Why Don't You: Make a Fancy Credenza

I've been working on the design of our library wall bookshelves the past week or two. We're wanting to do a credenza-type storage piece all along the bottom of the shelving units so I've been digging up photos of vintage credenzas I've taken at antique stores over the years, and I've been doing lots of research on Pinterest and in my pre-Pinterest file folders. I don't think it's the right fit for our library space, but I really love this antique credenza from the 30s.

I found it at Horseman Antiques on Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn, which was not too far from the school my girls used to go to. The store is huge and most of the pieces are not especially affordable, but it does feel like a treasure trove. I loved to pop in often after school drop off to get inspired and every now and then I'd buy something for myself or for a client.

I didn't buy this mirrored glass piece, but I think it would be such an easy IKEA hack! Just a Besta unit and some mirror custom cut to fit and some glass and mirror glue and you'd be good to go! This is basically what I did for the doors of my IKEA Pax units and the mirror wasn't all that expensive and could not have been easier to install.

The concept sort of reminds me of this IKEA hack from the Aestate.

I LOVE the chunky, edgy texture the layered pieces of wood on the doors give the whole look. So easy and inexpensive for such a huge visual impact! Her concept post is here and here's the project reveal photo.

I see a chalk board in my future

Before I had a chance to get completely sick of seeing chalkboards and chalkboard paint on anything and everything, I was in love with this image.

The home was first published in O at Home and then in Cottage Style (the second image) and I remember reading that the owner had collected a lot of her furniture and art in Europe. It seems like she said she found the mirror at an antique store in Switzerland, but the glass broke so she made it in to a chalkboard. I LOOOOOVED the shape of that mirror. It's like all swoosh and no line on the frame, which makes it feel almost a little more modern maybe?

scans lifted from here.

Anyway I loved it but never thought it could be mine bc of the whole Europe/antique thing. Fast forward like 5 years to last week. I was at Meeker Ave Flea Market with some friends when... Wait. What's this. Is this the? Could it be??

The exact same mirror! It's enormous and crazy heavy (the frame is cast iron). I bought a bunch of stuff that day for clients and my pals at Meeker gave me good pricing for the whole haul, so I'm telling myself the mirror was basically free even though it was really about $100.

I have more mirrors than I could ever possibly hang, so I'm going to make this one into a chalkboard for my apartment (I know I'm a copy cat). Top color choices of the moment include black, navy or the old school chalkboard greeny emerald color.

Now, to figure out what to do for the writing surface... I should probably take the mirror out, and replace it with mdf... Not a good idea to just paint over the glass, right? Or could I?