It is very satisfying to see vintage goodies that we feature find a welcome spot in appreciative readers’ homes. So we were happy to hear from Hannah, who purchased three NOS boxes of decorative 1970s mirror tiles from among a large stash that Pam spotted on etsy last year. Hannah used them to cover a dividing wall in her entry way — with groovalicious results.
I bought one box when the article first hit Retro Renovation. I wasn’t sure how or where we were going to use them, we tossed around a lot of options, but nothing that 12 tiles would really work for. I’ve kept the seller’s item on my watch list all this time as she had more available. I think it was late September 2013 when I bought my second box, then 3 weeks later my third. We’d done the measurements and decided the wall for the tiles would be the dividing wall between the living room entry and the kitchen.
Not sure if you can tell from this picture, but our baseboards are quite high at 7″. We’re going to finish off the top with something similar in style in an attempt to “frame” the mirrors.
I am absolutely in LOVE with the outcome of this wall! I look at it every day in amazement at the dimension it adds to our small living room. Thanks, Pam, for always giving us a heads up of what’s out there for us Retro fans to finish off our dream homes/rooms. And thank you also, for caring about Mid-Century “Modest”… which exemplifies my little 825 s.f. 1961 Ranch.
Hannah, you’ve really outdone yourself. That partial wall between your entry and kitchen was a great place for these mirrored tiles to land. You’re right — this feature adds interest, texture and dimension to your space. Also of note, the way the diamond pattern in the tiles mirrors the windows on your entry door. Repetition is one of the key factors of thoughtful design. Bravo on a job well done — and thanks so much for sharing your results with all of us.
Check out New Old Stock mirror tiles left in etsy seller cosasrara’s stash.
Anne-Marie Cory says
This is beautiful. The only mirrored walls I have ever really seen were in trailer homes in rural Montana in the 70’s. Thus, I had NO idea they could be so artsy, so beautiful and elegant. I am just in awe of your space.. Really, this is nice work. Thanks for sharing and changing my mind about mirrored walls.
hannah says
Anne-Marie – hello!
I have never thought of any home I’ve ever lived in (as an adult having moved away from the parents home) as ‘elegant’. That just makes me smile. When I look around here I see “Hippie slammed up against MCM that somehow works.” 😀
Happy to make you a mirrored tile convert. Are you now searching for a purchase and have a wall in mind???
Dan says
I love it! It reminds me of something you would see on the original “Star Trek” (the set designers on that show loved fabulous screens)
A few years back I found some wonderful 70’s era fillagreed mirrors. I hung them in the bedroom hall, and they really look marvelous. Mirrors are a lot of fun.
hannah says
Hi Dan –
Star Trek you say, heh? I grew up with the original and I suspect that’s the era you mean?
I’ve seen framed mirrors or serving trays with the gold vein mirror – love them and wouldn’t mind having a few myself. 🙂
Scott says
A very nice touch to a room that already had a lot going for it, and I agree, I don’t think I’d have questioned that as being something that was always there, or had been there a long, long time. And to me, that’s a compliment of the highest order.
The mirrors really play up that fantastic front door too, and now you get to see it in stereo.
hannah says
Scott, your comment is most welcome. Sometimes I look at our ‘space’ and only see what I need / want to change about it or upgrade to more retro that I still have to wait on, for XYZ reason.
What 80’s band was it that had a song about ‘moving in stereo’? The Cars? That’s what your comment made me think of. 🙂
Alicia Miller says
Hannah, your wall looks Fabulous!!! I really like the copper tone tiles and the Kitty is Bello! I also noticed the cool Donut telephone on your table.
Please, let me know what adhesive Mr. Wonderful used for the tiles.
hannah says
Hi Alicia –
Alicia!!! You’re the SELLER of these fab tiles, right???? The adhesive used is Lexel. It’s a clear substance and the tube says “A superior alternative to Silicone”. Purchased at Tru-Value Hardware (sure you can get it at the big box stores too). So far, so good!
Glad you approve, and thank you for a terrific item at a great price.
Alicia says
Yes, I am the mirror tile lady, lol. I will be recommending Lexel for the tiles since the double tape tabs in the box are so old…better be safe.
Thank you very much, Hannah!
Pat Wieneke says
WOW! Looking at the pictures of the house from the MLS and looking at the little bit we can see in your picture…you are a wonder woman! You took boring and made it into glam.
Pat Wieneke says
This looks great! My first husband and I installed a mirrored tile wall in his 950 sq ft first house ( a little ranch with the garage underneith) We used smoked glass with a gold vein in it. Looking back, I still like it.
I can not tell you how much bigger it made that small place look. And I can not tell you how many times his mom walked into it thinking she was going into another room!
The sad thing was, the people we sold the house to….the first thing they did was tear out the tile.
hannah says
Thank you for your comments Pat.
Too sad, but of course it’s the first thing they tore out….if you watch those real estate shows on cable that’s all they want to do to vintage decor and structural elements.
Last night after reading your comment I pulled up the MLS pictures and would click on them, then come back here to the pics – back and forth, finding myself amazed at what’s been accomplished too! Funny how you forget a little bit how it all started, and only see the flaws of what you still need to work on. Thank you for giving me some perspective. 🙂
Lisa Compo says
Hannah it turned out great! I think we had a conversation on the facebook site one day with Jason and we were all debating on the best adhesive to use to hold the mirrors on the wall. Mr. Wonderful and you did a super job. It makes the room. Definitely looks as if it goes there and always has. The mirrors bounce the light around but the copper keeps it warm.
I love the aqua color you had made for your kitchen cabinets. I ended up doing the same thing awhile back. Every paint chip was either too blue or too green, so I just made the shade I wanted out of old white paint and food coloring, painted a piece of drywall and took it to HD and they mixed it up for me. It doesn’t have the fancy name like “turquoise mint” or whatever, but it was my own designer color–that was fun.
Are you really a senior citizen or was that a joke? You seem so much younger. Don’t often hear seniors say “stoked” . LOL Anyway…the mirrors look great–I’d be stoked, too. You’ve come a long way in 2 years from the pictures. 🙂
hannah says
Hi Lisa – I remember that FB conversation and how afraid I was to make a decision. 🙂
The product that we ended up using is Lexel. It’s a clear substance and the tube says “A superior alternative to Silicone”.
Yup, Sr. Citizens here. I’m going to be 60 next May (so I’m 59 1/2 lol) and Mr. Wonderful is 63. But, we’re aging hippies so are young at heart.
Thank you for the kind words about my age and the wall!!
hannah says
OH! And here is the entry area BEFORE move in. This pic is from the MLS while I was waiting in home buyer limbo. So yeah Jay, ‘dead zone’. 🙂
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hannahpatricia/media/East%20Bridge%20Street/LR2.jpg.html?sort=2&o=13
hannah says
Sorry for a few errors in comments/misquotes on some of the posts! 🙁
tammyCA says
Looks like the mirrors were made for that wall…love how there’s the repeat diamond motif on the door, floor…neat, I have “a thing” for the diamond/harlequin shape. (and, cute kitchen, too!)