Craigslist Mirror Transformation and Tutorial

Another transformation brought to you by Annie Sloan Paint!

I am so exited to share this with you!

I purchased this Victorian pier mirror from Craigslist about a year ago, for $200!  See post here.  The kind people even delivered it sixty five miles from Valparaiso, Indiana for the price of gasoline!

The mirror stands over eight feet tall.  It was formerly a built in.

The first detail to catch my eye was this carved laurel wreath!

The columns were also ornately carved, but in disrepair.

The mirror had spent a great deal of time in the couple's barn after they salvaged it from a local Indiana mansion.  It was covered in hay and smelled of gasoline when they delivered it.  It was coated in years of dust and grime.  

I spent hours cleaning it with lavender essential oil.

I had longed for a large trumeau like this but the cost put it way beyond my reach...

From Christie's...

Now that I had something I could work with, I did a great deal of research...

This mirror is from the Christie's website.  It cost more than a college education.

This mirror is also from the Christie's website.  Note the similar detail?

I had no problem painting my Victorian pier mirror because the finish was fairly damaged.

I chose Annie Sloan Paris Grey.  I only needed one coat!  That has never happened to me before!  I decided to use real gold leaf on the details.  I have a cherub bed crown that I wanted to place at the top.  It is gilded in leaf and I wanted the finish to be the same.  Here is the mirror wih one coat of Annie Sloan Paris Grey.  See the gold leaf on the details?  I'll show you how it's done.

Gilded bed crown that I needed to match.

When you buy gold leaf it comes in a "book", each leaf is very thin and delicate, so they place it between layers of tissue paper.  Be certain to work in an area free of breezes!  Turn off the ceiling fan, close the windows and ask your handsome husband to please stop walking past and creating drafts!  You may have to repeat that last step several times!  LOL!

 Cut  wax paper to the size of the sheets.  I use a new piece of wax paper for each leaf.  Lay the wax paper on the leaf and gently rub...it will stick.  Then take the leaf and apply it to your surface, keeping the wax paper on top.  Gently burnish the leaf to the surface with a soft paintbrush.  Don't worry if it isn't perfect!  You have time to reapply leaf.  It is a VERY messy undertaking! Keep any extra pieces to fill in spots.

Before I applied the gold leaf I painted the details with a burgundy red primer to match the detail of the cherub bed crown.  I used plain old acrylic craft paint.

I remember thinking I was making a big mistake at this point.  The mirror looked like an Independence Day float!  I hummed patriotic songs quietly to myself as I worked.

I used Elmer's Glue instead of the recommended sizing because it dries faster and I am a very impatient girl!  The sizing can take 45 minutes to several hours  before you can apply the leaf!  Craft glue takes about 10 minutes or so...Make sure to paint a thin, even coat of glue (or sizing) and get into the crevices When it is tacky to the touch, apply your leaf, making certain to use your soft paintbrush to push the leaf into the crevices.  Again, it is very messy and you will never get all the crevices the first time. Use the "flakes" to fill in the gaps.  I wanted some of the red paint to show through, to mimic age, so I intentionally left small cracks.

Before I brushed the glue on to the surface, I painted the hardest to reach spots with Rub N' Buff in Gold Leaf.

I let the glue dry overnight.

When the glue is dry, take a paintbrush and brush the excess gold leaf away from the details...be careful not to get it in your eyes!

After the gold leaf was completed, I waxed the entire piece with Annie Sloan Clear Wax and then her Dark Wax, carefully working the Dark Wax into the carving detail.

Be certain to have plenty of towels on hand to wipe away the Dark Wax as you apply it!  Time is of the essence!

Here is the finished mirror, with the cherub bed crown attached.  I photographed this at night, so the lighting is not optimal.  I promise better photos when the sun comes up! Natural lighting is best!  Like I said, I was so excited to share this with you!

The trumeau mirror is in my 18 foot high entry hall.  It is perfect to reflect light from the loft area.  This is the view from the Library.

I absolutely LOVE the silver leaf mirror's aged patina!  Don't you?

I have fond memories of Wilberforce, stopping to look at his reflection in this mirror, before and after each of our walks.  I imagine he had never seen such a handsome dog in all his days!

View from the Music Room...

This is a better representation of the color and finish...View from the Library...

Mirror in the light of day...

Atticus, Mabel and McGillicuddy, supervising from the daybed in the Library. They agree...natural light is best!  Pardon the mess, I just gave away two bookshelves that I was not in love with, which means we now have books everywhere!  The Oriental carpet is rolled up on the other side of the Library...waiting.  The red velvet drapes from an English manor are hanging in their plastic in the closet...waiting...so much, still, to do!

Bonnet Detail...

Bonnet detail...

Medallion detail...

Capital detail...

Wreath detail...see the subtle red?

Atticus is more interested in his reflection than all my hard work!  

Mabel, admiring her beauty!

Eerie reflection...

I couldn't be happier with the results!

No one has to know how little it cost...shhh!

Before and After!

I hope my instructions were thorough enough.  If you have any questions, I will be happy to help!

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to buy a gallon of spackle to fill the 5,672 holes in the wall that I made when I hung the Blackamoor sconces. First they were too high, then too low, then too far apart, then too close together!  I think I finally have them just right!

xo

Andie

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