like the mirror and lights!! Paint the cabinet to match the dark frame of the mirror.

I agree - like the mirror and lights - cabinet would look good darker - either stain or paint.

Are you planning on painting the vanity? If you keep that mirror I think you're going to need to.

Love the lights- very cool look. Would love the look if the cabinets was the same color as the mirror.
If I remember right, this bath is Laura Ashley Olive4? Do you know if it is similar to BM Olive Branch? I think I figured out to post pics and am struggling between a few greens. I love your green kitchen pics here!
Thanks

I agree the vanity needs to be darker. I'll have to paint I guess since the side is fake wood. Right? I can't stain it? (I think the side looks cheesy anyhow.) I'm one that cringes at painting wood but it's not like this is antique mahogany or anything.

The mirror is black so black? Dark brown?

Once the lights are scooted out more do you think they need raised towards the top part of the mirror or where they're at?

Homebodymom - Thanks! Yes, the paint is LA Olive 4. Olive Branch had a more brown undertone but it's still green. Here's a photo with the LA against the Olive Branch. The wall to the right is more accurate of the OB. Hope this h{{!gwi}}elps!
Here's the shot that made me want the Olive 4. Rhoda's DR. (Southern Hospitality blog)
{{!gwi}}

Shee .. the vanity would look great black, especially up against your beautiful wall color!

LOVE the mirror! The size is perfect! I agree, the cab should match the darker mirror. I'm really liking anything in black wood right now.....so..........

I think this mirror will be great, the mock up looks right to me (but it's hard to tell how much space is between the backsplash and the bottom or the mirror and I know you said you were not painting the cabinet, but I think you'd be really surprised at how easy it is to do and how it will really change up the room, so I'd also vote to paint the cabinet base black too. And I have always loved those lights, they are so charming and romantic (thats what I'm reminded of when I see them)

I don't care for the lights, but it looks as though you don't have another option without calling in an electrician. I just removed the same lights from a house my husband is flipping in favor of something more modern (which I haven't picked out yet LOL). But I don't think he would have let me get rid of them except we're having the electrician out for another project. It's no wonder people wait 20 - 30 years to do these projects.

The mirror is the perfect size. The cabs can be painted rather easily. I did mine this summer from an early 90's whitewashed maple to a rich dark espresso, almost black. I also changed the hardware from white porcelain to brushed nickel. I love it everytime I see it! You can do it shee. It's not hard and yes the veneer won't take stain, but it can be painted! FWIW I used Behr espresso from their new paint and primer line.

Yeeah the lights. For now, and probably for some time, they need to stay. DH finally said ok to changing them a couple months ago but getting an electrician here (had other larger things that needed and still need done) was like pulling teeth. So being that they stay for now, do you think they should be raised?

I will be painting the cabinet.

Kmcg - I have that photo saved! I really like it. I've been really wanting to paint something like this... (and try Igloochic's directions)
Igloochic's pic.
SW Woodsey Brown (trim)
{{!gwi}}
Woodsey Brown mixed with black (trim and door)
{{!gwi}}
Like one better than the other?

I think the mirror and cabs should match. So either go with what the mirror is or paint both to the color of your liking :)

I think the shape of the mirror is fine, but I don't care for the dark finish unless you are going to paint the vanity.

I realize it is hard to tell from the pix, but I am not sure how you are going to move the lights out further. You want some space between the fixture and the wall, and they seem to be hung in the right line with the cabinet below.

Also not clear on why you would shorten the chain? It needs to drape to look proper for the style of the fixture. I would also replace the white hooks with some in antique brass to match the fixture. Right now the chains look like they are kind of floating, because the hooks disappear in the ceiling. Remember, the hooks are integral part of the fixture as it is hung, so they should be visible.

This might be a strange question, but.....is your olive 4 paint in a flat finish? I am sampling a few green paints for my kitchen/greatroom (here on the forum if you want to give your opinion :) ). I loved the first sample I got- HD the samples came in flat. I went to Lowes to get a few more samples of others ( Ardmore Green and B. Turtle) and got another sample there of the Olive 4 and those samples all came satin. The Olive 4 satin looks much darker than the flat. Your pics look like the lighter/flat version that I liked.
Thanks !!

where did your towel bar go ?

Shee, I don't know if your hubby does any electrical work at all, but your hanging lights could easily be swapped for a ceiling mount fixture such as a 'tailored' chandelier that hangs down some to fill the space between the ceiling and the new mirror.

I think your current lights may not be the best style for what we can see in the bathroom, which is more modern in style. Putting a new fixture where the hanging one is now, is a piece of cake - just turn the power off before exchanging what is there now for a different fixture. No electrician needed.

