Help Me Decide About My Kitchen Mirror
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Today, I want you to help me decide what to do with the mirror in my kitchen. The other side of my galley kitchen, I should say.
You’ve really only seen one side of it. Now I want you to help me figure out the other side of this kitchen.
All suggestions are welcome.
You’ve seen the coffee bar, though I’ve hung more decor on the wall over there since then. And you’ve seen the section with the open doors and red and white dishes, etc.
The Other Side:
Now look across, and this is the other side of the kitchen.
As you can see, there is a mirror above the sink. I guess it’s to give the illusion of light and more open space.
I’ve been racking my brain about what to do there. It’s not in my nature to just leave it alone. And I really don’t like mirrors over a kitchen sink.
If I can’t have a window, then I’d rather just have a wall. At least I could choose a painting or wall decor if it was just an empty wall.
I considered hanging curtains over the mirror. I’ve ordered the hardware to hang curtains on the window that looks out to the front. I’m doing the same for the patio doors and the window behind my recliner.
The light above the mirror is not centered. Now why, if you’re putting a light in the ceiling over something, wouldn’t you center it? I don’t get it.
So that is one decision I’m trying to make.
Once again, here is the wall you’ve already seen, and I’m happy with it.
And here is the other side. What if I took off those two doors as well? On either side of this mirror.
Closed Cabinet Doors Or Open Ones:
Here’s my reasoning for why I’d consider doing this. Say I hang curtains over the mirror and kind of pretend it’s a window.
Then if the doors on either side were taken off, it would somewhat distract from what’s in the middle.
If I took off the doors, I could put more pretties up there to display, like my collection of white pitchers.
What’s up there now is just odds and ends. And I can always adjust the shelf height. Other ideas are swimming around in my head.
I could put a shelf in the middle of the mirror. But I’m thinking that might be a bit much.
I’d considered hanging my red pots and pans from hooks below a shelf if I put one there.
But that would mean going to Lowe’s or somewhere to have a board cut to size, then trying to hang it straight.
Then again, I’m kind of clumsy. What if I knocked one of the pots against the mirror and broke it? I don’t need 7 years of bad luck.
By the way, I ordered an unbreakable hand mirror from Amazon, and it arrived yesterday. I’m hoping to stave off any more bad luck.
I ordered it because one of the movers broke my small hand mirror while packing it. His buddies kidded him about all the bad luck he was going to have.
The Kitchen Question:
Back to the kitchen. I’m perfectly happy with the other side and the coffee bar. But the problem at hand is this other side.
So help me figure this out.
Cute Plants From Trader Joe’s:
Oh, I have to show you these three little cuties I picked up from Trader Joe’s the other day. I think each pot and plant was around $5. So about $15 total.
Just too adorable to pass up. Can you see the faces on the gray pots?
One Half Of The Master Gardener Couple Dies:
Steve, my next-door neighbor, knocked on the door a little while ago. I guess he saw me in the kitchen hammering nails and cursing the walls.
His wife died earlier this week. I didn’t know. He said they were going to cremate her and have a service in a town about an hour from here. Apparently their original home.
She never came home from the hospital.
I wasn’t here 2 weeks before my next-door neighbor died. I’d only seen her one time. She was 75. (Think I brought bad karma with me?)
Steve seemed fine. I guess he’s had about 4 days to adjust to her death. And when you get older, I suppose it’s less of a surprise. But still.
I had considered sending flowers to the hospital when I first knew she had gone there. But I don’t even know their last name. I remember the name “Steve”, but her name, which I think began with an “M”, escapes me.
I’ve met him a few times and talked a bit. Remember he shoveled snow off my sidewalk. Was that just a week ago? I forget.
But it’s sad that he’s lost the woman with whom he apparently (I’m assuming) had a son and a daughter, and spent a good part of his life.
So today I had kitchen questions and a sad death to share with you. There’s one-half of the master gardener couple gone, I suppose, to some great big garden in the sky.
I hope he stays here so he can help me a bit with my garden decisions in a few months.
