It’s been a busy week around The Pinewood Cottage playing catch up after a wonderful “staycation” for the 4th of July. I’m just not sure how I feel about middle of the week holidays but I think I’m not a fan.
Yesterday I got to work putting some of the final touches on the guest bathroom and I can’t believe how far it’s come! I will post a full tutorial on how we did the counter (and plank wall!) in a few weeks. For now, let’s just focus on the new shining star… the wood mirror frame!
Once the walls were painted (SW Pale Bloom on the planks and SW Eider White on all others) I knew the old white mirror frame wasn’t going to cut it. The problem were that it was the perfect size, we had two in the house already, and I’m cheap! I wish I had a true before photo showing the mint green walls but let’s take a moment to appreciate how far this tiny room has come.
As you can see above, the white on white mirror left a lot to be desired. I needed to add some life back into the room and tie the vanity area into the wood shelving on the opposite wall. That’s when my thrifty-by-nature creative side came up with a plan.
First, I sent my husband off to Lowe’s to pick up 1×4 planks. We’d measured and his math skills (much better than mine!) determined we’d need 3 planks to cover 2 mirrors. They came in around $7 a piece so this entire project was completed for around $21. That’s a winner in my book.
Next I measured twice and broke out the trusty old saw to start my cuts. Pre staining I laid the wood out to be sure I liked where the design was going. For more of a rustic look we didn’t worry about corners, just two longer pieces across the top and two shorter sides fit in. Building actual frames is not my speciality, but this method is easy and anyone can do it.
Now for my favorite part, staining! I find staining so much easier and more rewarding than painting. I gave a full run down of this process and saved it on Instagram but here are my helpful tips for staining:
– use 2 or more stain colors
-wear gloves
-use a cloth instead of a brush
-blend your stain colors
The stains I used were Classic Gray, Early American, and Jacobean.
As you can see, using multiple stains helps give the brand new pine boards interest and age they wouldn’t have otherwise. I was nervous about attaching the boards to the existing frame, but it went so smoothly. I just used predrilled holes through the existing frame with screws in each end of the boards. The screws come in through the back and I love the clean look. Now I have a brand new look for less.
Would you consider repurposing something you already own like this? It doesn’t always workout but when it does it’s such a great feeling! Every time I walk by the bathroom I’m so pleased with how it’s turning out. One more big project to go: stenciled tile floors. Stay tuned!
The Gimbels Grow 