The mirror was a great find for the price but I wasn’t happy with the oak color. Do you see that pennant banner reflected in the mirror? That was back before Halloween. This project took way longer than it should have and this is why…
I rubbed some liquid sander on the mirror and used PolyShades Minwax. Big mistake. After three coats it looked like this. Not bad, but not nearly as rich and dark as I wanted. Ugh. I had to start all over again. I didn’t want to start all over again, pout, pout, cross arms, stamp foot. So instead I just stuck it in a corner and left it there until I felt like dealing with it again.
This time I used Mixwax Dark Walnut Stain. It takes days to dry, but it is worth the wait. This was much more of what I was going for!
Looks pretty good!
The chunky baskets, lanterns, topiary, and pineapple finial thingy are all from the Christmas Tree Shop and were all cheap, cheap, cheap! I told you all that store is awesome. If you have one near you, it is worth a trip. And, Stephanie, if you are reading this leave a comment! It was so great to meet you in the store!
I gave the pineapple a little makeover.
Your mirror turned out beautiful! That brick wall is amazing!!! I so wish I had an exposed brick wall in my dining room or kitchen. So pretty! Love your lanterns too!
Totally awesome! Love your ingenuity!
Breathing into paper bag as I type.
Your redo took my breath away!!!!
That brick wall is amazing!!! Did it come that way or did you do it yourself?
I'm loving it. Up against that brick wall…Beautiful.
I like the Christmas Tree Shop too. You can find some wonderful things in there.
Hugs,
Cindy
I absolutely love it!!! You are doing a fantastic job and I can't wait to see the finale!! Wahoo! I will working on my formal dining room in the next couple of months and you and I have the same dark dining table, chairs, and sideboard. I too want to incorporate some lighter colors to pop against the dark wood finish. I am thinking cream and maybe a buttery yellow. Not exactly sure yet. Take a peak at my blog if you get a chance:)
Thanks so much for linking this up to my Make it Yours party!
I read your post about your framed silver. I never would have thought to use florist pins. I just noticed that you also have a photo of it in your blog header…Very nice!
Really, really pretty. Great job. And I don't even want to THINK about the brick problem. Bless you.
The brick wall is wonderful texture to work with. Everything looks great – I really like the chunky baskets and Mrs. Potts on the candlestick.
I love this whole set-up. Your sideboard is beautiful! Can you please share where you got it? I have been looking for 1 for a long time & this is exactly what I want. Thanks!
Looking great. Agree with you over 78% on the candlestick trick.
I'm hosting my first giveaway on my blog and wanted to invite you to stop by for a chance to win free art print(s):
http://theredchairblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/introducing-prairie-storms-prints-and.html
It looks very pretty, Beth. The sconces are awesome and I give yo ua big plus for being able to hang them on your brick wall, which I lovve BTW. I have a brick wall in our kitchen too. I like how you put stuff on pedestals. The mirror turned out perfectly….Christine
Bee you tee ful! There is something about the warmth that wood brings to a space and you've topped it off perfectly (of course) with so much texture, flow and interest. I love what you do!
I am loving it! And I hear you about the brick walls. I see so many of you US chicks take shoes and hammer your curtains up your walls (uh in fact I only SAW one girl do that, you know who) and I look at all of our brick walls and sigh.
Houses here always have brick or cement walls all over, it takes some serious drilling and plug using to get anything up a wall here.
The Christmas tree shop? Got to put that on my list for my next visit to the States.
Love, M
I like what you did and love the lanterns. They look like they were made to go together, so you did a great job! Beautiful sideboard, too. Everything looks great.
I am jealous of your brick wall! It looks like the mirror came with your sideboard, not from Goodwill! Fabulous!
Beth – I love this whole room. I like the rug underneath your table too. I picked one up at a yard sale this summerfor just $10, but my hubby doesn't like the "way it feels on his feet." So now it's in the garage. Any ideas? Jamey Mc
I love, love, love all of it. I wish I had one of those Christmas stores in our area – darn! Cute tushie, mantel and sideboard….okay….you can stop now.
It all looks so good! Don't you just love a great bargain!
Ok…the 1st thing I thought when I saw your 1st picture, was "that is the cutest white teapot I have ever seen!" Then you had a close up of it! I think you are right…I love it that much more, because it is on a candlestick!
I love the look you achieved! It is so beautiful. You are one talented blogging gal!
Love liquid sander and your sideboard and surrounding area is FAB.
Come visit my blog for a Valentine GIVEAWAY,
Sylvia
Beth,
That looks awesome! I fell in love with the little teapot on the candlestick. What a fabulous idea! I'll have to store that one in my overstuffed mind.
I love the lanterns too! They look just perfect on that brick wall. BE-A-U-TIFUL!
Thanks for sharing,
Traci
SO so beautiful! I love your brick. It has so much character. Wonderful transformation. I love those little lanterns you hung. Everything is so pretty!
