Materials:
mirror with frame
drill
drill bits: small and one a bit larger
2" drywall screws
hinges with screws
decorative knobs or other accessories
screen door molding
circular or hand saw
stain
air nailer (or hammer and nails)
Steps:
- Buy a mirror from either a home or antique store. Its frame should have some thickness and width for this project to work best.
- Measure the length and width of the frame opening.
- Cut four 1" x 2" strips to make a frame around the opening of the mirror. If cut 1" wider and 1" longer than the opening, this will leave a "reveal."
- Connect the strips together to make a frame (to be attached to the mirror frame later). Do this by pre-drilling pilot holes on each corner with the smaller bit. Then, to make sure that the drywall screws will be countersunk, slightly drill the larger drill bit into the same hole so that the head of the screw will sink down into the wood when screwed in. Put a drywall screw into the holes on each corner and make sure that the frame is square. (Steps 5 to 10 refer to this newly created frame).
- Once the frame is done, make the doors to fit inside it to look like shutters. To do this, measure the inside of the frame and subtract 1/4". This will give enough clearance for the doors to open and close. Cut a piece of wood to this measurement, then divide it in half for two doors.
- Divide each door side lengthwise into four sections. Use these markings to make the wood appear to have slats in it. Cut grooves using a circular saw with a really low-set blade (do not go through the wood).
- Smooth grooves with sandpaper.
- Set them inside the frame and attach with hinges. To make this easier, place hinges where desired on frame and make indentations through the screw holes with an awl. Then drill small pilot holes to make the screws go in easier (if they are small, use a manual screwdriver so that they won't be stripped).
- Add decorative knobs to open the doors or a hook for a more rustic look.
- Cut screen door molding to make faux straps. With an air nailer (or hammer and nails), fasten two on the inside of each door toward the top and the bottom, perpendicular to the slats. This will give the appearance that they are holding the slatted boards together.
- To attach this frame onto the mirror's, screw from the back of the mirror frame.
- Stain the two to match.
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