Mirror – Transforming Trash

#24 Salzburg mirror

Transformation cost: $24.85

This transformation was made possible by the demise of an earlier one; I was getting ready to give TT#12 (Bevelled mirror with ornate frame) another new look when I accidentally damaged the frame. It was a long shot whether a repair would be possible, so when a neighbor was discarding this piece, I snatched it up. The glass in this piece needed replacing but by a stroke of luck the glass in TT#12 was the exact same size! I was able to use the glass from the damaged frame in the new frame.

In places the mirror coating on this glass was damaged, so I began by removing it from the frame.

I then cleaned the back and front of the frame, including removing the pasted-on backing paper and the black adhesive/caulk that had been used to attach the glass.

A couple of coats of Kilz primer were followed by two coats of the same Benjamin Moore satin latex paint I used on my dining room walls.

Gloss lacquer over the paint gave the frame the finish I was looking for.

Finally it was time to put glass back into the frame. A thin layer of cardboard and a new piece of hardboard atop the glass are kept in place with glazing points and panel pins; no need for glue or caulk. A second piece of thicker cardboard pads out the rest of the space and is finished off with some craft paper and hangers.

#12 Bevelled mirror with ornate frame

Transformation cost: $7.93

When a friend was discarding this mirror I initially resisted the urge to bring it home. However, I couldn’t stop thinking about the potential of this piece. With a weakened resolve I went back the next day to lift it from her driveway. This mirror originally had a gilded frame that had been painted matte black, perfect for adding depth and layering to the finish!

After a thorough cleaning (a toothbrush was a real necessity for this piece) I protected the mirror glass with newspaper

Once clean the first coat I applied was Rust-Oleum Metallic Silver specialty metallic paint

Following the Metallic Silver I began adding coats of Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover in Heirloom White satin finish.
After spraying each coat I used a rag to wipe the paint off the raised parts of the frame.

After 3 coats of Heirloom White (each one followed with wiping) I had the look I wanted: A varied, layered look that (in places) goes all the way down to the original gilded finish.
The finishing touch was to apply some clear wax which I then buffed with a clean, dry rag to give some sheen.

#7 Sash window mirrored organizer

Transformation cost: $24.11

I’ve been dying to experiment with mirror paint so when a neighbor was discarding her old sash windows I knew this was my chance. I also chose this project to see if crackle medium works with spray paints.

First I removed hardware, metal stripping, and one of the two panes of glass. I then gave everything a good clean and, with the remaining glass protected, a light sanding.

I filled screw holes with wood putty and primed the exposed wood. When putty and primer had dried I applied a coat of Rust-Oleum Metallic gold paint to the front of the frame. I then added a piece of pegboard in the empty opening and secured it with some 1/4 square doweling.

Now for my crackle medium/spray paint experiment. I applied crackle medium over the gold paint and let it dry for 1.5 hours. When the top coat of Krylon Chalky Finish in Bonnet Pink went on – Nothing. Zip. Didn’t work. Note to self: Crackling doesn’t work when the top coat is a spray paint. Instead, after a couple of days, I lightly sanded the top coat to expose the gold paint underneath and give it a more aged look. I then gave everything a couple of coats of clear gloss enamel. I know some of you will be thinking “Why put gloss enamel over a chalky finish. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?” Well, since my purpose was to use up this pink paint more than to have a chalky finish, it’s all good!

Now for my next experiment: My first encounter with mirror paint. Fortunately I read the can before starting or it could have been a disaster. The mirror paint is applied to the BACK of the piece of glass. In all honesty both sides ended up almost equally reflective but it’s obvious to me now that you don’t want the paint on the front where you’re going to clean!

I finished the piece with a sheet of hardboard on the back, to protect the mirror finish,
and a couple of multiple tool rack pegs.

#6 Gold frame

Transformation cost: $20

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is nothing but almost nothing is just what this piece needed. I had endless ideas for how to refinish this frame and what to put in it (chalkboard, cork-board, dry erase board, pegboard etc. etc.) but every time I went back to it I kept thinking the same thing: “It looks great the way it is and whatever I do to it might only make it worse”. In the end I came to the inevitable conclusion that all it needed was a good clean and some mirror glass.