I'm not suggesting this one, but I put this up in my half bath, to replace the original ceiling mount that I had put in when I added the room years before. Very easy to do.

{{!gwi}}

*Vanity will be painted as I agree it doesn't look good with the mirror that way.*

Les - It is hard to tell from these photos but even moving them out further there would still be space between the wall and the lights.
You think they're ok where they are? They're going to reflect more in the mirror.
I thought the chain needed shorntened a 'little' so they didn't loop quite as low as they do.

Homebodymom - I'll head over to your thread. My walls are semigloss. I took the Lowes sample and had Ace match it (spot on) but picked semig finish.

Mitch - Had to take it down because the one ends came out of the wall. Not digging the urn huh? I'm going to put a longer towel bar up at some point just need to buy one. It's rare anyone takes a shower in here so I wasn't in a hurry.

My3dogs - I'm hoping you mean modern in the sense that it's just more updated than the lights because I prefer traditional decorating.
I did consider doing that before but the problem is the back of that round plate is only 5" from the wall. The middle is only 7". Seems like anything I hang would hit the wall. Open to suggestions.
Thanks for posting your photo!

Hey Shee!
Mirror is perfect fit ~ agree with others about painting cab. Hang & paint and then figure out the lighting. I thought Les' idea about the hooks matching was great.

Smiles:)

Take a look at gel stains like Minwax Polyshades. I have used it on wood furniture and like the results. You have to apply multiple coats and it looks terrible until you get enough coats of the stain on.

Here is a link that might be useful: Minwax polyshades

Why not paint the mirror frame with antique brass metal paint, then you would not have to paint the vanity. It seems to me that the vanity and mirror in a lighter tone than espresso would be less jarring.

I do dig the urn for the towels, cool !!! was just curious about the towel bar since it was there before.

Hang mirror first - check. :)

Graywings - I don't think I can use the polyshades because the side is fake wood/formica.

Mitchdesj - That's another thought. I'll have to check around at places like Michaels.

I wonder why the electrical box was put in that spot in the first place. It should've either been on the wall above the mirror or two boxes placed on either side of the mirror.

Is the mirror black? (Looks it on my monitor) cuz if it is I want to know if you stole it from the cottage....I may have to check :oP I have one just like it LOL and I do love it :) I'm going to put it above a vanity when we start redoing bathrooms LOL GMTA heh heh

I was reading this thread and all of a sudden saw my house heh heh I thought...was I on crack again and posted a pic????

Just an FYI. I moved up to the half woodsy brown half black and won't ever go back. I absolutely LOVE that color. It's a very rich deep chocolate. Don't get me wrong, I loved woodsy brown when I found it...it's a dark milk chocolate, but I found the darker one actually flows better with more colors (I think it's because the black eliminated the slight tint of red in the woodsy brown???)

Anyhoo, if the mirror is the one from the cottage :oP I would not go with my half half mix because you're still going to find that one reads black and one reads brown (mirror black, cab brown). I don't mind black and brown together (you see it in the hall tile trim) but in the vanity I'd want to stay with the black if the mirror is black. Why? Heck I don't know I just would LOL

DH was just reminding me that I need to do a second coat of paint on that door heh heh You're joining him in nagging me aren't you :oP

Ohhh so if that mirror is black, I found a cool paint kit at michaels that does an antique black in a similar finish to your mirror....I haven't tried it yet but from the box pictures (it's in alaska so don't ask what box) I think it would match the mirror really well.

Igloo - :) Ha, that was probably jarring to see while scrolling down.
The mirror is black. Are you saying I should get that paint kit from Michaels for the mirror? Or do you mean for the cabinets? Or you're going to get it? I'm confused!

Yes, I should have said something more 'traditional' for a light fixture rather than modern. The lights that you have hanging make me think of something Victorian, and where the vanity is more...traditional. I feel that the styles clash, but that is just MO.

I also wonder why the electrical box was put where it is - very unusual spot, and gives you very little room. When/if the box is moved to the wall above the mirror, you'll have a world of fixtures to choose from. A real quick look at ceiling fixtures showed me the one I have linked below. With your vanity darkened, it would be nice, IF there is enough room.

Here is a link that might be useful: Something like this?

No the antique black paint kit for the cabinet. Leave the mirror it's pretty. I just think that if the cabinet is black, do white knobs, then you have the white counter and black mirror...it will pop really well. And look really classic and cool with that green.

For the record...I kind of like the light fixture (leave it at the legnth it is). I'd do a gold rub on it to freshen it up (michaels in a little tube as well). You could also change out the shades and it would take on a whole new look. If you went with open shades you would end up with a more victorian look than a 70's look....(frantically looking for examples...be right back....)

