We’re reaching the point in our house where we’re finally trying to slowly upgrade the “we’ll-just-put-this-here- for-now-since-we-just-moved-in” phenomenon that happens when you unpack and just toss things anywhere (yes, we are just getting to this phase after over a year and a half of living here, haha). So we finally decided to address this old mirror that used to hang in our first house’s den, which we then popped above our fireplace mantel with a tiny finishing nail the first week we moved in. Why do we need to address it? Because it gotz to go. Why does it gotz to go? Because it’s way too small! Comically small. Here’s an older shot of it almost straight on. See how weensy he is? Poor guy.
We had always meant to get something bigger and upgrade, but the rest of the kitchen kept us pretty busy and then it was onto some bedroom tweaks and some bathroom upgrades and the deck so our little fireplace mirror dodged getting the boot for a while. Not the real boot (we’ll find another spot for him) but just the above-the-fireplace boot because we wanted something bigger to:
- reflect more light
- make that soothing little zone feel expanded and more defined
- bring some of the wood tones from the cork floor up onto the wall
So anyway, long story long, we had passively looked for something at local shops/thrift stores for a while and then I went rogue while John was out getting his deck-ness on and Clara was napping. I tiptoed down the hall into the guest room (which is right near Clara’s room so I had to be all stealthy-like) and decided to try the giant mirror that we had randomly leaned above an old dresser in there about a year ago.
Yup, I dragged that monster into the kitchen, got my buns up on a chair while holding said beast of a mirror, and somehow managed to lean it up on the fireplace mantel to see how I liked it. The whole leaning thing wasn’t the best look (it basically leaned so much due to the placement of an outlet on the top of the mantel that it reflected the ceiling which was ugly to the max) but the color and size were actually surprisingly good. So I left it up there to mull and ran back to the office to finish some book stuff and then John came in and said “that looks awesome – let’s hang it up.”
And then I fainted.
Ok so I didn’t really faint but I made a big show out of fake fainting because 1) John is usually very “meh” about new changes (they have to grow on him) and 2) to see some random thing I did while he was off doing other backbreaking work that is sure to lead to more backbreaking work for both of us (hanging a giant heavy mirror into thin wood paneling isn’t exactly like tapping in one tiny finishing nail) isn’t usually something he’s enthusiastic about. But he was.
So after my big fake fainting show (which by the way was not met with the right level of responsive panicking if you ask me, but that could have been due to my bad acting) I stood up and we got down to the business of hanging it. We used four heavy duty 2.5″ screws, two of which we could drive directly into studs (aka: very strong) and two of which we used heavy duty anchors to secure (just for more reinforcement and so it would hang straight and centered since the studs were in odd places and necessitated two other screws to keep things hanging straight).
But first we had to move the hanging hardware on the back of the mirror which was screwed into the back of the frame since it used to hang vertically. Since we wanted it to hang horizontally we had to move it to the other side of the frame and then we used heavy duty picture hanging wire between those two metal holders so it could be slipped over all four of the screws that we would put into the wall to hold it up. Oh and don’t mind the crazy duct tape on the back. This mirror was a $5 yard sale score a few years back and it came all taped and crazy looking in the back, but the front is significantly less ridiculous looking and it’s all very stable regardless of the anti-confidence-inspiring effect of the tape (the thing’s not about to fall apart or anything). Thank goodness.
Anyway, so we moved the hanging hardware (reusing the screw that held it into the old vertical placement and transferring it over to a horizontal placement) and then added heavy duty picture hanging wire (the strong kind, not chintzy floral wire or anything).
Isn’t she a beaut? Just kidding. Seriously, could there be more duct tape in this shot?
And here’s the hubs driving those screws into the stud and anchor set-up I mentioned.
The four-screws-plus-hanging-wire process might sound complicated, but the whole thing probably took us about twenty minutes. So it wasn’t fast like hammering in a finishing nail, but it wasn’t this crazy long process involving fancy math equations or anything. And the cool thing about adding a hanging wire is that things are a little easier to get up (it just has to catch over the screw heads but it’s not maddening like little picture hooks can be when there are multiple nails or screws (getting them all to catch at the same time can make you want to stick a spork in your eye).
