Last month, in the can’t-leave-well-enough-alone category, I took y’all shopping with me to try and find a new, big, rectangular master bathroom mirror. When I redid this space a couple of years ago, I had the hardest time finding a large-scale mirror locally so I went with this big guy I found on sale at Kirkland’s (one of my FAVORITE places for mirrors).
It was supposed to be a bronze finish, but was super dark and looked more like just dark wood like the cabinet to me. I’ve been ready for a change for a while now, and finally just started looking around. Mirrors in these sort of dimensions (~30″x 40″) were harder to find than I anticipated, BUT after browsing around the contenders last month, I made my decision!
(this room is so dark so it’s super hard to photograph, thank goodness for a tripod, remote, and loooooong shutter speed!)
I went with the Kensington Pivot Wide Rectangular Mirror from Pottery Barn in Chrome. I’ve always been a fan of pivot mirrors, but for some reason they didn’t cross my mind until now. But once I saw it, I couldn’t get it out of my head! So I hoarded all the coupons and rewards certificates I had, and splurged.
I was a little intimidated on installing it, concerned with getting it even and level and all, but I made a makeshift template of the bracket width and screw holes with some wide painter’s tape and went by that to drill the anchored holes. Painters tape templates have made things SO much easier to hang around here, it’s one of my favorite tricks :) Once the holes were drilled, I screwed in one of the brackets, then had super strong husband hold the mirror in while I screwed in the other bracket. This thing is heavy!
It blows me away how much more open and light it looks in here! I love how the chrome matches the light and faucet fixtures and the angle of it from pivoting is such a more unique and classic look. I like it alot better for getting ready in the mornings too actually because it’s angled and is a little closer.
I always feel it is best to have patience and try and wait for the perfect piece for a space, but of course sometimes we have to do the best we can in the meantime. Just keep your eye peeled and that piece will eventually grab you, then go for it! Plus, you can always sell the “in the meantime” piece on Craigslist to help pay for the new one ;)
bifold door
sink
flushmount light
vanity light
towels
towel ring/hooks
faucet
cabinet hardware
pivot mirror
wooden tray
accessories
Turned out beautiful! So clean looking & I love the edge detail.
Thanks Mom :)
Love the new mirror! It looks fantastic in your bathroom.
It feels so much more open in there now, we love it! Thanks Amy :)
Wow – I love it! Now I won’t be able to get pivot mirrors out of my head. It makes just a big change…
I always thought it would be weird to look at a mirror at an angle like that, but it’s actually soooo much better! We LOVE it!!
It would be nice to have seen your tape template and more info on install. Did you need drywall anchors or did you get lucky and have studs there?
I apologize for not having pictures of that process. Installing this guy was definitely a two-person task and I just wasn’t able to snap pictures during it, not enough hands :/ The template is just running a strip of painter’s tape across the back from one side of holes to the other, poking out where the holes are, then putting the painter’s tape up on the wall and use it to level out the holes and mark them on the wall. There is a picture of this method at THIS POST where I used it also, and you can see more about it in this blog post too :) There were not studs where my mirror went, I used anchors for the holes.
Question I happen to be eyeing the very same mirror! I need the similar size for my bathroom and I noticed this one was not moisture proof as others were listed on PB site. Do you not have it in the same room as a shower? I guess if you have a door for seperation you could totally get away with it, or maybe its not that big a deal? Let me know your thoughts because yes you’re right its a pretty expensive purchase, but oh so lovely in style. I happen to have a super small bathroom and it will definitely be fogging up every shower. Thanks for the input.
Hi Yvette! Thanks so much for asking about this :) Our mirror is just a mere three feet or so from an open walk-in shower and our bathroom isn’t large at all. It gets fogged up daily from the shower and still looks brand new after almost three years now! Not a speck of rust or corrosion from the moisture. So I say go for it :)