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DIY Windowpane Mirror

by Jennifer

First, thank you so much for all the nice comments and e-mails after my post last Friday about keeping all the balls in the air.  It truly does bring me some calm to know we’re all in the same boat.  Some days it feels a little more crushing than others, though, you know?

Today I’m sharing the tutorial for making a windowpane mirror, like the one in my post about the bare wall in my kitchen.
How to make a chic windowpane mirror out of simple hardware store materials - by The Chronicles of Home

I’ve loved this look for awhile but hadn’t found a reasonably priced ready-made one around, so gathered up some hardware store materials and set out to make one.  Here’s how you can too:
Materials:
  • 42″ x 36″ mirror
  • 2 – 8′ poplar 1x4s
  • 4 – 4′ poplar hobby boards, 3″ wide
  • 4 – 4′ poplar hobby boards, 1 1/2″ wide
  • 3 – 8′ pieces thin trim moulding (something relatively flat looks best)
  • finishing/brad nails – anything less than 3/4″ long
  • black semi-gloss paint
  • clear adhesive
  • hanging hardware – ring hooks and wire
 
Steps:
Cut the 1x4s with 45º angles at each end – 2@45″ long and 2@39″ long.  Measurement are from the LONGER end of the angles, not the shorter.
Lay the boards on the floor to make a rectangle.
Align one of the 4′, 3″ poplar boards across the top and nail into place, making sure the edges align.  Then repeat along the bottom Wouldn’t you know I don’t have a picture of this step?!  Just ask if this isn’t clear.
Cut the remaining 3″ poplar boards into two 32″ pieces with straight edges and nail along the sides of the rectangle.  These boards are what hold the frame together so make sure you are carefully lining all the pieces up and holding them together while you’re securing the poplar boards.  A corner clamp on the 1×4’s helps.
Next, lay two of the 1 1/2″ poplar boards across the top and bottom and nail into place.  Then cut the remaining  1 1/2″ poplar boards into two 36″ pieces and nail along the sides.  This gives you a lip inside which the mirror will sit.
Paint the inside rim black – otherwise the mirror will reflect the bare wood once it’s in place!
Run a thick bead of clear adhesive all along the inside rim then press the mirror into place (back side up).
Let the mirror lay flat and dry overnight.
Once it’s dry, paint the rest of the frame and the trim moulding for the “panes” black.  Make sure you paint both sides of the trim moulding.
Flip the mirror right side up and mark the center points along each side.  Measure the distance from point to point and cut your trim moulding with straight edges to this measurement.  Run a bead of adhesive along the back and press into place directly on the mirror.
Repeat with two more pieces to form your horizontal panes.
Next mark the center points across the top and bottom.  Measure each section and cut trim moulding to fit, then apply adhesive and press into place.  You want the most snug fit possible here.
Repeat on either side of the center section to complete the panes.
To hang, screw ring hooks into the back on either side, so the tops of the hooks are about 9″ from the top of the mirror.  Attach hanging wire from hook to hook.
The finished mirror will be heavy so make sure you use an appropriate picture hanging hook when you go to hang it on the wall!
How to make a chic windowpane mirror out of simple hardware store materials - by The Chronicles of Home
You can see the console table makeover here!
Linking to Craftberry Bush, Liz Marie Blog, Tatertots and Jello, Whipperberry

Filed Under: Decorating, Furniture Plans

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Comments

  1. sarah m dorsey says

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    This is great!!! I love the scale of it! I recently got a few mirrors cut at a glass shop an it was surprisingly affordable for a custom size!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      I need to find a local glass shop – a friend suggested that to me recently and I had an “OF COURSE!” moment!

      • Provident Home Design says

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        Lowes sells both glass and mirror up to 30 x 36 inches in size ($16 for the largest size). And if you buy it from them they will cut it to whatever size you want for free!

  2. Kristin Cadwallader says

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    You did great Jen! You make it look easy! xo Kristin

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Well it’s no bar cabinet as far as labor goes ;)

  3. pattyday says

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    EASY/PEEZY :) This goes directly to MC!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      You betcha!!

  4. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

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    Awesome! I seriously love how this turned out!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Thanks, Ashley!

  5. Cassie Bustamante says

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    you rock! girls who can build awesome things rule.

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Seriously, I need to get that on a t-shirt!

  6. Rachel Rardon says

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    Dang, you’re good. Love when a DIY looks so expensive – this one rocks!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Awesome – thank you!!

  7. Bethany DeVore says

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    It looks so good and so high end!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      That’s so nice, Bethany – thank you!!

  8. Julia @cuckoo4design says

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    Pinned because I love it

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Haha – thank you, sweet friend!

  9. Jennifer Susil Griffin says

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    You are the master carpenter! Love this little spot in your kitchen!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Haha! Thank you on both counts :)

  10. Danielle Driscoll says

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    Looks so great! x

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Thanks, Danielle!

  11. Provident Home Design says

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    This turned out amazingly! I recently did a tutorial on making one of these beauties out of an old window pane. I am SO impressed you created it from scratch! Great work!:-)

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Thank you! I’d been looking around for an old pane to use but hadn’t seen any the size I wanted. The things that are borne of “necessity”… :)

  12. kristen says

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    So curious what paint color that is on the walls! Looks great :)

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Hi! It’s Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray.

  13. Maureen Carey Allen says

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    Love this! Quick question on the vertical molding. It looks to sit on top of the horizontal molding – what did you do to ensure it stayed in place given it doesn’t have as much surface area to adhere to?

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Hi Maureen – it actually doesn’t sit on top of the horizontal pieces. The horizontal pieces run the full width of the mirror, glued to the mirror surface with clear adhesive. The vertical pieces are cut to fit in between each horizontal piece, and are also glued to the surface of the mirror. Hope this helps!

  14. Krystal says

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    I feel really silly. I am planning to make this, but I can’t understand how it goes together. I think it’s because I don’t have a visual of how the 3″ boards attach. I’m imagining it would cause about a 1″ gap between the mirror and the frame. I’d really appreciate advice/clarification. Thank you :)

Trackbacks

  1. Free Spring Printable says:
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    […] tutorial for making the DIY windowpane mirror can be found […]

  2. Christmas Home Tour 2014 says:
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    […] kitchen I set up a little bottle brush forest on the black and gold console table.  You can find a tutorial for making the windowpane mirror […]

  3. Fall Home Tour 2014 says:
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    […] Coming into the kitchen, I arranged my favorite white mini pumpkins in a row and added fresh, seasonal flowers and greenery on the black console table (details on the table can be found HERE and on the DIY windowpane mirror HERE). […]

  4. D.I.Y Ideas for Spring | turnkeyandtruss says:
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    […] and wallah, a beautiful mirror to add to any space. For a detailed how-to tutorial click HERE or HERE for a more windowpane style […]

  5. Spring Home Tour says:
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    […] I placed a few small bunches of flowers on the black console table in my kitchen. Details on the DIY windowpane mirror can be found […]






Meet Jen

I'm a design and DIY lover, decorator, modern home-maker, foodie, fashion enthusiast, and jill-of-all-trades when it comes to home improvement. I'm slowly but surely adding classic-contemporary style to my early 90's colonial home one inch at a time and I'm taking you along for the ride.

It's often messy - there are usually project remnants and toys strewn about - but the making of a home isn't always tidy work and I love showing you how you can make and style and organize your way to a home and a life you love!

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