I agree with you about hanging pots in front of the mirror. In my house that would be a set up for a disaster of monumental proportions! But you might consider a narrow shelf at the bottom edge of the mirror going across its width where you could display some pretties (maybe colored glass) that would be reflected in the mirror.
I would leave the cabinet doors on this side of the kitchen so the mirror and (maybe) shelf area would be the focus of attention. Perhaps the idea of curtains on the mirror creating a window effect would be nice too.
So much fun to see what you’re doing with your new space. Enjoy!
I think you should leave the cabinet doors on. I think the eye needs places of rest and too many open cabinets leaves it busy. Then you can swap out decor with the one you left open.
I like the mirror, but you could always cover it with a big picture instead that would fit the space. I also like the shelf idea.
Love your little plants in the window!!!!
How about covering the mirror with some pretty contact paper that you like and then hanging a piece of art over it… or another smaller mirror, rattan or wicker shelf, or something like that you could hang. You could hang whatever you choose from above if there is space above the mirror or even from the ceiling. I would also change the light fixture to something smaller 🙂
Your space is coming along nicely and I’m so happy for you that you were finally able to get out of that other terrible place 🙂
I think you should leave the cupboard doors on, one open shelve is enough I think otherwise it would be cluttered. I think it would be nice to put a painting over the mirror with command strips then you can change whenever you want. I know what ever you decide it will look nice.
They make cling type covering for windows that’s easy to put up or take down. You could try that on your mirror. To see what I mean do a search on Amazon for “privacy window film”. Tons of patterns to choose from. There are even some that look like stained glass if that’s your style. I also wonder if you could cover the mirror with foam board applied with the putty you mentioned. You could then cover it with fabric or anything you choose (maybe cork to use as a reminder station?).
Also….lots of options for this window film on Amazon.Here’s one option that I thought I might enjoy! I’ve used this type of film several times myself and used it at my mother-in-laws too. You can delete this comment. I just didn’t know if I could go to amazon and then get back to my comment.
https://www.amazon.ca/Coavas-Privacy-Non-Adhesive-Decorative-Bathroom/dp/B082HXRRQ5/ref=sr_1_35?crid=7WHZOBIZ8EFZ&keywords=window+frosting+film&qid=1644755179&sprefix=window+fr%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-35
Hi there!
Wow -lots of comments and I didn’t read them all because I’m in a hurry but…
Mirror: Oh my, I couldn’t handle seeing myself every time I stand at the sink.
I would consider some window frosting – it’s like mac tac- you wet the window and then put a cut to size piece of opaque plastic on the window. And it sticks! Obviously easy to remove. Available at Home Depot here in Canada. You can also get a beautiful stained glass version.
Anyway…not permanent so you can change your mind. No tools required for installation!
Brenda,
I read through all the comments and there are a LOT of them! The light above your sink is so necessary; but not that one. I had this same issue many houses ago and we removed the globe fixture and recessed the new square one. If you like the mirror, you could try picture frame molding outlining the shape of it. Maybe use a piece of antique ceiling tile to band the bottom.
If not, remove it. Keep the doors on the cabinets for now; too many focal points can be chaotic.
I’m sorry for your neighbor, Steve. Several of my friends have lost their husbands in the last couple of years, so it’s tough. My husband and I try to be supportive in every way we can.
How about a command hook on the mirror and hang a leafy fern- like wreath (or lambs ear maybe) on it?
My 2 cents – I’ve seen lots of open shelving in kitchens, and with your cottage decor, I think it makes total sense to take the doors off. Plus, if you need more room to display your pretty things, why not? It will give you a lot of pleasure to see them, rather then hide them behind the doors. As for the mirror, a couple of thoughts. You can have it removed (it’s not very large, so it’s not a major project (moybe the Can-Do man can do it for you or suggest someone). Or, they make some very good-looking peel-and-stick backsplashes that could go over the mirror, and continue over your butcher block backsplash, to make it all cohesive, so it seems like there’s a reason for it to be in that space where the mirror is. Finally, I do like your idea of the curtains, to make it look like a window.
I’m so sorry to hear about your neighbor’s wife.