{{!gwi}}

OK just look at the shade in the far right bottom corner (it's clear) this horrific set up would have been nice if they hadn't put the same fabric on the cords and the icky thing over the bed and the wallpaper...we called this the purple hell room...but look at the open glass shade...it is an easy switch out:
{{!gwi}}

The ones on the mirror lights in my bathroom are the same shade or close:
{{!gwi}}

The one in the phone nook here is white and clear swirls (hard to see) but still basically what you have, a chain with a glass on it...so it's another type of option (they make reproductions of this):
{{!gwi}}

Mythreedogs - I do like that light but I'm afraid it won't work. I tried holding up a mini chandelier to check out the diameter and it just hit the wall. It's smaller than that light. We're going to need some electrical work done this spring so when that happened maybe I can change this back out to the wall. It would make sense to do that with all the other stuff.

Igloo - I'll look into the paint kit. A friend of mine suggested maybe a gold glaze or something maybe for the cabinet as another option. Frenchkitty from the kitchen forum(think that's the screen name) has a black island with gold glaze and I really like it.
Never thought about changing out the globes. That's an option.

I like the idea of white knobs too. I was trying to figure out what finish. How big would you go? Just plain white right? Not the ones with the thing in the middle.? I know everything I have is chrome but I wasn't feeling chrome knobs.

Igloo - would you move the lights out a couple inches? There is room to do so and still leave a space at the wall.

Hopefully I'll get the mirror up tomorrow.

Thanks everyone!

p.s. Originally there was a light bar on the wall. I had them take it down and put do what you see in the photos. This was back before we moved in and before I ever tried to decorate literally anything. It just goes on the list of house goof ups. :) Live and learn.

I'm with Les. Keep the lights where they are, change the hooks to match the chain and paint the vanity to match. And normally I'm not one to paint wood either.
Although if you do choose to keep it wood tone than head to Lowes and get Cabot PolyStain. It's better than Minwax PolyShades.

Oh and you can use PolyStain over the "fake" wood on the sides too. It's tinted polyurethane.

I would do antique brass hardware to make the light fixture seem deliberately chosen. And I would NOT use the gold Rubn'n' Buff to brighten thefixture, unless you are planning to do all the chain links as well. Actually, I think the antique brass is a great compliment to the green walls.

Am late but I still like your original idea of an oval to go with the lights- which you like, right? Painting the cabinet to match the mirror gives a more modern look to your bath kinda pottery barn-esque. The lights are very unusual and pretty and the right oval mirror will make them sparkle. Just imho!

I like the scale and frame of the mirror, and I agree your vanity will look great painted--it will add some nice contrast. But those lights are really bugging me... I've never seen vanity lights coming from the ceiling like that. I would probably select a pretty pendant for that spot rather than the swagged lights. Replacing a light fixture is easy--you don't need an electrician. I don't know if anyone else mentioned it, but if you shorten the chain on your swags, you'll have to shorten the wire as well. For that, you probably would need an electrician's help. I mean, I've replaced tons of light fixtures with limited skills and tools, but basically rewiring something... I've always let somebody else do that! :)

Like the mirror, like the idea to paint the vanity.

Regarding the lights, before switching them you need to think seriously about the functin they provide. When I was remodeling my bathrooms, I learned that the best lighting comes from the sides with sconces. Light from above will cast shadows and is not flattering for things like makeup application. I would keep the lights you have now until you can switch it out for a wall mounted vanity light. You can always give it a different look with some Rustoleum, though I know you know that.

Vanity lights...that's the ticket! NOW I can see the mirror working with a painted vanity and a sconce on either side in either brushed nickel or ORB with linen shade. Knobs to match the light finish you choose.

Cooper - I do like the oval mirror idea still. I wasn't wild about having to use those clips on a frameless but you need them. I couldn't find an oval with a frame that wasn't crazy expensive or was big enough for the spot. I stumbled across this, really loved it (there's ornate details around the edges. Don't know how well that shows up) and the price was great. Since I doubt these lights will be a permanent thing I think the mirror will work for the future look.

There's not enough room for sconces on the sides although I really like that look. It will have to be a light bar when replaced.

I'd say it's pretty much impossible to replace the lights with something else from the ceiling because of the distance from the wall. I don't want to redo this three times so I'll wait to change it until we can put a light bar back on the wall.

I'll post photos once I get the vanity painted.

Shee I was actually not suggesting you make the brass shineyer (that's not spelled right) but instead you use a rub and buff that dulls it even further to a really old gold dull kind of look.

I would move the lights out a bit. I don't like them lining up directly with the sides of the mirror because it will cause odd reflections. Better outside of the mirror so their light isn't reflected brightly into your eyes.

But don't move them if you're going to use different glass...find the glass first then move them so it still makes sense.

