What I Did About That Kitchen Mirror
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So here’s what I came up with for the kitchen mirror problem over the sink. Simply put, I hate it.
My signature solution is to hide things when I can’t figure out what else to do. And so that’s what I really ended up doing.
I took a bunch of photos, only to realize I hadn’t had the media card in the camera. So I had to fix that problem.
If there had been a gun next to my chair, I might have shot myself in the foot just to make that ankle, thus the hip, stop aching.
So once I realized I had no images to download, I had to go back into the kitchen and start over.
Adjustments Will Be Necessary:
There will have to be some adjustments because I didn’t get the hook high enough with the adhesive tape, and you can see it beneath the valance.
I tried hard to get the adhesive hooks in the right place, which I’ll admit wasn’t easy. When you’re on the second or third step of the step ladder leaning over the sink, you’re not seeing things as you’d see them from floor level.
That will have to wait for another day. I’m worn out from this project.
To get the adhesive hook to stick well, you must wait at least 12 hours after applying it to a surface before hanging anything from it.
The adhesive hooks need to be higher up on the mirror, so I’ll need to deal with that. I told you I’d have this project to show you today, but it will have to wait.
Doing Things the Easy Way:
The curtain rod above the sink is just sitting on a nail. Because nothing, and I mean nothing, would go in front of or behind that damned boob light. It goes all the way to the edge of the wall on either side.
I may come up with something else later. But this is the best I could think of for now. At least I still have light from the darned thing, and the light looks pretty glowing through the red-and-white checked valance.
The Metal Sign That I Designed Around:
I found the metal sign I used to cover the mirror at the antique mall. You know me and the idea of gardening. Anything with the word gardening or garden on it draws me like a moth to a flame.
As soon as I saw it, I knew it would work. It has every single color I would have asked for on the sign. Red, yellow, green, and black.
Do you recognize the shelf below the sign? It was in my bathroom in the other apartment. I took it down and brought it here. And now it’s in my kitchen.
I asked management if I could put a hole in whatever that is just below the sink, laminate or Formica, and they said yes. They sent the “Can-Do” man over to install it on the wall.
I now have a place to put my little Trader Joe’s plants I recently picked up while shopping there.
Isn’t Trader Joe’s the best?
Here are the curtains I already had, cut to size and hemmed with that adhesive you iron on. And now they are gracing my kitchen window, looking out to the sidewalk, landscaping, tall trees, and the apartment in front of me.
All The Curtains Have Now Been Hung:
Now I have curtains hanging on every single window. Yea! And the red-and-white checked curtains look so pretty next to the green coffee bar I set up.
I settled on using the green sideboard as the base for my coffee bar. Then I added a lamp, coffee maker, and the coffee mug tree with white mugs.
So for now, covering that hideous mirror is the last project in my little kitchen.
It took me a month to get the kitchen looking the way I wanted it to look, to cover the mirror. But really, is anything ever “finished” when it comes to decorating your home?
Probably not, because ideas keep swirling in your head.
As you already know, I took the upper cabinet doors off next to the stove so I could showcase my signature red-and-white dishes. I stored the cabinet doors in the hall closet.
Marley & the Refrigerator:
I laugh when I think of my granddaughter Marley looking at the refrigerator so strangely. Like it was prehistoric. I guess to her it was.
She was in my kitchen one day, and the freezer on top and the refrigerator on the bottom confused her. She’s accustomed to side-by-side refrigerators or the fancy ones with French doors. Like her mother has.
She wasn’t sure which door to open and looked so puzzled!
And so I’m wrapping up working on this room, my kitchen, by adding the sign I found at an antique mall. I so wanted to minimize the look of the strange mirror.
My solution was to hide the mirror with the sign and the valance. Then I had the red shelf attached to the wall beneath it to further distract the eye from the mirror.
You can still see a bit of the mirror, but it looks much better in my kitchen. Why would you want a mirror over the sink in a kitchen? Maybe to look like a window?
I asked for your suggestions about the mirror, and I appreciate every one.
The Office Is Next On My List Of To-Do Projects:
I have some ideas for decorating the second bedroom, which I’m using as my office and sewing/craft room.
Below is the photo you asked for of the hall to the front door.
Ivy & Her Curtain Ties:
Yes, that’s Ivy’s red and white curtain tie, one of several she carries around every single day.
At night, when I go to the bedroom to read, I try to get her to go in there with me.
Her answer to my calling is the most mournful sound. At first, I thought she was sad for some reason, and I went to look for her.
When I found her, I saw that she had that darn curtain tie in her mouth.
So at night, when I hear that really strange, almost hollow sound, I know it is just Ivy with her beloved curtain ties. Making a weird sound that only makes sense to her.
Recently, I read that when your cat brings you something, she is following her instincts to bring you a gift. Prey, I suppose. So you should praise them for doing it. And so that’s what I’ll do.
Great job I love it! Many moons ago in my very first apartment I had a red and white kitchen with gingham red/white curtains, so this brought me back to that time. Still love these colors today.
Fantastic Brenda could not be better.
Love the mirror treatment; so colorful. Red and White is my favorite color combos. I recently replaced flowered valances with red and white checks like yours. I love the new clean look of the windows now. I have been following all of the changes since you moved to the new place. I love it all. The apartment complex sounds like a caring, good place for retired people. I am so happy with my little house here. I now have a cleaning lady every other Tuesday. She is quick and efficient. She hung my new valances and will change things for me if needed. She saves my back and legs from sweeping and mopping. Can’t wait to see the other rooms decorating
I love the red shelf! I love the new sign! Good job! ❤️❤️❤️
I LOVE IT! Would real basil, parsley, or chive plants get enough light in that spot so you could just clip off what you need as you cook?
