The list on Craigslist gave the impression too respectable to be proper. i was in the market for a pair of mirrors to hang over the bifold-bore arrogance within the guest bathing room, which I’m remodeling. as a result of gigantic mirrors with ornamental frames can also be pricey, and because my kitchen remodel had broke my rate reductions story like a large tapeworm, i needed a accord.

I searched Craigslist. growth! There they had been: “Two matching argent mirrors ─ $,” the listing read. They had been the superb measurement to fit amid the backsplash and light-weight fixtures. What are the options? Their situation was “Like New,” and they were most effective nine afar away. I exchanged a couple of emails and texts with the seller, who agreed to accept $ for the brace. I hopped in my vehicle.

while it’s all the time a little creepy activity to a drifter’s house, this wouldn’t be the primary time I put myself in harm’s manner for a house-design bargain. The agents, a person and girl, agreed to satisfy me in their storage. just as I arrived, the girl received a call and slipped within the condominium.

earlier than: This replicate, purchased as part of a pair on Craigslist, had blemishes all throughout the lessen portion of its frame.

The mirrors were in two separate packing containers with foam nook protectors, implying that they’d been handled with care. the man, whom I’d guess to be in his backward s, apologized and referred to that he wasn’t in a position to carry the containers as he’d just had hernia surgery.

No issue, I certain him. We slid one partway out of its container. It seemed exquisite. I requested if there were any dings, blemishes or chips. nope. He asked, semi-cautiously, if i wanted to look the other one. No want, I observed, now not wanting him to pop a stitch or anything else. I exceeded over the cash, loaded the mirrors myself in my automobile, and drove off.

back home, ecstatic about my accord, I pulled the mirrors out to display my husband my thrifty ranking. That’s once I saw the fourth facet that certainly not made it out of the box. while three sides of both mirrors had been in respectable form, the argent conclude on the fourth aspect of each mirror, possibly the edges nearest their sinks, become riddled with black spots and speckles. Did these individuals ablution their faces with hydrochloric acerbic?

“but the listing referred to, ‘Like new!’” I spoke of, realizing how feeble I articulate. mind you, I’m a informed journalist. i used to be taught that in case your mom tells you she loves you, check it out, so why did I grasp this guy’s be aware? This turned into on me.

I regarded returning them to the seller, who’d likely fled the nation through now. but again my internal DIYer kicked in. I appeared nearer to see no matter if I could deliver the frames. lamentably, they weren’t wood, which might be less difficult to fix. They were artificial-accomplished to seem like painted timber. How hard might this be? I asked myself. Will I anytime be trained?

at the local craft store, I best up two small bottles of argent-bass acrylic acrylic to the touch up the marks. I instantly made the difficulty tons worse, including an entire new set of spots to the spots.

“JW! i want your assist!” It was a weekend, and Jerry White, proprietor of JW portray in Orlando, turned into off to the seaside with chums. He need to accept heard the desperation in my articulation, as a result of he patiently talked me throughout the accomplish to adjust the blotchy frames, starting with “that you may do this.”

footfall . band the mirror off across the frame facet with nonaggressive painter’s band. cowl the leisure of the mirror with newspaper. now not the part with my column.

step . the use of magnificent metal absolute, or extremely-aesthetic sandpaper, go over the floor. rough it up or “profile it,” White stated, but don’t scratch it.

footfall . wipe the frame with a damp rag and light detergent to get rid of any debris, dirt or dirt.

footfall four. Lay the mirrors flat in a smartly-aerial enviornment, just like the garage with the aperture initiate, on appropriate of shielding fabric like a tarp or extra newspaper.

step . buy spray acrylic the color you desire. verify the acrylic can characterization to make certain it works on the surface you’re portray, artificial in my case.

footfall . agitate the can longer than you suppose you need to, then aerosol a really mild covering of paint on the frames. Don’t are trying to obtain abounding coverage in one pass.

step . Let it dry absolutely, like for an hour, again practice a second gentle coat. echo unless you get the coverage you need.

step . in case you see spots showing via after a couple coats sure, beach that enviornment lower back and start the system over.

Marni Jameson is the writer of six home and culture books. She will also be accomplished at .marnijamesonm.

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