Mar 8, 2008

A Few Projects Outta The Way

The Menards in town is moving to a larger location so they're having clearance on lots of items. I went in for salt, but came out with two combo smoke/CO2 detectors instead. They were marked down almost $10 each so I couldn't pass them up. I'd been looking at them since I moved into the Homestead, but at $30-40 a pop I kept holding off. The smoke detectors from the previous owner weren't working right (even after I replaced the batteries) so I ended up disconnecting them, have been without pretty much since I moved in. I installed the new detectors and now I feel safe again. :)

These are pretty neat. There are four lights that alert for different things. On one side is a fire/smoke alarm light that blinks while the alarm goes off. On the other side is the CO2 alarm light that blinks and sounds off to a different alarm noise. Light #3 tells if the battery needs replacing, #4 tells if the detector is malfunctioning for some reason. I'm sure the latter make different sounds, too, but at this point I don't know what they are. (Little things make me happy... LOL)



Call me crazy, but when I saw this mirror I thought it was very "cool" and unique. I've never seen one like it anywhere. The mirror opens to the medicine cabinet. I love the lights on each side, although I'm thinking there were sconces at one time. From a distance, it looks great, right?



Up close and personal (like when you're brushing your teeth), it's not so pretty:



I wanted to refinish it with an antique bronze, but alas I couldn't find a "kit" in that color. American Accents by Rustoleum makes a "kit" in Antique Gold that I hoped would look just as good with the dark base cabinet. While at Menards last month, I grabbed a can of primer and a kit. Today, I finally had time to do it:

Everything except the primer and tape were included in
the kit. A pair of gloves was also with the kit, but I didn't
include them in the photo.


I couldn't take the cabinet out of the wall without unhooking the electrical wires, so I shut off the breaker and did the prep work of taping off everything that wasn't to be painted. What in the world are those things sticking out of the light sockets? Good thing I shut off the electricity! LOL, I didn't want to get paint inside the sockets, so I cut in half one of my niece's socks (funny how I only have ONE). Rolled them up and stuck one in each socket. Worked perfectly!

Primered and Ready to Go!


Gold Paint - Looking better already.


Antiqued Details


Finished Project, complete with "green" CFL bulbs - Woo Hoo!

15 comments:

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

That mirror is pretty neat I think! Great job refinishing it!

Anonymous said...

You did a great job refinishing. The finish looks fantastic. :)

Anonymous said...

Great job on the mirror! ~Terri

stitcherw said...

Your mirror looks great, how clever to do all the refinishing on it. Your new start of Spring Bird is looking very cute, and I loved your prior finish of Brrrr. With all the cold we've been having lately very appropriate. We had sun today, but it was still bitter cold. Saw in your earlier post your dad was doing better, I'm so glad. I hope he continues to improve.
Sue

Janine said...

Hi Meari, I always enjoy reading your blog. I rarely comment but this time I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading all the little bits of information about women and I enjoyed looking at the restoration of your mirror. It is so cool. I loved the watch you bought yourself as well. I am so pleased that your Dad is recovering. My Dad also suffers with his heart the poor darling. Your stitching is lovely and lastly thanks for such an insight to your life. I really enjoy it. Oh and If forgot to tell you how much I enjoy reading about what you are doing with "The Homestead". I was so excited for you when you bought your house and moved in.

Shelleen said...

the mirror is very pretty.

Nancy M said...

What a true "do it yourselfer"!! Way to go Meari! Looks great. I have switched out all my bulbs for the "green" ones too. Just takes a bit longer for them to reach their brightness, but I do like the light they put off better.

Marita said...

That looks amazing Meari. Well done.

Jennifer said...

That mirror looks SO much nicer - VERY posh!!

Anonymous said...

AWESOME job WTG!!!! looks great you are so handy!

Sharon said...

Wow Meari! Your did a fantastic job with the mirror. You are very handy in the home!

Rene la Frog said...

Job well done. Looks fantastic now.

Anonymous said...

The mirror looks fantastic!!! You did a great refinishing job.
Barb in TX

Christine H said...

Great job with the mirror. I wish we had a Menards near us, but maybe not. I would probably go broke.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad that you were able to get new detectors. The 2-in-1 is a good idea and you needed something to protect yourself. I think you did a fantastic refinishing job on the mirror. Congratulations!