The difference of a nice big mirror is crazy. It’s a little more orange than the floor so I might stain it a bit more mocha to work more seamlessly with the cork, but just having that giant reflective surface is such a huge upgrade.
Here it is from further away. The height that it adds is awesome because it balances other tall things in the room like the pantry and even the tile that goes to the ceiling on our wall with open shelves.
Oh and you’ll notice from that picture above that we got another cheap-o Urban Outfitters rug for the cooking area of the kitchen. First we moved our original one from the fireplace zone into the cooking area for a trial run (to make sure we didn’t get annoyed by it or drop stuff on it constantly) but since there’s about a foot of space around the perimeter (in front of the stove, sink, rest of the counter, etc) we didn’t have any issues, so we ordered it and there she blows.
But back to the matter mirror at hand…
I just tossed some random things up there (like this thrift store find from Atlanta with KB). But since it’s so neutral I can basically put anything up there with it – and you know I love to change things around whenever the urge strikes…
Clara photo bomb.
But seriously, just look at the difference from the little guy that we had before and our new guy above:
John says this side of the kitchen feels like “one of those homes in the Fan now” which is a downtown neighborhood with amazing architecture and all of this great large-scale character. It’s basically his way of saying that the ceiling feels high and it’s like one of those fancy rooms with good molding that are over 100 years old. I would simplify the description by just saying that this mirror bounces around approximately ten times more light, makes the room feel bigger and airier, and serves as an amazing focal point all the way from the front door. Sweet. So it’s totally one of those under-an-hour changes that just involved something we already owned (which kinda makes us mentally chide ourselves for not figuring it out sooner, but what can ya do). I’m just thankful we didn’t end up buying something new. The overall scale and the chunky wood frame are perfect – and the fact that we found it back in 2008 at a yard sale for five bucks is the icing on the cake. Woot!
We still have a few more changes we’re planning to make to this zone over time, so stay tuned for those updates as we inch along. In the meantime, are there any new mirror (or old mirror from another room) switches going on at your place? Any toddler photo bombs? Or weird mom-sneaking-around while your kiddo naps and you get a wild hair to redecorate something?
Ann Marie says
We had something migrate in our house this week too! I looked at our “Newlywed Map” hanging in our den and thought, “No one ever gets to see this but us!” So I dragged it into the living room, pulled a too small round mirror off the wall and propped it up there. My husband’s reaction was eerily similar to John’s. So we hung ‘er up, added some of our favorite travel pics on either side, and were ecstatic with the result! It’s amazing what a big difference a small change can make!
Patty C says
I love the new look. The size of the mirror is great although I miss the blue bottles. Maybe they’ll rotate back in later or in some new location?
Sarah (Damn Good Food) says
That huge mirror is seriously awesome. And huge. But mostly awesome. I love it!
Now I’m on a mission to get out to some yard sales this weekend – what are the chances that someone in my small town will have the same mirror and be dying to get rid of it? :)
Melissa says
I recently discovered your blog, and I have to say it has really inspired me to actually live in my house. I have owned it for three years, but have never really made it mine, if that makes any sense. This blog made me realize I need to make it a home and not just a place to sleep. Thank you for that, and dont be shocked when I send a photo of my bedroom the exact same color as yours. I LOVE IT!
Fe says
I think you are going to find one last magical piece for the kitchen that goes perfect with the mirror as is. Just my hunch. So maybe put the staining to the bottom of the list?
I have a brassy looking mirror the MIL gave me, and i thought of painting it, but then I found a second brassy looking mirror that is bigger but pretty much identical and I am so glad I didnt. There in the bedroom now, but I can’t wait to put them in our first house!
GreenieWeenie says
This is completely off topic but I figure the best way to reach you…
My favorite House Crash that you’ve done was the Poppy and Mod apartment. That’s because I live in a super-cramped city and love seeing how others make sense of 500 square feet.
I’d also love to see a beach house-type Crash–the smaller, the better. If one comes your way, you’ll have at least one interested reader!
