The deed is done. Everyone on Team Paint The Mirror White (not to be confused with Team Edward) can rejoice. Our mirror above the sink went from this:
To this:
And for context, here’s how it looked the day we moved in:
After much back-and-forth we followed our first instinct and painted the mirror frame white to match the trim. The white softens the frame’s presence, making the nook blend into the room instead of shouting for attention. It feels integrated, lighter, and as if the frame has always belonged there rather than dominating the sink area.
Apologies to the other design factions we considered—Leave It Black, Paint It Gray, Paint It Teal, Paint It Yellow, Paint It Gold, Paint The Molding Black, Paint The Vanity Black. We weighed lots of options and many would have worked. In the end it came down to personal preference, and we’re partial to white.
How we did it: Behr Premium Plus (paint with primer included) in a standard white with a semi-gloss sheen. I brushed on four thin, even coats with a paintbrush. We usually recommend spray priming and spray painting for frames, but the Behr all-in-one product is low-VOC, so brush application made sense here and it performed beautifully. I also used a straight razor to carefully remove paint from the mirror surface for a clean finish.
For those who like contrast, don’t worry — the white actually reads bold at night:
We love that the white frame pops against the dark view out the window at night. During evening hours the white creates dramatic contrast and becomes a focal point we enjoy before bed. When the frame was black, it pretty much disappeared after dark.
And yes, here I am:
Many asked to see my hair down, so here it is—different from my usual ponytail. For video footage of me with my hair down, check the older Texas road trip video referenced on the site.
We’re leaving the windows bare for now because we enjoy looking out of them while brushing our teeth. Sometimes a robin visits the feeder, and we like that small, everyday view. Although some photos make the windows look frosted, they’re not.
Curious what the window looks like from the neighbor’s perspective? We sit on almost an acre, so houses are far apart. Here’s a daytime shot taken from roughly a fifth of the distance between our homes:
During the day exterior windows tend to be reflective, so you mostly see sky and tree reflections even when the bathroom light is on.
At night it looks like this from outside:
Not bad, right? We may have 99 curb appeal problems, but the mirror isn’t one.
Psst — Why Team Edward and not Team Jacob? Even though I’m from New Jersey, the tan body-builder type wasn’t my thing. When I read Twilight before the movie castings, I pictured John as Edward. Different era, different imaginations.
Pssssst — For anyone wondering if I can reach the dryer buttons, we updated that post with a photo of me in action. Go Team Five Foot Two Inches!