Everything flows so nicely from room to room. I join in others in being amazed at how quickly everything came together! And who wouldn’t be a homebody in that environment? Why step out into such an unstable, competitive world when you can nestle into this warm nest of a home and shut the craziness all out!
I wondered about that myself. Because I’d love to grow herbs there. But I don’t think there’s enough light, even in the window not far from it when I had the little Trader Joe plants on the windowsill. Herbs need quite a bit of actual sun.
Loved the comment “warm nest of a home”. I am going to use that phrase. I have 7 little ceramic pots on my East facing window that I have to move every sunny day to get more sun. You might need to give the pots over the sink a little more sun every day or so.
YES!!!!! That is a home run for sure. You actually took something ugly and made it into something better than it would have been had the mirror and boob light not even been there to begin with. Beautiful!!!!
It looks awesome!
I think the sound you hear coming from Ivy is the sound of a cat hunting. I’ve had cats all my adult life, 72 years and a few of my cats would also make that strange noise when hunting in the house. One of my cats loved to go into the laundry hamper and find a sock and walk around the house making that strange noise. Another cat of mine would go into the bathroom and come out with a washcloth. Cats, strange but beautiful animals! BTW your kitchen looks great! Thanks so much for taking all of along on your journey!
Well I guess Ivy is waiting until after dark and going hunting. And carrying around a red and white curtain tie while she does it.
Your solution could not be any better! Bravo!
Great job . It looks so cute.😍😍
Super job,Brenda! It looks perfect! We all knew you would figure it out and, wow, you sure did. Rest today, enjoy your lovely apartment and sweet kitties.
Mary
Wow Brenda, that’s perfect for you! What an amazing find at the antique store! I’m so glad you found the perfect solution. I know how much it was driving you crazy. It really looks great! I’m so happy for you!
Super Cute. Love your sweet kitchen.
Beautiful as always, can’t wait to see your office♥️
Great solution in the kitchen. Looks really nice.
Oh how lovely it is. I actually like the mirror peaking out just a little. And the curtains over the kitchen window are perfect! You have just done so much in such a short time it looks like you’ve lived there forever. I too was hoping you’d say the sign came from Amazon or some place. Its perfect for you! Last night I caught my little Norah beating up on her brother Joey, our three-legged wonder. She is a stinker.
Brenda, I don’t comment often but I just have to say what a wonderful job you have done on your new apartment and how much pleasure it has brought to me and many others to watch the transformation: delightful, and well done! The mirror solution is lovely! I’m so happy for you in your new place. Becky
Brava, Brenda!
You’ve done a smashing job and everything looks cozy & wonderful!
I love love love your apartment! Your fix above the sink is perfect. I’ve followed a long time, so happy you have found a great complex, out of that horrible place. I think the Grocery sign in your bedroom would look great over the counter on stove side. Just my thoughts. Good thing you remembered to pack the curtain ties!!!
You have done so well carrying on with your injury. I just had my knee replaced so I understand. Just have to keep going.
Kathleen H.
My comment yesterday fits so well with what you have done…I said awww… right out loud..it is perfect…adorable…and so you💞
Holy Cow, Brenda! I knew you would do something “awesome” but I can’t tell you how much I Love this. It really is just perfect. Love, love, love, it !!!!!!!!!
Your entire Kitchen is put together that I would have to call it your Happy Place. You never cease to amaze us. Hugs from Wisconsin, Thanks for sharing all your photos with us.
Looks great, even before you make any adhesive adjustments. The colors are perfect and the light filtering through the current is a nice, soft touch. I’m with you with stainless steel. The brand new condo my husband and I lived in came with stainless appliances. After he died and I moved, I purchased white. Surprisingly, sometimes it’s harder to get white than stainless. Thanks for sharing all the completed rooms to date yesterday, and the mirror solution today. Everything looks pretty and fresh, warm and cozy. Great job. And no, nothing is ever done. I too get ideas and change things around. It keeps things fresh and new, and it’s just fun.
Absolutely adorable…I knew you would come up with a precious idea. Your decorating ideas are right up my alley…sorta cottage style. I’m so glad that you showed us the end result. On another subject, I am so happy that your daughters and grandchildren are back in your life (I realize that they have been for a while), our son is estranged from us…we are not sure why. About every six months, I send an email asking for forgiveness for whatever wrong we have done him, but unfortunately, he rarely responds. His oldest son, 17, has been back in our life for a year now and that is wonderful…in fact, he is coming over this afternoon for lunch and to work on a project with his Grandaddy. Thank you for listening…you are a lovely person with a good heart.
Your finished project ties in the kitchen so well Brenda! I knew that between Terri and u that a idea would pop in your heads! U can hardly see the mirror now and it is so u! 👍🏻
Amazing!
Love it! It’s all very attractive. I have a kitty that makes that cry sometimes during the night, and when I have checked, it’s like you say, she seems to almost be guarding one of her toys. Happy Sunday!
Great solution to the mirror problem!
The area above the kitchen sink looks amazing! Have yourself a nice rest today in your cozy apartment. Glad you are settled in and happy!
I love it, Brenda! Wow, wow and wow!!! That sign definitely screams “Brenda” and all the additions are perfect.
In one month you have worked so hard and look at how beautiful it all looks. Thank goodness for your wonderful friend, Teri and your daughters who all helped when they could.
Take a little respite and enjoy your day.
That is beautiful, and I was going to ask you where you got the sign until I read further down that you got it at the antique mall. That’s amazing. Well done.
A quick Google images search and I found the sign on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/CTW-Home-Collection-Garden-Metal/dp/B07K5N4M88