DIY Patina Antique Mirrors

Fireplace facing walls can be challenging....

 Let's see....
You can build the usual bookshelves,

 maybe anchor the walls with art, or place furniture against them.

I wanted something that was going to reflect light in our house

but not need to wear sunglasses.

We decided to anchor the walls with a dramatic installation of

antiqued patina mirror tiles.

This is a project that I've been waiting to do.

Behold the bare naked wall...

 When removing the silver from the back of a mirror I used a strong metal stripper(AMPS) and so the instructions stated it would require 70 degree's of heat or higher.
Impatient me tried it in the house and I almost fumigated our family, so.....
 I'll have to wait for Mother nature to bring it!!

So I waited ....and waited.....

Finally a dream forecast of 80 degree weather and most importantly SUN!!

I placed the tiles out on my deck back side up and rolled on my metal Stripper
The sun curdled the backing in minutes.

After I thoroughly cleaned them, I mixed and spayed the back of the mirrors with the patina mixture to achieve my desired look.

Measure ... then measure again, use a level, then measure again...

finally mark your points.

We attached the mirrors with heavy duty double sided taped.

You only get one chance to place your tile,

 there is no moving them after they're attached.

This was the effect... I LOVE IT!!!
You can go lighter or heavier with the patina product.

But it needs a finishing touch... Oh Honey Sweetie Pie!!

 My Hubby customized a stunning frame around the mirrors using 6 inch crown stained in an ebony finish with a pearled acid wash in the grooves.

Double stunning!! 

It's exactly the right amount of light that is reflected back to our living room

 

 

 BELOW: Before the mirrors were framed

BELOW: After the mirrors were framed

 The frames around the mirrors give it a finished and much more substantial look.

Well, it's been fun, and so our next project awaits us....

I've got an IDEA!!!! Oh honey sweetie pie!!!!


 

Kitchen Makeover

Some may know that I'm a realtor and we recently purchased a house
that we are going to grow old and die in

In a Realtors years that's 3 - 5 yrs

At this point it's an addiction to remodel and sell

Let the games begin!!!!

This was our YELLOW oak kitchen and it's about to get a makeover

We wanted a modern french feel, not the bright white cabinets,

but a soft neutral off-white color with a charcoal gray detail glaze

 

This was our tile color before we stained it

It's not bad but we want to go with a grey color scheme

It's very "peachy" in color and it tends to stand out
 

Voila!!!!

 

This is the look we wanted and we achieved it

I love the fact we didn't have to demo the kitchen tile and break the bank

to get a look we wanted

We also added crown molding to finish the look

Whats a french look without the crown. no?

After we painted the cabinets the tile color didn't compliment the rest of the kitchen so I use a product called stain and seal.

I mixed a metallic silver with a ebony and created a nice translucent grey tone.

I cleaned and prepped the surface and applied the product right on the tile

NO PRIMING!!!

I then stippled it and use a very high grade commercial top coat

As you can see the grout took the stain darker

so it looks like a dark gray grout

We love it!!

Next you say ???? A DIY hood vent.

Stay tuned...

Tantalizing Turquoise French Provincial

We found this old little French Provincial vanity/desk on craigslist.

I couldn't wait to take it home and begin my therapeutic relaxation session

with paint.

It was old ... it was vintage.... it was dingy yellow and

it had a little girl's graffiti all over it.

You know what time it is???

It's Prime time!!

Turquoise is the happiest color ever!!!

We all have a color that makes us happy, right?

There are so many happy turquoise colors ,

It was hard to choose from but this made me the happiest.

I couldn't find a zebra stencil large enough so...

I made my own zebra stripe design with frog tape.

Ribbet....

I then detailed in gold metallic and purchased some black and white pulls.

You can't see from the pictures but I glazed the whole thing in a

faux effects gold metallic. I glistened in the sun.

I put the last finishing touch .... Love

I hope there is a little girl out there enjoying it, or a mom, or guy.

As long as it brings happiness.

The many faces of art

Do you have a teenager who is always bored ?????

I used to tell my daughter I was going to hire a full time clown

just to keep her entertained.

So I gave her a camera instead

It's amazing to see her perspective from the eye of a camera.

Meet the new photographer of the house,

Her name is Destiny

She is now currently attending a photography program and is hoping to attend the

Kansas City Art Institute next semester

So as a proud mom.... gush gush smile smile

I present this series of her photography this very talented, once bored,

young lady can range in.....

Real Estate....

Nature....

life....

portraits.....

nostalgia....

artistic....

Fashion.....

color.....

mysterious....

sassy....

happy.....

humerous......

commercial.....

pets.....

moments......

action.....

contrast.....

scale....

We even did the honors and posed for her

Revamped French Provincial Ladies Desk

Zees French lady is suffering from an identity crisis....

I mean ... she's got the french accent but she's not dressed like

zee belle femme, No?...

I feel my pepe le pew accent coming on!!

Zee front....

Zee back....

Hmmm..... zome nice panels to do zomething nice, no? ...

It's makeover time!!

We wanted to do something daring with this piece.

Go big or go home, No?

Zuh Reveal!!

We found 2 amazing complimenting french scences

(that I briefly imagined myself in) and adhered them on the back panels.

Here is a close up, look at the quality of the finish.

Huh! Huh! Oui! Oui!

The details were hand painted with a fine brush.

This was truley a labor of love or should I say labor of "amour"

We could of gone with clear glass knobs but these scarlet color pulls are like that finishing touch of red lipstick, they really add interest to her "face" No?

C'est Magnifique !

BAM!!!!!

We crackled and glazed the beautuful french scene to give it an antique feel.

For the finishing touch we hand painted the scroll accents in a metallic bronze.

We applied several layers of topcoat for a durable finish.

Another beutiful makeover, Isn't she a knock out!!

Pepe le pew said it best when he said....

We really enjoyed the process and creativity of this project, but we cannot become too attached to this little lady, for we will be parting with her.

Oui ! ... She is For Sale !

Contact Mitch 816-516-4824 for inquires

www.kcfauxdesign.com

Zee End....