We spotted this neat idea from the Spring 2007 "Befor & After" special publication from Better Homes and Gardens. Many of you renters might have a similar bathroom setup. Extra large mirror with a single sink in the middle. Pretty flat and boring. But as you can see in the photo, they were able to add some architectural interest without having to take anything down or have anything custom built...
They purchased two pre-made wall cabinets that traditionally would be mounted, but instead, simply left them sitting on the counter, flanking either side of the sink. Note that the bottom cabinets match the color of the cabinets on top, which makes one cohesive look. In the middle of the mirror over the sink, they attached an over-sized frame. We saw this trick recently on a TV makeover show, and all they used was double stick velcro. This gives plenty of grip, but is also removable. (It probably would be wise to use a lightweight frame.) The effect gives the look of built in cabinets, without the build. Has anyone tried this idea? Does anyone have any other non-permanent but high impact suggestions for bathrooms? Please share in the comments!
Image from Before&After- a Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publication
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Brilliant!
I have the exact set up and HATE it. I actually need to post some pictures to get help w/ our horrible bathroom. But this is a great, easy, quick solution.
view smallhousebiglife's profile
We have a similar set up in our apartment, though the toilet is at one end of the mirror, so there is only a small ledge on that side to accomodate the toilet. The problem with the other side is that the medicine cabinet on a wall above the other side, such that if we placed a cabinet on the counter, it would partially obstruct the cabinet and look "off" I think. I would love to hear some other ideas, though.
view MeganB.'s profile
hey smallhousebiglife- please share what you end up doing! we'd love to see it!!
view jonathan's profile
MeganB, can you send us a pic or tag a flickr photo so we can see what it looks like?
view jonathan's profile
I think I saw that same TV make-over show, and have been considering doing the frame thing. I've got the single sink in the middle, but a much smaller cabinet - only about 5-6 inches on either side of the sink, but the huge mirror extends nearly a foot past the cabinet on one side, actually stopping about 3 inches over the toilet! ANYthing I've tried to do there looks awkward, and the undersink cabinet is the only storage in the bathroom. (The apartment has no linen closet, either.) I've thought about gluing clear plexi shelves to the mirror on one side to hold some toiletries - the medicine cabinet is on the adjoining wall to the right (and isn't even fully recessed) so shevles on that side aren't an option. sigh. If I owned this place...
view oceandreamer56's profile
This looks great! My mother has been wanting to hang a frame over her bathroom mirror and we were stumped on how to do it-the mirror is very tall and we weren't crazy about the wire being exposed.
Oceandreamer-why not hang a cabinet or a shelf unit over your toilet that would cover over that part of the mirror?
view pelicolina's profile
Is there a better link for the original article? The original link brings me to the home page and I can't find the article. This is a really cook transformation since it is relatively easy.
view scrappy25's profile
Hi Pelicolina - thanks for your suggestion (and I'm real open to any others!). I did have one of those etageres (sp?) similar to this:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13707960&RN=370
but with the mirror there we weren't able to anchor it to the wall on that side. After a year of getting bumped, jostled and pulling towels off the shelf, the other side had worked it's way fairly loose.
I'll try to get a couple photos posted on Flickr in the next day or so:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceandreamer56/
Quality and size won't be great but you'll be able to get the idea.
view oceandreamer56's profile
hi scrappy25, unfotunately, there isn't a link to an actual article. I actually saw it in the magazine. It's the "Before & After" "special publication" magazine that is put out by Better Homes & Garden - I got mine at Barnes & Noble the other night- it's the Spring 2007 issue. The article in the magazine doesn't actually go into detail about what they did to the bathroom, but I thought the picture gave some great inspiration for a DIY solution. Hope that helps?
view jonathan's profile
Jonathan- thanks, that helps. The picture and your explanation already gives a lot of information. Appreciate it and all your finds!
view scrappy25's profile
I have trying to come up with the right solution for mirrors above a sink that's against the wall. I couldn't put a beautifully framed mirror in the middle of the wall because then it wouldn't be over the sink where I need it. This solution is perfect. I can have my beautiful mirror in the middle with 2 frameless mirrors on either side to balance it out.
view anne's profile