A new mirror– saved from someone else's diy attempt

If I could also fit "my $25 dining room update" into the title, I would do that. This room was updated by upholstering my chairs in thrift store Ikea curtains (see the details in this post) and a mirror that I found at the Goodwill for $5.  Everything else I already had in other parts of my home; use what you have, eh!

I scoured my house, digging through boxes, bins and my craft room to put the finishing touches on my dining room.


One thing that I needed was something nice for on the wall other than the “D” that I had up.  While digging through my box of frames, I found these two (there are three, but I can’t find the third) pictures.  I love the worn chippy gold look of them.



I found this sad mirror that someone had painted a hideous brown, over what was a really nice gilt gold … so sad.  It was originally $29.99 at homesense , $10 at the goodwill, and 1/2 price day, so $5!!



After removing the left over painters tape from the crevices, which took forever I might add, I taped paper over the mirror and took it outside to spray paint it. I only had one can of gold and it wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but I could make it work.



Much too bright!  I rubbed on some burnt umber paint then wiped most of it off which helped to tone down the gold. It was still too bright and not warm looking at all, so I took out my black distressing ink and went over it with that, rubbing it in as I went.  So much better now, don’t you agree?



I took the roman blind off of my french door, yep I did. I believe in using what you have even if it means my door is now naked. It fit perfectly inside the window frame.

I just love the room now, at least until I tire of it.