan whip up some art for me and pulled some more of his daughters art out of the closet. 

AFTER!

AFTER!

This rusty green chair was also in the basement- I love rusty chairs.

AFTER!

This amazing family wardrobe was in the basement- I had to use it in here.

AFTER!

AFTER!

Added a mirror collage to bring more light in to the room.

AFTER!

Family quilt and new rug from home goods.

AFTER!

This project was so much fun. My client was the ideal client- he didn't have a timeline and he trusted me completely. I took my time hunting for great/unique items and I think it really paid off.