Our master bathroom came with a mirror dilemma. Instead of having the traditional mirror-over-the-sink set up, there’s a window (seen here on this moving day pic that we snapped before we removed those bi-fold doors).
But although that picture makes the window look all glow-y and angelic, staring out at the house next door (it’s a side window) isn’t exactly ideal for brushing your teeth, shaving, fixing your hair, or walking by after a shower in the buff. Nor is that the first impression that we really want to make on the neighbors. So we knew we needed a privacy solution stat.
We also needed a functional mirror solution too. The room is (ironically) far from mirror-less. There’s a full-length one on the water closet door (yep, just broke out “water closet”)…
…and another on the nearby medicine cabinet (that’s two mirrors in one 4′ span of wall if you’re keeping track).
And yes, those are both shots stolen from old posts (so you don’t have to worry that Burger spends all of his free time posing for pics in our bathroom) since you know we have since removed the ol’ backsplash to yield this result:
Anyway, back to the mirror dilemma. After living with the mirrors-to-the-right layout for a couple of weeks (while singing “To The Right” instead of “To The Left” a la Beyoncé), the traditionalist in us was just itching for one in front of our faces. Right smack in the middle of the window. Although we had an embarrassment of riches when it came to the number of mirrors surrounding us in the master, we just didn’t have one where it was most sorely needed. So we opted for a not-so-traditional solution. This:
Call us crazy, but we hung a mirror right on the window frame itself. Sure we’ll miss some of the light that it let in, but thankfully we have two other huge windows in the bedroom and a third in the bathroom- so the room’s not hurting for light). And we definitely won’t miss the actual view of the house next door (and the fear that we were making quite an odd first impression by sharing so many tooth-brushing moments). And the function. Can we just talk about the function? I am a man. So that stuff is king. And I can’t even tell you how much easier it is to shave without having to keep my head at a right angle to see what I’m doing.
The mirror itself is from the Allen + Roth line at Lowe’s. After searching unsuccessfully for a perfectly sized round one at HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Pier 1, and World Market we were more than happy to spill 65 beans on one with such a distinct shape and clean look (a whopping $614 cheaper than this similar version from Restoration Hardware). And all it took to hang it was one screw in the center piece of wood between the windows and a small square of velcro on the bottom (to hold it firmly in place from the bottom so it wouldn’t teeter from side to side). Bonus: the windows can still be opened and closed while it’s hanging thanks to the knob placement at the bottom of the panes (instead of the center, which would have been blocked by the mirror).
And let’s revisit the shape. We mentioned we were originally looking for a round mirror because the wife thought it would add some nice curves to those angular windows, but it needed to be huge because something that was under 28″ wide wouldn’t allow both of us to see our entire faces in it (thanks to our 10″ height difference) if it was hung completely centered (top to bottom) on the window- which Sherry was adamant about. The miracle of finding something this shape meant that there was a little extra span of reflective room on the bottom thanks to the irregular shape- which is almost like two ovals overlapping at 90 degree angles) which makes Sherry positively giddy about all that added “mirror real-estate.” Here’s a direct quote: “not only can I see my face, I can see my neck!” The girl was beside herself with joy.
Oh and for those wondering why we didn’t opt for a mirror that could be mounted on the side wall but folded out so we could look see our faces by looking straight ahead, we just thought that would look more bathroom-y, while this solution looked a lot more decorative and would read more as “vanity in the corner of a bedroom” instead of “sink across from the bed.” Plus it’s balanced, and you know we have a thing for balance.
But the project was not complete until we said goodbye to the old mirrored medicine cabinet.
So we took it off the wall, along with the towel bar on the opposite side (we now keep a white towel folded next to the sink which seems to do the trick) and added both the medicine cabinet and the towel bar to our ReStore donation pile.
