Making a Stand Up Mirror - I did it!

I've seen a few bloggers repurpose their old vanity mirrors and make overscale floor mirrors.  My inspiration bloggers are my friend, Jan, at Bobbypins Boardwalk and, Rayan, at Design Confidential.  (Yipes!  Disregard junk on chest.)

When we remodeled our home a few years ago, one of these mirrors survived.   It's been in my closet ever since, where I can peer through all of the dust to take a look at myself.  In the back of my mind, I've wanted to redo it.  Well, the back finally hounded me and it became the "front."   This is what I did:

I followed Rayan's instructions, because I figured I would have to purchase fewer supplies.  She made a faux barnwood frame, however, and I wanted something more refined, so I modified it a bit.  (Isn't that always the way?)

I purchased 3-8 ft. lengths of baseboard.  I measured them with more than a 1/2" overlap on the mirror because the baseboard tapered and I wanted to use the thickest portion to put a screw into.   Now for the fun part.  I used our compound miter saw!  I've never used one of these bad boys before so this was all kinds of fun--I felt like squealing afterwords, but figured that would drain every bit of machismo out of the experience, so restrained myself.   Anyway, that went way too quickly.  Per Rayan's instructions (and something I'm sure if you would know to do if you do this type of woodwork regularly) I attempted squaring the pieces of wood.  One end of my project was very successful--the other, not so much.  Needless to say, wood fill was my friend...oh yeah.

Putting it together:  My baseboard really wasn't thick enough that I felt like I could put any nails or sink screws into it, so I purchased corner braces at Walmart and screwed them in.  Now the problems started.  The screws that came with the corners where too long for the wood (uh, yes, I saw that beforehand, but didn't want to make another trip to the store).  So, on to improvisation.  I screwed them in and let them come through the face of the frame.  After I did that, I took a metal file - yes, I did - and filed the points down so they were even with the wood.  I used wood fill around those to cover any tiny voids.  If you look closely at the photo (above) you may be able to see the "damage," but it's hardly noticeable.

Then, I took that puppy out into the garage.  Oh, did I forget to tell you I was assembling in the foyer?  It's August.  In FL.  Need.  I.  Say.  More?  It got primed and painted.  I painted it with black and brown craft paint.  Wow, putting the paint on took it from this plain Jane looking frame to "This might actually work and look cool!"  I followed it up with a satin finish coat.  It looked more black than I wanted it to after the finish coat, sigh.

Next, I put duct tape along the back, that seemed like the safest option to me.  Then using standard plastic clips I attached the mirror to the back.

Cost breakdown:
3-8 ft. pieces of trim @ approx. $12 each for $36
Corner brackets $1.97
Plastic Clips approx. $5

Here it is with just a bit of staging.  (My light fixture looks a little puny in this photo, but  I like it in the space.  The coordinating chandy is above the bathtub.)  Not bad for just over $40.  It for all the world looks like it cost about $100.  I'm a bit concerned that the mirror will be too heavy for the baseboard and eventually crack it.  If that happens, I'll do it over with heavier pieces of wood.  Edited to add:  This is a full length height, it's hard to tell because my windows and doors are so tall.

(I just found this print today at GW for $7.  The framing is beautiful, there is a tag on the back that shows it was custom framed in a shop in Tampa. )

I would do a project like this again in a heartbeat.  I'm already trying to think of other ways to use that miter saw!!  The downside?  I'll have to dust the mirror more regularly!

A closer look at the plaques.  They have been in a drawer for some time.  I'm aware they are somewhat small, but I've got another idea or two...

Well, what do you think?  Do you like it as much as I do?  Would you do this yourself???

And what would a post be without a fuzzy photo?  The bowling pin is part of an upcoming post - stay tuned.

I'm showing off with: