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MirrorMate Installation

Do you have an ugly builder’s mirror? I’m betting about 85% of you do. The other 10% were lucky to buy a home that has a beautifully framed mirror. And the remaining 5% either made or bought a new mirror with a frame! When I was first introduced to MirrorMate on Kate’s blog, I could barely contain my excitement. There was finally a fix for the ugly builder’s mirror in my kids’ bathroom {happy dancing}! I could finally say adieu to the stained, rusted and chipped behemoth in the bath and yet I wasn’t adding anything to the landfill in the process!

Bethany, who works for MirrorMate, helped me pick out the perfect frame for our bathroom. And shipped it as soon as the frame was available. Unfortunately, the frame arrived right before I left to surprise my sister in Ca. Then I came home and got deathly ill. So, the poor frame sat in our garage for a month. As soon as I started feeling better I jumped right into the bathroom makeover project. I have to tell you, the makeover was inspired by the beautiful MirrorMate frame. I just couldn’t put that beautiful frame into the fishy bathroom. It just would look like the grown up in a child’s playground.

Putting the frame together and framing the mirror was a piece of cake. Here is how we did it:

1. Unpack the MirrorMate and accompanying supplies.

2. Spread the frame and pieces out. Use wax paper (or old cereal bags) under the corners to protect your work surface from the glue.

3. Glue each corner.

4. Insert the small connector pegs into the slots at the corners. You might need a hammer to lightly tap them in.

5. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp rag (or baby wipe).

6. For added strength and to hold the frame while it dried, I chose to “clamp” my frame by typing rope around it. This was not a necessary step, but I think it helps insure a tight joint, so I did it.

Please tell me that I’m not the only one who started singing. “Spiderman, spiderman, does whatever a spider can, spins a web…”

 

While the frame is drying, assemble the cardboard guides for the MirrorMate installation.

Add the double stick tape to the back as shown in the directions:

After allowing the frame to dry for an hour, get your DIY partner to help you move the frame. You must be careful not to lift or carry the frame by the corners or it could come apart. I left the rope on it until we moved it into the bathroom (just to be safe.)

Clean your glass with rubbing alcohol (especially where the frame will adhere to the mirror.)

Put up with your handsome assistant insisting on reading the directions (even though you already did and are anxious to move along.)

Have your assistant hold up the frame and then have fun telling him to move it to the left. No, wait a little to the right. Well, maybe back to the left. {Hee, hee.}

Level the frame.

Insert the corner guides directly into the top two corners. Be sure the guide is touching the frame’s inner edges.

Remove the frame and then peel off the tape backing.

Then lift the frame back up with the help of your assistant. Align the frame onto the corner guides and press firmly onto the glass. You only have one shot at this, so go slow.

Remove the corner guides and the glue strips from the mirror.

Now stand back and admire your newly framed mirror! GORGEOUS, don’t you think? And the installation was a snap (or should I say a stick. LOL!)

No one will ever know that you are hiding a dirty stained, chipped and rusty secret underneath!


 One final look at the finished product and a sneak peek at the finished bathroom. I’ll be sharing with you the board and batten tutorial soon.

One final note: I have to warn you, DO NOT put painters tape on your mirror or you will be crying the blues like I was.

I immediately contacted Bethany to see if she could send me some touch up paint. I can’t even tell you how helpful she was and when she reported that it was actually hot press leaf on the frame and not paint, I figured I’d be doing some creative treatment on the side. But, instead, she insisted on sending a new frame immediately (which arrived 2 days later!) MirrorMate has the best customer service and she told me “We want our customers to be happy with their purchase, even if that means sending a new frame.” Wow, now that is a company I want to do business with!

 

 

 

Disclaimer:

I was sent a complimentary MirrorMate frame for a product review. I can honestly say that this post reflects my opinions and I was not swayed to write a positive post. Nor was I paid to write this post. For more information you can read my disclosure statement.

/171 Comments/by
171 replies
  6. Amy says:

    Great giveaway-we just moved into a 20 year old house that definitely could use several MirrorMates. I love the Chelsea Pewter Bronze frame-I liked on Facebook and tweeted too!

    Reply
  8. Nancy says:

    Only one?? I like the Pemaquid Slim Dark Cherry. If I look through them all again I’m sure I’ll have a new fave. I could really use this in our master bath!! Thanks for the chance 🙂

    Reply
  28. Cindy S. says:

    Great tutorial! I love it when somebody else blazes the trail and then shows us how to do it!
    I really like Acadia Oiled Bronze.

    Reply
  30. Sarah T. says:

    Oh hard to pick! I’ve always wanted to try these in a dated (1927) bath with original mirror!
    Tribeca? It will surely take me a bit to pick! Thanks for the chance and the tips!