XOXO
Jen
I'm a-lovin' it! My favorite is the teapot on the candlestick. It would go good somewhere near my teacup mirror!;D
Beautiful! I love the simplicity of the white and simple greens. You make me want to run to CTD like right now…instead I have to get dinner started =( The mirror looks great. I like the re-do a lot. Looks like it came with your other furniture.
I like! You have great taste!
Thanks everyone! Just to clarify the lanterns came from the Christmas Tree Shop. The plant hook thingies came from Big Lots. Don't want anyone to be disappointed when they can't find those fab lanterns!
It looks really great! I just love your brick wall. I also just did a similar makeover on a mirror that had a horrible crackle finish on it. I'm waiting for hubby to hang it in our bathroom. I'd do it myself, but it's about 50 pounds!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this…everything is looking beautiful! The brick wall is a favorite. I'm want one….hehe! And apparently I need to start checking out Big Lots more often! Those lanterns are great!
I can't believe you found those lanterns at Big Lots! I honestly thought they came from PB or something. That whole sideboard setup/brick wall look amazing. Great job!
Just lovely! Love the brick. I am sure that with the lights low and the candles burning, it will be so warm and cozy!
I like it!!! Love those lanterns and the mirror turned out great. 🙂 Sometimes you just need a little break from a project like that. 😉
It looks lovely! The mirror is terrific (glad to know that I am not alone in punishing inanimate objects by ignoring them!)Putting the teapot on a candlesick it so creative and effective! Great job.
A definite improval! It was a bit bare before, now it is cosy and balanced. The lanterns are beautiful. And I love the teapot, too.
Looks awesome!! I love that brick wall too, the lanterns and that lil tea pot…everything looks great!!~
It looks great. The lanterns are my favorite! I'm also curious about the framed silverware you get a peek of in the mirror. Let's see more!
I'm hosting a linky party today and I'd love to have you come by and link this up!
Have a great day!
Wow, love what some good finds, paint, and creativity can do! Love it all! Really like your brick wall!
Thanks for sharing!
Jody
Absolutely LOVE it! Those hanging lanterns are totally my favorite too, and I learned something new today. I have a zillion candle stick holders, so I am going to mix it up and put something other than candles on them. Yay for today's tip!
Looking good. I love the lantern candle holders. Nice
so far i think it is all awesome!
love the wood and how warm the look feels!
those lanterns and hooks are just fabulous!!
LOVE the lanterns! I will be heading out today to look for some — CTS is a favorite of mine. I'm going to have to try Big Lots!
Hi Beth, it's Stephanie! Great to meet you at the store,that is one of my favorite places too. So are Big Lots and the Salvation Army store at Union Deposit, love that place!! That is usually a weekly visit for me. I have found some incredible deals there. Your mirror looks amazing! Take care!
Those lanterns are ADORABLE, I can't get over the price….
Awesome Beth…
Kathy 🙂
Looks fantastic! I do the same thing when something doesn't go well – stick it in a corner until I'm over being mad about it – LOL : )
Beauitul job, I really like what you've done! =) I also love how the lamps plank the mirror. ~Liz
I think it looks great ! I'm having a hard time staining something right now too.
Oh! And I totally have that topiary…times 3! I stuck them into some tall clay tpot so you only see the green part. I think we need to go shopping together! 🙂
What a beautiful room!
So Cute!!
Oh my goodness, Beth! It looks beautiful! I can imagine that the drilling of the brick was terrible, but it was soooo worth it! Looks perfect!
SO cute! I love the lanterns on either side of the mirror. I need to do that in my dining room.
Oh my gosh! I love it! The mirror stain is indeed perfect. And girl, I love, love, love the Christmas Tree Shop! I gotta get there to see if mine has those baskets. I adore how you hung the lanterns. Great idea!
~WOW! This looks so pretty! Love the lanterns. 🙂
I love it! The mirror turned out great! It looks the same as the sideboard now. You're the second person I read today who mentioned Big Lots ~ I think I need to go there!
Wow…WOW! the wood, the brick, the white….I am so in love with the look you have going on in that room.
it all looks so good. i hate when projects don't go "our" way. but you are so right – it was worth the wait. the mirror frame is such a rich color. love the laterns – too!
have a good day!
p.s. lovin' the new header design.
Looks great !! I really love the hanging lanterns and how you added the rocks to them !! (Love your new banner/header, too.) Take care, Becca
I so "LOVE" those lanterns!! And how cute is your teapot on a candlestick?! Well,I guess 78% cuter!! LOL!! Too cute,I will have to try something like that!!
Natalie,
PURDY! love the hanging lantern looking bowls. Most of all how lucky to have an exposed brick wall. LOVE THAT! LOOKS great!
It looks beautiful, Beth! I found one of those pineapple things at goodwill for 49 cents – I slapped some "stone" paint on it, and it looks identical to yours! And… yes! Put anything on a candlestick and it's instantly fab!