As you can see that without very tall, fresh flowers, the mirror is just a bit too small for the space on its own. I also think the crystal candle holders were making the mantle look err... a bit too elderly? I love the retro look of the milk glass but I think I was going overboard and jumping way too far into the throwback deep end. I really needed to add something to each side of the mirror for better scale.
So check out these aweso... awful mirrors gifted from my Mom. Hello, Seventies Gold Plaster! And thanks, Mom - I know you saw their potential too!
I forgot to take a picture of the mirrors before I covered the inside with newspaper but you get the picture - they were hideous and obviously not going to compliment the Rococo mirror in their current state. I did love the style though and figured there had to be a way to make them work. I purchased some spray primer, a glossy white spray paint and, just in case, a high shine glaze. I also needed to repair a few plaster chips and broken pieces thanks to my oh-so-helpful cat, Panthro. A little Elmer's Glue (it does a great job on plaster) and they were good to go - not exactly perfect but I think that's part of the charm of my hand-me-down Seventies plaster mirrors. Here's the priming stage:
So after the priming and painting, they just weren't as shiny as my Rococo mirror and I definitely needed the glossy coat. I used FolkArt Clearcote Hi-Shine Glaze by Plaid. I chose this one because it said brilliant finish and non-yellowing. I work in marketing and that was all it took to sell me... also I think it was the only option at Michaels. Done and done. It worked great and no noticeable yellowing as of yet.
And here's what our little spot over the fireplace is looking like now:
Very white! But I think the balance is so much better now. And the mirrors actually look like they belong together. As for the stuff on the mantle, I keep moving things around - it will probably change daily. We've still got a lot to do color-wise in this room but first we need to get rid of our ugly red couch and replace it with something more neutral - thinking charcoal gray. Once that happens, I'll be able to settle on some pops of color (most likely blues and yellows) to add to the mantle but I'm happy with what's there for now. We've actually got a few projects in store for this room - one really big one and a few little ones (like curtains to cover those plain windows you can see on each side of the fireplace). Here's to hoping we can stay motivated and make some of those projects happen soon! ***Update*** 8/23/11 - I won two gallons of paint from Valspar so this room will be getting its new color very soon! They just introduced a new line that is Zero VOC and Certified Asthma/Allergy friendly. How great is that? And since I have asthma AND allergies, and have quite a few rooms to paint, I'm really looking forward to trying it out. I've been skimming through Valspar's online color selector and have it narrowed down but I think I need to check them out in person before I seal the deal. Can't always trust a monitor. But as I mentioned before, I've been spending a lot of time in the grays & blacks section. Can't wait to get painting!
Check out the new Valspar paint here: http://www.valsparpaint.com/en/find-the-right-product/interior/paint/valspar-plus.htm
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