Antique... Vintage... Patina... Distressed... Whatever you call them, they are pretty cool!
Check out this set of mirrors from Anthropologie.
Very neat, but $698!!! Here's how you can achieve a similar look for very little cash.
Disclaimer: This project uses dangerous chemicals such as paint thinner and Muriatic acid. If you are not comfortable working with chemicals or do not have a well ventilated area to work in, this probably isn't a project you should be doing.
Materials Used:
A Mirror - I got my mirror from the clearance section of Bed Bath and Beyond for $7 (the mirror had some silvering missing).
A soft cloth to put the mirror on - I used an old door mat
Thick protective gloves (protect your hands from the glass!)
Steel wool
Chemical proof rubber gloves
Goggles
Mask
Paint thinner
Brush
Muriatic Acid
Old rags
Spray bottle
Funnel
Spray Paint - Black, brown, gold, silver or any other color (your preference)
Water (or a hose)
Here's how I did it:
1 - CAREFULLY disassemble the mirror from the frame. The edges of the mirror will be sharp so BEWARE and WEAR PROTECTIVE GLOVES!!! Lay the mirror face down on some soft material in a well ventilated area.
2 - Using a brush, apply paint thinner to the back of the mirror. BEWARE OF THE FUMES AND DO THIS IS A WELL VENTILATED AREA (wear gloves, a mask and goggles to protect yourself). Leave it on for about 5 minutes. I used a gentle low VOC soy based paint thinner that I left on for half an hour. Test the back using a scraper to see if the paint is coming off. Once you remove the back of the mirror, a copper metallic finish will be left. Rinse off the mirror with a hose ( I did this on the driveway) and wipe it dry with a rag.
3 - Put the mirror face down, preferably somewhere outdoors. I put it on my driveway. CAREFULLY pour some muriatic acid in the spray bottle. BEWARE, MURIATIC ACID IS VERY DANGEROUS SO BE CAREFUL POURING IT IN THE BOTTLE! I used a funnel so it wouldn't splash. Muriatic acid can damage your driveway or plant life so be careful! CAREFULLY spray the acid on the back of the mirror and wait about a minute. You'll see the acid slowly eat away at the copper parts of the mirror. Wipe it off with a rag and rinse with the hose. Reapply the acid as needed until you've achieved the look you want. Using the funnel, I poured the left over acid back into it's original bottle. Rinse the mirror off and wipe it dry.
4 - The portions affected by the acid will be clear glass, so whatever paint you use will shine through. I scuffed the back up lightly with some steel wool just to make it look a little more aged. I mixed a bronze paint with a silver paint to try to give it a weathered sepia look. Use a black paint for a distressed look. Paint the back of the mirror (multiple coats if needed) and let it dry.
5- CAREFULLY reassemble the mirror in its frame and clean it off with a glass cleaner. Hang it up and enjoy!
You're left with an antiqued mirror without the wait or the price tag :)
Total cost: Around $10
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