    Reply
  33. Carmen Skyles says:

    So hard to pick as all are really beautiful. I liked on F/B and will tweet about the give away – the one I choose was Grandezza Aged Silver. Thanks Brittany for your great tutorials! Can’t wait to see the boys finished bathroom!
    Carmen

    Reply
  35. mamabeck says:

    Wow!!! I’ve been thinking on what to do/use to pretty-up our bathroom. The mirror was my biggest challenge…maybe not anymore! WOOHOO!

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    The Grandezza Bronze is screaming my name…would be PERFECT!

    Reply
  36. Diana C. says:

    What a great and easy way to update a bathroom mirror! I liked MirrorMate on FB … and my favorite frame is the simple, yet elegant look of the Chelsea Espresso frame!

    Reply
  40. Crystal says:

    I love the Bellemeade Traditional Cherry. Would look great in my main bathroom, currently has a wall to wall builder’s mirror!

    Reply
  45. Su@TheIntentionalHome says:

    oh we are remodeling our 1970s bathrooms now. . .we (hubby) built a frame to go around the kids’ bathroom mirror but this would be perfect for our master bath! I like the Grandeeza Bronze. . .crossing my fingers 🙂
    Thanks for the generous giveaway!

    Reply
  56. Elizabeth says:

    I really like the Bellemeade Traditional Cherry! It would be a great match to the cherry cabinets that are in the bathroom.

    Reply
  66. Jennifer says:

    I LOVE the traditional Bellemeade Traditional Cherry. I also really like the Chelsea Cherry Red. Hmmmmmm now I’m not sure which one to get 🙂

    Reply
  68. Melissa Brown says:

    I have looked at MirrorMate before. Very creative solution for boring mirrors! The Chelsea and Cherokee styles were my faves. 😉 I liked them on Facebook and can’t wait to see if I win!

    Reply
  71. Jill K. says:

    This is what I have been looking for! Redoing my daughter’s bathroom, the Chelsea Brushed Bronze frame would look great with the new light fixture I just bought! Beautiful!

    Reply
  72. Carol Ann says:

    LOVE your blog…and would love to upgrade my builder’s grade guest bath mirror. I’m partial to the Chelsea Pewter Bronze!

    Reply
  75. Jill says:

    What a great give-away! I have always wanted one of these mirrors. Thanks for showing me how to install one. Looks fairly simple. I really like the Acadia Dove White. So classic.

    Reply
  88. aeko says:

    this is such a good idea, everything that you need in one kit, went to the site and was amazed at the number of choices available. I would chose something in the contemporary style, in the color white

    Reply
  95. Andrea says:

    So glad you posted this review!! I’ve been eyeing these, as we have not quite finished up with the decor of our master bath. We renovated for months after a huge inside water leak from the master bath to the downstairs… I lost my decorating mojo for the MBR, but I’m inspired again from your review.

    Love the Gramercy, but also the Tribeca, and have you seen the Mediterra? They are all fabulous. I am going to have to do all my bathrooms. 🙂

    Reply
  96. Lisa says:

    I love Mirror Mates. I’d want to use one for our master bath. Ugly Builders mirror and builders’ light fixture. Yuck! I love the Pemaquid Slim Dark Bronze!

    Reply
  102. brooke says:

    I’ve seen this company before & I’ve always thought they had such a great idea. I really like the clean lines of the Cherokee frames…probably in licorice or java.

    Reply
  132. Michelle R. says:

    I love Pacifica White Cap – simple and clean. I desparately need this in my master bathroom. The mirror is huge (which I like) but is builder grade (which I don’t like). *crosses all fingers*

    Reply
  137. Stacy Grogg says:

    I really like the white casco bay and the white Acadia. I am not sure which penny is lucky in my drawer so I just rubbed a huge handful of them!

    Reply
  138. Marti says:

    That looks great! So much easier and better looking than cutting stock molding from the big box store like we did. Next mirror, this is what I am going to do too.

    Reply
  140. Vik says:

    I LOVE Pacifica White Cap! I would be thrilled to win the gift certificate! Thanks for introducing me to MirrorMate. What a great way to enhance an ugly mirror!!!

    Reply
  149. Rachel says:

    Ahh we have 15 year old builder grade mirrors that look very similar to your “before” picture–a MirrorMate would make them so much prettier! I really like the Bellemeade Vintage Silver!

    Reply
  160. Michelle says:

    Great job, love how it came out! I have been on their website before and would really love to get myself one of these awesome frames! I like the Acadia White and would probably paint it a turquoise blue. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply

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