Doesn’t it look even less bathroom-sinky in there now that those two elements are gone? And we don’t mean to tease, but painting the entire bedroom is on the agenda for today or tomorrow. Woot! We also might paint the mirror frame white (or a softer color to help it blend in with the window moldings like gray) though we haven’t decided on that 100% yet… so we could go either way.
And as for how it looks from outside, it’s one big tan shape from behind (nothing too messy looking) so it just a symmetrical light brown shape suspended in the middle of the window. Which oddly enough blends in with all the colors of the tree trunks and other exterior elements. And of course frosting the window could add even more privacy when it comes to the view from outside, but since the neighbor’s house is actually a ways away, we don’t think they can make out our shapes anymore with so much of the window obscured.
Words can’t describe how spoiled we feel to have a mirror above the sink again. Seriously, it’s rocking our world right now. And we’re not the first people to do the whole mirror in front of a window thing. Check some others out here, here, here, and here. What do you guys think of our not-so-normal solution?
Update: See how our sink mirror project turned out here.
Danielle says
I’m not sure if you mentioned this in the rest of the comment section (or if you’ve already done a post on this before) but have you thought about sharing how you took down the medicine cabinet? We have the same hideous ones in our bathrooms and I’m considering taking them out but I’m not sure how complicated it would be. We’d also have to apply some kind of spray texture to the walls too, but I know they sell that at Home Depot.
Thanks!
Danielle
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Danielle,
We just unscrewed it and patched a few screw holes with spackle. So easy! It wasn’t recessed so that made it a simple process. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
leah loo says
Hmmmm…. to paint, or not to paint the mirror frame? That is definitely the BIG question… I know that lots of people have weighed in, and I actually have in a previous comment, but I just wanted to say again, with heartfelt passion and humble sincerity, that the mirror frame in black is so cool, so lovely, so spot on! If it was painted white, I don’t think you would even “see” it anymore, and you would lose the specialness of it’s shape and it’s inspired placement. Painting it white would be the obvious choice, leaving it black (or painting it another contrasting color), now that would be the unexpected, fun, YHL choice! In my humble opinion, of course! :-) Thanks for your great blog – truly an enjoyable part of my day.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- people are really getting into the mirror-color-choice thing, huh?! Thanks for all the opinions everyone! We keep changing our mind every hour or so, so the jury is definitely still out as to whether we’ll paint her or leave her the heck alone. But we definitely love that she’s there!
xo,
s
Ali says
For whatever reason I woke up thinking about your window dilemma this morning. It’s cute and original, but I think its controversial because I can’t seem to wrap my mind around a window AND a mirror. I’m gaga for old beautiful windows (my 1949 house still has it’s original casement windows) and I love how your window looks without the distraction–albeit a cool distraction. Plus, I’d be concerned how the window looks from the outside. Of course I understand you wanting to have a mirror for shaving, etc. It certainly is a cunundrum. My idea? Since you took the medicine cabinet off of the right side, maybe you could attach a nice swinging wall attached vanity mirror. Something like this http://www.amazon.com/Gatco-1430-Mirror-9-Inch-Extends/dp/B002G9TUMW. That way you could have a mirror when you need one but then just push it flush against the wall when your done with it.
You’ll are doing a great job. And I’m constantly amazed by how much you
get done with a baby. I have a toddler and it’s been so hard to work on my house.
P.s. We recently remodeled our kitchen and painted it “dune grass”. Thanks for the paint recommendation from your old house.
Amy says
I absolutely love it!
Erica @ Erica's Inspirations says
Great idea! I would definitely paint it white…I think that would look very crisp!
I actually used this very mirror in one of my recent e-designs! I just love its shape. Check it out here: http://ericaharless.blogspot.com/2010/08/e-design-donnas-master-bedroom.html
LaNell says
I think you should hang some cupboard doors on the left side and add matching hardware under the sink, knobs, pulls, whatever you end up with on the rest of the piece, and it will look a whole lot more like a piece of furniture!
