Don't Lose It, Reuse It - Mirror Refinish

I believe whole heartedly these days that you shouldn't donate or throw out any decor until you try to reimagine it. This iron mirror is a prime example of this. It was one of my favorite pieces in our black and white kitchen in Minnesota, but now that we have a main level with cool grays and whites, it just seemed too dark.

Not just for wood, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint can be used on metal, glass or even outside on pots and garden decorations. This was a really quick transformation that my mom helped me with. She was watching me paint and had to get her hands on some Annie Sloan.

I used Old White to lighten up the mirror and distressed the edges lightly with my sanding block. My mom went in and used fine steel wool to mark up the interior. It was finished off with a light coat of clear wax because I didn't like the look of a chalky finish on this piece.

So the moral of the story is...refinish before you toss. If it turns out horrible, no harm done. On the other hand, you might just end up with something beautiful.