Inspired by Miles Redd: Glossy Red Tassel Mirrors

Welcome to my second project for this year’s Inspired by DIY challenge!

I’m joining a group of fabulously talented bloggers, coordinated by Jessica from Domicile 37 and Kathy from Up to Date Interiors, to bring you DIY and decorating ideas inspired by some of our favorite designers and style icons!

This month’s inspiration comes from New York-based designer Miles Redd, whose bold spaces full of whimsy, glamour, and color have been a favorite of mine for years!

Master Bedroom Update: Glossy Red Tassel Mirrors

As I shared in the last bedroom update, the vintage burl night stands I found at the Salvation Army ($43 each!) intro threw a bit of a kink in my original plan for this room’s design:

Burl night stands meant no burl frames on either side of the bed – they moved to this wall instead:

Master Bedroom Update: Art Direction

Leaving me with the need to switch gears, scramble for a new direction and, in the immortal words of Ross Geller, “Pivooooottttt!”

via GIPHY

I knew I didn’t want any other pieces of art that might compete with the two over the dresser, but I still needed something to hang over the night stands. I spent hours browsing thrift stores and trolling Craigslist for the perfect pair of vintage mirrors, but I turned up empty-handed every time.

I don’t know if you guys know this about me, but I am a hard-core Ikea fan. I may not want to furnish my whole home with a black-brown Ikea suite, but it’s definitely my go-to place for reasonably priced basics or simple pieces that I can customize and embellish.

I’ve had a crush on the Langesund mirror at Ikea for quite some time and one day a light bulb went off in my head – a pair of those would be perfect for our bedroom! The round shape would be a nice relief to all the rectangular lines in the space, from the art on the dresser wall to the boxy brass bed frame, and the price was definitely within reach…

In fact, while I intended to pick up a pair in white, thinking they would be the perfect blank slate, I found the blue Langesund mirrors on sale for $13 each at my local Ikea and was able to buy both for half of what I had planned to spend!

The blue frames instantly answered my question on whether or not I was going to paint the mirrors. Spraying them white seemed too simple, so I decided to take a leap and channel the bold colors of Miles Redd (who has a very fitting last name!) with a glossy red spray paint.

I was definitely a little worried that the red would be kind of crazy-town with the bedroom’s olive walls, but it’s a color combo I’ve been loving lately and I figured I could always repaint if I didn’t like the results.

Spoiler alert: I’m a fan!

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Supplies Needed:

• Mirror(s)
• Painter’s tape
• Plastic cling wrap
• Gray spray paint primer – helps prepare the surface for the spray paint, and cut down on the number of coats needed for a bold color like red!
• Glossy spray paint in the color of your choice – I used Rustoleum Gloss Protective Enamel in “Regal Red”
• Cord with tassel – I found two red and gold braided cords with tassels on the end at a thrift store, but you could get a very similar result using graduation honor cords! (In fact, that might be what mine were.) Plus, they come in all sorts of incredible color combinations!
• Hot glue gun

Step One: Tape Off the Mirror

The first thing I did was protect the surface of the mirror with plastic wrap and painter’s tape, gently sliding the tape between the mirror and the metal frame.

Step Two: Spray Primer

Next, I lightly sprayed the mirror with 1-2 coats of flat gray primer and let it dry in the garage for 48 hours.

Step Three: Glossy Spray Paint

When you’re spray painting anything – especially if you’re using glossy spray paint – patience is your friend!

You want many light coats of paint, because spraying the paint on too thick will cause it to run. When that happens, any time you’ve saved gets lost in the fact that you have to wait for the paint to dry, sand down the drips and runs, and then spray a new coat.

So remember – light coats of paint, spaced out either several minutes or 24-48 hours apart (whatever it says on the can). And if you need to move or turn over the piece to reach a new angle, wait that longer window of time first so the paint has had time to fully dry.

I know, I know – spray paint is supposed to be all about instant gratification, right? But patience is the key to a flawless and durable professional-looking finish!

Step Four: Cords and Tassels

The cords and tassels were actually a spur of the moment decision to cover up the fact that there was still a sliver of the original blue paint peeking out between the mirror and the frame – a lucky accident, because the cords ended up being my favorite part of this project!

Like I mentioned above, I found these cords at a thrift store and they’ve just been looped over the doorknobs in the kitchen for the last several months. However, I think they might actually be graduation honor cords – or at the very least, those are a fantastic way to find similar braided cords with tassels at the end! Here is a similar red and gold one.

I folded the cord in half and started hot-gluing it around the inside rim of the mirror, so both ends met up on one side. Then, I tied a simple square/reef knot, fixed with more hot glue, and let the tasseled ends dangle.

Step Five: Hang & Style

I decided to hang the top of the mirror 36″ above the top of the night stand so the tassels would have plenty of room to shine. This is the perfect height for me to check my makeup, but it’s definitely too short for Bryan to use – good thing he’s not really into makeup! 😉

After months of searching for the perfect lamps, I found these globe task lamps at HomeGoods and fell in love with their shape. The brushed brass finish was also lovely, but I knew it would get lost next to the bright brass bed frame, so more spray paint was the answer – this time in a satin black finish.

Here on Bryan’s side of the bed, there’s an antique tin box to corral odds and ends, a thrifted marbled vase, and this beautiful “Passage” print by Kelly Ventura in a matte black metal frame from Minted. (Kindly provided by Minted for this room makeover.)

Over on my side of the bed, I have big red peonies (you know they’re fake, I won’t even pretend – owner of obnoxiously chewing cats over here) in a thrifted hand-painted Greek vase.

A thrifted tray (lined with a scrap of alligator vinyl left over from my upholstered wall) holds marble coasters (also thrifted), a teeny Fornasetti plate for bobby pins or earrings (you guessed it – thrifted), and a petite Himalayan salt candle holder (found at HomeGoods).

You’ll notice I carefully shot these photos so I don’t give away too much of the final room reveal! I’m excited to share that with you guys soon – I’m still working out a few final details, but as you can see – the bed frame is back up and it’s so nice to be back in our own room again!

Check out these other Miles Redd Inspired Projects:

PMQ for Two | The Gathered Home [you are here] | The Striped House | The Rath Project
Up to Date Interiors | Semigloss Design | Iris Nacole | Jest Cafe

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