Amanda says
Y’all are so trendy! ;)
Love the blog! Thanks
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/162551/list/Hot-Pattern–Quatrefoil-is-Back-and-It-s-Beautiful/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+houzz+(Houzz)
Katie says
Long time lurker here, and I have a question. Are the walls in your new bathrooms (the yellow one looked similiar), or possibly your whole house, not textured? Do you have anything over the drywall? a layer of mud? or are you just painting on the semi gloss and going?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Katie,
Nope, no textured walls here. They’re actually not that common in Richmond from what we’ve seen. It’s just primer and paint (or in some cases just paint) over the drywall for a nice smooth look. Of course in bathrooms it’s primer and semi-gloss paint, which works like a charm.
xo,
s
Melissa says
That looks fantastic! What a great idea.
Katie says
That’s encouraging! I might rip down some bathroom wall paper tonight! and pull off that old back splash too! So much more modern. Everyone in Texas thinks you ‘have’ to texture!
Kelley says
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/bathroom/space-solutions-hanging-mirrors-over-windowsyoung-house-love-137627
Just saw where y’all were featured on AT and my first thought was “hey, I know them” even though I only know you through here. Thanks for making us all feel welcome in your home and like we are a part of the family.
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Thanks so much for the heads up Kelley!
xo,
s
sarah says
Here’s another clever solution you may want to share; a barn door style mirror:
http://www.barndoorhardware.com/images/mirror-2.jpg
Sarah G. says
Hey Guys…I was thumbing through a copy of Pottery Barn Bed and Bath and noticed there was a pic of a bathroom mirror in from of a window! I thought of you! If you haven’t seen it, it is on there website, and I’m including the link below. Ya’ll are ahead of the decorating curve!
http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/bath/bathroom-ideas/bath-eight/?cm_src=room_ideas
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh soo pretty! Love how it’s hung on chains like that. Go PB!
xo,
s
Quiltmaster says
Love, love, love. Brilliant shape choice.
Austin Granite Girls says
LOVE the mirror! I bought a similar one from Lowe’s for the entry. Such a gorgeous shape and it looks so much better than the window alone.
Clarissa says
OMG! I read your blog daily, and I love your design! I am a noob to DIY / design, and you guys are some serious inspiration. Apparently you are soaking into my subconscious, because I was looking at mirrors for over my vanity and found this on sale at Lowe’s for $38 today, and loved it. I came home and googled the name to see if other folks had used it over a vanity, and OMG, you guys did. If I didn’t love this little mirror before, I really do now! Woohoo!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha that’s awesome! What a deal!
xo,
s
Wendy says
How did you hang it? Nails in anchors? Picture hooks?
YoungHouseLove says
Here’s that detail from the post for ya: “And all it took to hang it was one screw in the center piece of wood between the windows and a small square of velcro on the bottom (to hold it firmly in place from the bottom so it wouldn’t teeter from side to side). Bonus: the windows can still be opened and closed while it’s hanging thanks to the knob placement at the bottom of the panes (instead of the center, which would have been blocked by the mirror).”
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Diane says
Any handy tips on how you patch the hole where the medicine cabinet resided to get a smooth finish? I have a similar medicine cabinet I would like to remove, but am afraid that when i patch it..the newly patched wall won’t come out smooth with the old wall. I know you can use metal mesh to join the old dry wall with new..but how do you spackle it without the mesh causing a raised surface?
YoungHouseLove says
The key is just to use that mesh tape and apply spackle too thickly (sort of so it gently slopes up) and then send it down. You might have to do this a few times (spackle, sand, spackle, sand) to get a good smooth finish.
xo,
s
christine says
But you still don’t have a mirror over the sink – is stepping sideways any less irritating than turning sideways?
Caitlin says
I have this exact problem and have been looking for a solution…except I only have a single window rather than the double you have, so I’m at a loss on how to hang it. Any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, maybe try 3M command strips right on the window? Or some sort of suction cup hook? Anyone have ideas for Caitlin?
xo
s