I like the silly things :) I'd make them work myself. But then I am a little quirky...at least that's what mom says :oP

Mom's description of me..."When you describe it to me I always think it's going to be slightly nuts, but instead it's always beautiful when you're done" I think that was a compliment LOL (Oh mom I know it was heh heh). I just think that sometimes the unexpected and be fun...like those lights :) If you hung a nickle light above the mirror "yawn" it would look like everyone elses bathroom. With those lovely octopus arms, it's unique, quirky and can be really fun!

Igloo - I was trying to find replacement type lights and not having much luck. A few globes I did find were crazy expensive. Any suggestions where I could look?

Igloo - One more question. I have a pretty full gallon of Zinsser BIN primer in my basement calling my name. The PrepRite ProBlock Interior Exterior Seals and Bonds will give me a noticeably better finish? I would buy SW's good paint.

Also that is the right primer, correct? I read in a later thread (can't find it for the life of me) where two SW primers were flying around.

Thanks!

I lied. It's the Zinsser Bulls Eye 123 primer. Says it sticks to surfaces without sanding.

bump

I'll get back to you on the shades...you know if you are not in a horrible hurry to replace them we could talk when I get back home (I'm going to alaska tomorrow and returning here on the 13th). I think I have a few that might work in the water tower I'd be happy to part with but I'll need some measurements...if they don't work you can do something else...let me know.

Now on the problock bonds and seals...if you don't want to sand, use this. I have not found kilz or zinsser to take to unsanded wood as well as the problock bonds and seals (that one specifically). Now maybe it was because It's been a while since I've tried the other two (since I found the SW product) but I tried one just the other day from Benjermine Moore and wasn't impressed with it's preformance either. I will only guarantee sticking if you use my suggested products LOL But if you do use another, do what I do to test them. Prime, then leave it alone for a week. If you can scrape the prime off with your fingernail a week later it's not going to bond tight enough and if you use that primer you'll need to sand (do a swatch on the inside of a door so it's hidden).

I'll check this again on Thursday...I must pack or we'll be naked in alaska...which might make the news since it's iditerod week :oP

Hey Igloo - I'll have to debate about the primer thing. I am going to get SW paint. I was trying to figure out which black today but instead of driving myself crazy I'm going with "black".

Oh, this sounds like fun! I've had these shades for 2.5 years now so I'm not in a super hurry. I don't dislike the ones I have now but the word "70s" flying around, right or wrong, it makes me not like them as much. lol

Hope you got packed! It's also probably way too cold to be naked in Alaska. :)

Try SW Tricorn Black. I have it on my front door.

Ha, KMCG! So much for just black. :)

That was one of the paints I considered. I haven't held any against the mirror which I probably should have.

How would you describe the color (besides black)?

The mirror does have some lighter areas around the scrolls even though you can't tell at all in these photos.

That was easier than I thought. I went with Tricorn Black. They didn't have many to pick from which was nice. Not like trying to pick out a white. This is my first time using SW paint so I'm excited. I did buy the All Surface Enamel.

Oh btw, Igloo I looked at Michaels for that antiquing kit and didn't see anything close. . . maybe do a little distressing afterwards?

DH doesn't even know I'm painting the vanity yet. :) He'll like it once it's done.

And your on your way....
I'm sooo glad I didn't have a chance to answer the "how would you describe it" question!!! Ummm,ahh,um ...black?

Here's a fun little update.

Mirror went up yesterday. I like it very much. It was tricky since I don't think any of the walls in my house are straight. Primed the cabinet with what I had but did sand first. Since this wasn't a big project I didn't mind.

Just got done with the first coat of paint and it doesn't look great. Tinting primers are made for a reason. I'm curious to see how it looks with the 2nd coat tomorrow.

I was half having a fit about painting the wood for some weird reason. Had the same issue before I painted the laundry room cabinet white. Once I got started it went away and I'm confident it will turn out look better than before.

My one cat, Sylvester aka Shorty, is my little helper. Whenever I do anything he's there by my side 'helping'. I left him in the room while I was painting (like I always do) only to look up and I see black paint all over the place. I look again and realized it was kitty paw prints! He steped on the lid. The door was open...but luckily I caught him before he decided to prance down the hall with black piggers or before he licked it. So picture me holding a 20 lb squirming cat, trying to get the shampoo, (under the kitchen sink which is a great place for it. not), then back to the other bathroom for the fight. :) DH and I were laughing at that point but Shorty wasn't.
{{!gwi}}
I'll wrap this up in the next couple of days and get a picture posted.

Too funny! Can't wait to see the pics!

Can't wait to see it, Shee!! Tell Shorty to stay out of the paint!! My black lab always had streaks on him when I painted trim & such.

Smiles:)