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How to Update an Old Medicine Cabinet

July 9, 2018 by crystelmont Leave a Comment

This bathroom project has been so fun! I’m getting to use my creativity in ways that I never have been able to before. I have yet to own a home of my own, so the extent of my renovation experience has been either rental-friendly cosmetic stuff or in other peoples homes where they have the ultimate say. When my sister bought this house and told me about wanting to turn it into a cottage-style vacation rental I got all sorts of excited and declared that I would take over the bathroom renovation. Lucky for me, she trusted my style and let me make all the decisions. So after I installed all the beadboard and built the shelves over the laundry area, I had to figure out what I was going to do with the the very dated medicine cabinet.

Medicine Cabinet BEFORE

medicine cabinet update, bathroom mirror update, white bathroom vanity, cottage bathroom

 

Paint was a no-brainer, and you know what? I almost left it at that. I will also put in a plug for chalk paint because (holla!) I used it to paint right over that metal plate cover to make it match! It worked beautifully. cottage bathroom, bathroom mirror update, white bathroom, bathroom vanity, cottage vanity, medicine cabinet update, medicine cabinet makeover

But then I got to thinkin… I bet I could probably make the mirror and the lighting into one unit and give it more of an updated look with just a little bit of trim. So I looked for some inspo on Pinterest to see what I could find and then put my plan into action.

cottage bathroom, bathroom vanity makeover, medicine cabinet makeover, cottage bathroom, white bathroom

You guys… I’m wishing I would have taken some pics during the process, but I guess it is pretty self explanatory.

  1. I added a piece of MDF and a horizontal piece of 1/4″ plywood to bridge the gap between the lighting unit and the medicine cabinet.

Update an old medicine cabinet, bathroom mirror, bathroom cabinet, white bathroom,

2. Since the lighting unit was metal, I couldn’t drive my brad nails directly into it to attach the crown, so I added another piece of MDF on top  of that and secured the crown to that.

Update an old medicine cabinet, bathroom mirror, bathroom cabinet, white bathroom,

3.The lighting unit was just about 1/4″ wider on each side than the medicine cabinet itself, so I added a piece of shoe moulding to finish off the sides and to square it up.

Medicine Cabinet AFTER

bathroom vanity makeover, cottage makeover, cottage bathroom, medicine cabinet makeover

4. Caulk all the seams and paint!

Ta-Da!! In hindsight I’m wishing I would have done that horizontal piece of 1/4″ plywood just a little more shallow so it’s not sticking out so far but… now I know for next time.

Let me show you the before pic again…

medicine cabinet update, bathroom mirror update, white bathroom vanity, cottage bathroom

Muuuuch better. It makes things look a little fresher, doesn’t it? And it really only took about an hour to do. I’d love to hear what you think, so feel free to leave a comment!

XOXO

 

 

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Filed Under: DIY Projects Tagged With: Bathroom Remodel, DIY, MIRROR

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Hey there! Welcome to my blog! I'm so happy to have you here, and I hope you'll find something that inspires you. Crystel Montenegro Home is a website that I started in an effort to show you that creating a beautiful, comfortable and functional home does not have to be an expensive or difficult ordeal, and that YOU. CAN. DO IT! Read More...

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