Personally I think the mirror looks harsh even though it may help with lighting. You do have a nice window. However if it were possible to put little shelves either across it or below it and be able to put plants or knickknacks or what not that would break up the harshness of it. If not I would say either hang curtains or possibly a pretty print and you could even use some of your poster putty for it. I would be hesitant to do any sort of painting over it because it may not come off and it is a rental after all. I say take the Doors off the cabinets unless you have no real storage. I feel it would balance out both sides of the kitchen. Seems kind of odd to have doors off one side and nowhere else. As far as cluttering the kitchen up I agree most people wouldn’t be able to pull it off, but you can. We’ve seen from your other apartment how lovely it looks with your doors off your cabinets and let’s face it that’s the look you like. Why not go with what you like. I think whatever you come up with is going to look lovely because you have such Knack for decorating. Plus whatever you do isn’t permanent and you can always change it up if you don’t like it. Sorry about your neighbors wife and I agree with some of the other commenters be careful. A recently widowed man can very well be a needy man. Can’t wait to see what you do with the kitchen
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but my first thought was red shutters over the mirror. Or red shutters and a valance. Just an idea.
Put a valance of some kind above the kitchen sink. You could use a piece of wood painted white, or fabric. Check Pinterest for ideas. It will hide the off-center light fixture, and you will still have the illumination from above.
Cover the mirror with a light weight stretched canvas picture. An outdoor scene would be nice. So many possibilities. Have fun.
Brenda, one of my solutions to help disguise a mirror is to hang a light weight wreath on it. I use a command strip adhesive hook and change the wreath with the seasons.
Whatever you do will be clever and creative as always. I always look forward to seeing your decor! Sherry B
WHY NOT PUT A LIGHT WEIGHT POSTER/PICTURE OVER THE MIRROR. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS TO ATTACH IT WITH, COMMAND BRAND HAS A GOOD VARIETY !
I would use removable wall paper to cover the mirror in a pattern or plain white. I would not remove the doors on those cabinets flanking the sink. I’m a fan of less open shelving which I think can tend to look cluttered if not very carefully arranged, which means you don’t get good use out of the shelves. You can stash more behind closed cabinet doors. Maybe add two glass shelves in the niche above the sink after covering the mirror with wall paper to create space to display some of your white pieces. That light fixture above the sink is clunky and who wants a boob light hanging over their head daily? I would swap it out for something more streamlined that fits closer to the ceiling – maybe something with some red trim or a red base.
The boob light can be stored and put back up if you move at a later date. I would also ask if it would be possible for the maintenance man to center the light fixture in the space. I wouldn’t add a curtain to the kitchen window, the blind is enough to give you privacy at night but if you want a curtain I recommend a Roman shade, but they can run expensive unless you buy a kit, your own material, and make your own. An alternative would be to put up some frosted glass look film on the glass of the window that would still allow the light through but give you privacy even with the blinds open or pulled up during the day.
The uncentered light would bug me more than the mirror. How about a tension rod between the cabinets with a longer valance that covers the light fixture. You could keep the light, but not see it is slightly off. I love open cabinets, but hate how much dust they collect. So no advice from me on that point.
I would see if u could take the mirror down first and go from there Brenda.
I would keep the cabinet doors on too. U could be on the lookout for a curio cabinet to put all your pretty things in and still see them without dusting all the time.
So sorry about your neighbor’s wife!
Brenda, that mirror over your sink would drive me crazy! Who wants to look at themselves every time they do the dishes?? But, what to do? I know that if there were some way to take it down without totally destroying the wall behind, that’s what I’d do. I think I would want something nice to look at, like plants and/or knick-knacks in that space, not just a curtain. Plus, if you took down the un-centered light fixture you could hang a full spectrum plant light there for the plants on the shelves beneath. I bet that mirror wasn’t there originally; a former tenant must have put it there so I’m lobbying for getting rid of it! Might not be the easiest fix but I bet it will make you the happiest in the long run. Am I opinionated or what??
Also, sorry to hear about your neighbor’s loss. I don’t think you bringing bad karma had anything to do with her demise. You, of all people, have very little bad karma attached to you! You are a kind and loving person and wouldn’t wish harm or bad things on anyone. Be kind to yourself, too, remember! Perhaps you will be a blessing in your neighbor’s life as you share your gardening interests and methods.
