apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

http://www.glassdeco.com/thumbnails.cfm

If you don't want to use the mirrors - maybe consider some removable vinyl film to "frost" the mirror.

Consider the idea of sheer curtains in front of the doors to match some sheer curtains on the windows! Then you have light, but not such a relentless reflection? And it might seem like you have more windows? OK, OK, OK, I know... you'd then have TWO things to open every time. But it might be night, though.

Cheap but pretty: stencil design made with Matte Medium. I purchased a $6. bottle of Matte Medium at the art supply store and applied it with a small paint roller to some windows in my house. Can't see why it wouldn't work for mirrors.

The look is similar to frosted or etched glass, but very inexpensive and not permanent. Design can be scraped off with a razor when you move out.

If you're freaking out about the doors now, and the apartment is in an unfinished state as that pic would imply, hold off on the panic. I think what else you put where can help you *not* focus on them so much.

If you still don't like them then, I second the motion on applying frosting film, perhaps in wide even bands.

Ironically, I really want to mirror my closet doors. I really like the look.

i second (or third) the idea of some sort of vinyl covering- you could even use just a taping or thinner strips, to make it look like a shoji screen or window- but i like JenPDX's idea of frosted film too-

Can't you take them down, stash them somewhere in the back of the closet and put up curtains a la Maxwell's famous setup, then put the doors back up when you leave the rental?

My roommate and I did this at a house with these awful swing aluminum louvered closet doors. They just popped in and out. Our terrifying landlord was grouchy about it - said we wouldn't be able to get them back in. But they weren't any problem at all. Such dust magnets they were!

These look like they're on a track and could just pop out.

Oh, and same house - we had vertical blinds too! I took them down too because they were such a pain, hanging over the sliding glass door to the back patio. I replaced them with a curtain rod and drapes. They were a little trickier to put back up when we left but it was worth it.

haha - just saw that alec totally already gave that suggestion. *blush*

yeah, take them down and stash them under the bed, and put them back when you move. no prob. Same with the blinds. Just tape the hardware/ screws to the doors and blinds when you store them, so you don't have to hunt for them later and they fit their old holes perfectly.

Syd,

I'd like to try the matte medium idea. What kind of stencil did you use?

Thanks.

I wholeheartedly agree with Patrick (the other one). I rented an apt. in CA once with mirrored closet doors, just like those. Before I moved in, I obsessed about what to cover them with - fabric, color, sheers, etc. -- and how much I was going to hate them. Once I moved in, there was so much else to do, covering up the mirrors sank to the bottom of my "to do" list, and when I was finally all moved in with all my stuff, I actually started to like them. So I say live with them for awhile. If you still hate them, I've also applied a sheer rice paper (from Kate's Paperie) with a glue that comes off when you move. It gives an opalescent quality to glass and mirrors. Those decals are cool too. So are those adhesive window coverings from http://decor8.blogspot.com/2006/02/2-jane.html
Hang in there.

Again, I need more info! Barbara: What kind of glue would you suggest to someone wishing to try the rice paper idea?

Lesley - I hadn't realized on was on the L.A. page when I sent the info about the rice paper, because I bought it all at Kate's Paperie here in NYC. They gave me the glue to use and it was so long ago, I'm sorry, I don't remember. I know it was water based, very thin, and I easily applied it with a brush. I know there are shops in L.A., is that where you are?? that have similar specialty paper things -- maybe Soolip on Melrose, I think, near the design center. If not, a good art supply store will have it. If not, maybe Kate's has a website? or call them here in New York. If you don't know them, they are on Broadway in SoHo. Maybe they can tell you. Sorry I'm so vague. oh, p.s. they may even have a similar rice paper that you can paint on with just water. I've heard of that too and then when you want to remove it, you might be able to just sponge it off.

Check out http://www.wallpaperforwindows.com/

They have static cling vinyl films - no adhesive, so they don't damage the glass. I used their "Doral" in a spare bedroom that I use as a den.

http://www.wallpaperforwindows.com/shop/d_images/ea2650-a.jpg

Of course you can also do plain frosted.

Another one worth checking out is the Solyx films at http://www.decorativefilms.com

I haven't bought any but I did get some samples from them and they're heavy, quality films. Plus they have a lot more choices.

One plus for the "Wallpaper for Windows" products is you can buy them in the bigger grocery stores (here we have a chain called Fred Meyer that carries them) or wallpaper stores. I got mine at a hole-in-the-wall wallpaper store in a strip mall. Instant gratification.

Thanks everyone. Removing them isn't an option as they are floor to ceiling and there are shelves in the closets. I do think I'm going to take the verticle blinds down and stow them under the bed, tho.

Hey mscot:

This suggestion may sound wierd but I have done it once for a client but unfortunately I didn't take pictures of the end product.

I hope this doesn't get too confusing. What we did with her vertical blinds was we took the shades off the clips on the track and stored them. We then were able to use the clips and the existing track as a drapery system, much like the ones you would pay hundreds of dollars for. We had custom curtains made for the track using curtain hooks on the tops of the panels instead of tab tops or pocket tops. The hooks get placed right into the clips on the track. We then made a really simple swag to cover the ugly track. So what you get is a new window treatment using the existing track and hardware. It's a bit easier than taking the whole thing down, patching and painting the holes then reinstalling a curtain rod. You also get a mechanism so that you just open and close the drapery with the cable.

You could do it with ready made panels using curtain clips that have hooks instead of rings, Umbra makes them.

Hope that wasn't too confusing. I can clarify if you need me to.

If you don't like the mirrors just flip the doors so the backs are showing you can paint the back any color. The only problem the hardware rollers might be showing.

okay, this on i saw on candice olsen's tv show and it made me want to get glass closet doors so i can do this-- she used plain frosted window vinyl film, but did them in horizontal stripes alternating frost and mirror in equal height. she carried out that theme in other parts of the room (ie, she used engineered wood flooring and covered a wall horizontally, etc), but i think the glass door was brilliant.

I was going to install mirrored doors since my closets were odd sized and I dod not vave many other options, but instead I made some sliding panels with tanslucent coroplast, and IMHO they came out pretty cool.The materials cost about $100.00, slightly more than the mirrored doors, but a better choice, I think. Pics are linked on the URL above.

So I finally moved my clothes into one of the closets last night. The closet isn't even deep enough to keep the clothes from hitting the door! Argh. I think scrapping the door and hanging cloth is going to be my only option. Whoever designed this place is not high on my list right now.

I want to cover mirrored closet doors. I don't care if it is permanent or not I just can't stand the sight of them any longer.

Does anyone know if a special primer has to be used to wallpaper mirrored closet doors? Or can regular wallpaper paste be used? Also, is there such a thing as a temporary hold wallpaper paste that may in the future be removed with water or something like that? I don't want to damage the mirrored doors as someone else living here in the future might like them. In the meantime, I can't stand the mirrors. Thanks.