:)
Jen says
This post made me thing of Emily Henderson’s “How to Style your Mantel” video.
http://www.stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/styling-101-how-to-style-your-mantel.html
You’ve definitely got your large focal point, and I agree that it helps balance the larger elements of the kitchen across the peninsula. I think a few smaller pictures layered in would look fab.
I
YoungHouseLove says
Fun!
xo,
s
diana says
Great switch! I wouldn’t stain it, personal choice, but I like it a lot when there are multiple wood tones that go together in a room.
I had this mirror, a http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60178420/, that was intended for the hall bathroom. We all know how it happens, thinking to hang it this week-end, no, the next, long story short, it ended over the shoe thing in the hall way and it’s at home.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha sounds cute!
xo,
s
lee says
Love the mirror Color and scale are both better.
Rachael@LovelyCraftyHome says
Love the new mirror placement! $5 is a steal for getting “Fan” status :) I almost fell over when I saw your UO rugs though, I just made a floor mat using that exact rug as inspiration haha. I must have missed the rug post the first time around!
http://lovelycraftyhome.com/2012/07/30/the-comeback-king/
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cute! It came out awesomely well!!
xo,
s
drew says
One trick with hanging a mirror at a higher level is to have a longer wire and let the mirror lean slightly away from the wall at the top. The slight difference in the angle will relect more of the room and less ceiling. Also, the double wire that someone mentioned earlier is a great framers trick. I frequently go to estate auctions and buy mirrors constanly for a pittance. My grown daughters use them as dry erase boards.
YoungHouseLove says
Great tips!
xo,
s
Mary says
(I’m no home decor expert) But I really liked the circular mirror above the fireplace. I think a bigger circular mirror could have done wonders also. I am all about mixing different shapes around and the straight edges of the fireplace (in my opinion) would look better with some contrast (rounded edges of the mirror). Either way it’s a nice change and will serve its purpose since you want it to reflect more light.
Anje says
Question regarding the “cheap-o Urban Outfitters rug.” How do you clean it? I have a set of similar light-weight rugs and the vaccuum just sucks them up and shoves them around. I’ve tried shaking them outside but that’s hard due to the large size of the rug. Help!
YoungHouseLove says
Someone gave us the best tip! I stand on the corners and John vacuumes that side. Then I stand on the other two corners and he gets that side. It keeps it in place!
xo,
s
Anje says
Awwww, sweet:)
Sarah says
Is your rug more of a gray color or tan? I love that design and the website calls it tan but it looks gray.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s totally gray. No idea why they call it tan. Haha.
xo,
s
alg says
Looks faboo!
Was thinking maybe the little white round mirror would look cool in the spot where the now-above-the-fireplace mirror used to live…
The scale might seem odd at first, since you’re so used to seeing a big mirror there, but I actually think it’ll look all intentionally-minimalist-chic.
Also, it would mirror (pun nerdily intended) the other round mirror on the opposite wall & play into the polka dotted curtain…
Overall (in my mind’s eye, anyway) it would look all boutique-hotel-playful which could be perfect, seeing as it’s a guest room.
Plus, how cool would it be to vastly improve 2 rooms with 1 simple, straight-up swap?!? #legendwaitforitDIYary
Just a thought :)
YoungHouseLove says
Always another possibility! With the round mirror over the guest bed we thought it might be round mirror overload, but you never know…!
xo,
s
Melissa says
Love the new mirror! I think Lauren has a great idea – adding a small amount of accent color a row of bricks on the fireplace to break up the large white area. If a solid color is too much, you could try a dappled color using a rag roll technique or something similar.
Also – It would be fun to see a contest of reader submitted photos of items that have tons of duct tape! The back of that mirror is hilarious!! Keep up the good work.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, bring on the duct tape pics everyone! Hilarious!
xo,
s
gemma@thesweetestdigs says
Looks great! The proportion is so much better. And I’m totally digging that thrifted Lipton jar you got… so fun!!
Victoria says
I have to say, as soon as I read the line about you propping it up, I was waiting for a disaster! After reading your earlier post about the picture propped on the hallway dresser I could already almost see the mirror on the floor in an explosion of glass. Very glad that didn’t happen.