Looking forward to which of the many creative solutions for dealing with the mirror you go with.
I don’t know what I would do about that mirror but curtains sounds like a good idea.
One of things I really liked about the other apartment was your open cabinets to display your lovely things. Don’t do anything until you’re absolutely sure.
Truly sorry about Steve’s loss. Be a friend but don’t be too available. Bear in mind he will need friends.
Can’t wait to see what you what you decide to do in your kitchen.
my approach to decorating has become less is more…. leave the doors. wait to make any decisions till you see what your window coverings look like. leave the mirror alone until you have lived with it for awhile.. you might like it. the only thing i would consider changing is the “boob light”. that could make the change your looking for.
How about peel and stick (removable) wall covering. Add it to the mirror and to the partial wall at the end of the counter and to the left of the sink. There is some really cool stuff out there–a bit on the pricy side but you need only 1 roll.
Dear Brenda, you’re doing a great job!
*Kitchen window-not sure about your window treatment plan but as long as the shade gives you privacy I won’t do anything. Maybe hang a plant from the ceiling. Do not obstruct access to the pantries.
* I vote not removing cabinet doors on either side of the sink.
* The mirror over the sink is very odd but reflects a lot of light. I love light in my kitchen cause I cook 3 meals a day and have a small kitchen. So keep the mirror use suction cups to hang inspectional plaques and/or small suction cup glass plant vases that you can change out….use found inspiration.
Hope this helps. Blessings
Susan Clark
What a nice sized kitchen you have to work with! I vote for keeping cabinet doors on … it’s a nice clean uncluttered look. With the other cabinet doors already removed you have lots of nice display area. I like the “less is more approach.”
I think it would be nice to use self adhesive vinyl tile squares on your backsplash area and also to cover the mirror with the same. It would look cohesive and a solid white ( or even a color of your choice) would make it look fresh and bright.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/NextWall-30-75-sq-ft-Off-White-Faux-Subway-Tile-Self-Adhesive-Peel-and-Stick-Wallpaper/1002901538
Another option for the mirror would be to frame it out with wood trim (nonpermanent tape can be used to adhere). The mirror itself could be covered with a fabric or poster print inside the frame, or painted with chalkboard paint (that’s removable).
So many fun options! It’s so exciting that you have a clean slate to work with.
Look into changing the light fixture. Search for a flat round shallow ceiling light (approximately 2 inches depth from ceiling). Amazon has several. That alone would diminish the off-center placement. Then suspend a window frame over the mirror and hang a red wreath on the window frame. That would bring some much needed red accent to the sink side of the kitchen. You are making great progress in settling into your new home.
Sent a housewarming gift to your PayPal account.
May you and your kitties enjoy your new home.
No opinion on the cabinet doors – But I’d vote for symmetry whenever possible. I agree the mirror looks out of place especially if it bothers you. Do I remember correctly that you used stick-on tiles in your old place? Over the stove would be a great focal point for a mosaic, floral or Italian-type tile feature. Easy and removable. May I put on my girl friend hat? After a wife dies, men can become needy and lonely. Tread slowly. Congratulations on your new home.
I used to live in an over 55 neighborhood. I have to agree with you about men whose wives died. Situation can become sticky.
No bad karma Brenda.
Things happen in life.
Foolish to think your fault.
Simple as that.
I’m not one for believing in bad luck. Re the broken pocket mirror, it was an accident.
Never been superstitious really.
Although, there’s this ,,,,,,,, I always made it a habit not to go anywhere on Friday the 13th!!
Might be over that now though.
Brenda, have you considered using a pressure rod and valance over the mirror and retaining the mirror?
I’m a fairly new visitor to your blog and love how cozy you make your homes! What do you think about hanging a pretty wreath over the mirror with a suction cup/hook?
So many h great ideas here from your adoring readers! Split half between doors off and doors on! I can’t add anything to them, but suggest a really colorful runner rug on the wood floor. If it’s really wild in pattern, that might dictate leaving the doors on. But I think the kitchen layout is crying for a crazy-cute runner!