From a distance I really want you to paint it white. Or yellow. But close up I like the corner bits (technical term obvs) and the wood. Dilemma.
Victoria
Jeanna Walton says
You are so funny…………. you got another cheapo Urban Outfitters rug………. and there she blows??! So not what I expected from you, lol! Usually you have a terrific little post about your latest great find, and how it looks, etc. Aren’t you happy with it? Anyway, the mirror looks terrific in scale, and I do think a little touch up with darker stain will look grand. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, oh yes we’re happy with it. I’m just weird and “there she blows” = “there it is”
Like a whale sighting. Hahaha.
xo,
s
Kim Birum says
I’ve resigned myself to my dog randomly showing up in pictures, but recently he was doing his business, so I decided not to use that one. I love the new spot for the mirror. I have a large mirror that’s been on the floor in my room for the last 8 months. I think it’s time to find a home for it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Ann says
Love the large mirror. I’m looking for one myself.
Maayybee change up your candles also, the white ones are tooo generic.
Best of luck
Amy says
We’re planning a mirror switch, well, replacement. The mirror on my antique dresser (my grandma bought it when she got married over 70 years ago) – is so unsturdy that it’s getting to be a hazard. The mirror isn’t really one that you can hang on the wall and I’m looking for something more substantial. The seller of our house left an appropriately-sized mirror in the house and we’re going to frame it with some chunky, metallic-painted molding and hang it.
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds awesome! Good luck Amy!
xo,
s
Brittany says
I might be crazy, but from the pictures it looks like the round white mirror could work in the spot that you moved the rectangular mirror from… Love the big guy in his new spot though!
Julie says
WOW – it made that area so much bigger. Mirrors are magical room expanders.
deb q says
A HUGE improvement. I always thought the smaller mirror and topiaries looked a little fussy…
Natalie says
Oh yeah, the “new” mirror looks a TON better in that space ~ great thinkin’! :)
kristin says
The open half-shell! Where did that come from? And where can I get one?! Love it all guys, but I can’t take my eyes off that piece in the fireplace.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks! We bought that from a Joss & Main sale we curated a while back. They also sell them at ZGallerie (we have a smaller one on the counter as a fruit bowl). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Wes says
This looks amazing!! I never would have guessed a mirror could make such a huge difference. If that were my house I would definitely be doing the “walk by and stare at it” 16 times a day.
Rhapsody says
Wow, you left the wood frame as wood and didn’t paint it or ORB it! Way to go, it looks nice. :)
Barbara Z. says
Love the mirror switcharoo; looks great! Just today took down a humongously-heavy mirror over our sofa that was my mother-in-law’s dresser mirror when hubby & I started dating in high school. It sat unused for decades till we could properly anchor its weight to our old plaster walls. Moving around things around abit; you’ve motivated us to rent a crane to rehang it over the mantel! Thoroughly enjoy your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Barbara! So glad!
xo,
s
Kelly LeBrasseur says
I love the change and love that it’s “a little orange” I think staining it would make things too matchy matchy! Just my two cents…love your blog!
izzy says
OK so I bought the cute cheap-o rug from urban outfitters! Love it! But what are you using to keep is flat and from sliding around…its so thin? I love the way it looks but my hubby is ready to throw bit of since it moves all over the place. Help!
YoungHouseLove says
We got the thickest rug pad we could find (at Target) and it works really well! With Clara and Burger running all over it, it stays in place!
xo,
s
elizabeth says
I love the UO rug and I just ordered one for my kitchen! It looks very thin–how do you keep it from sliding around and wrinkling on wood floors? I’m hoping that a rug pad will keep it in place, but I’m not sure. I know that you will have great advice, though, since you have a dog and baby that probably run across the rug all day! Thanks in advance!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, we got the thickest lad we could find at Target and that does the trick along with resting a chair and ottoman on it.
xo
s
Melissa says
Hey there! Where is the round light fixture on the ceiling from? I need something exactly like it in my entryway, and I’m dying to know where you got it!
Thanks,
Melissa
YoungHouseLove says
That is from Ikea. Hope it helps!
xo
s