Over the last several weeks we've been sharing all of the various aspects of our master bedroom renovation work. Though the project took quite a bit of time from start to finish, it's one of the projects in our house that has truly transformed the cold and uninviting space into one that's warm and welcoming. From the added space of custom closets, to the calming and serene wall color, ceiling color, and fabric choices, it's a place that Alex and I look forward to laying our head each night, and waking up each morning.

As we mentioned in past posts, the addition of our closets to the previously underutilized chimney wall solved a significant storage problem in our room. Now our clothes, my shoes, and even our extra storage tubs have a place to stay neat and organized. However, there's one very critical storage item that wasn't solved with the closet build -- my collection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other miscellaneous bobbles I've picked up at thrift stores, antique stores, Ann Taylor Loft (there's one on the way home from work, I'm powerless to resist), and various other places. Yep, things just got real, I'm talking about jewelry storage. 

At this point you've seen all of the various after photos of our bedroom, as well as the interior shots of our closet, but have you been able to pick out my jewelry storage from these photos? It's been hiding in plain sight all along. Here's a refresher. See if you can spot it.

Can you see it yet? No? Any guesses? Take a closer look.

Okay, here you go, I'll let you in on my little secret.

Yep, that's right folks, the mirror between the bedroom and bathroom door is actually concealing all of my costume jewelry. This little hidden cabinet creation came to me a while back when I realized my previous jewelry storage solution was particularly lacking in both form and function. My previous setup primarily consisted of shoving all of my stuff into a few wooden and cardboard jewelry boxes that I then shoved under my socks and underwear in my dresser drawers. Given my Type A need to organize and understand exactly what I have when planning my outfits, this configuration left something to be desired.

At one point I proposed a solution to Alex that was a challenge of sorts. I think I said something along the lines of "can you build me a jewelry cabinet?" I'm pretty sure his willing husband response was, "Yeah, sure I can." (Don't you love his optimism?) I followed that up with the next logical question of "how long do you think it will take?" Though his voice said, "Meh, a few days," his verbal response didn't matter, I could see it in his eyes, it was not days or weeks, but probably months at least. I appreciate my husband for all of his creativity, DIY skills, and drive, but his ability to properly estimate a project's timeline is, how do I put this gently and accurately...severely lacking.

In my quest to both achieve my desire for organized jewelry storage and my need to accomplish the task while I'm still young enough to wear said jewelry, I began researching other options. During my nights of Internet sleuthing I stumbled across a somewhat ideal solution from a organizational perspective, named the "Safekeeper Mirrored Jewelry Cabinet."

This cabinet seemed just about perfect. It has storage for earrings, bracelets, necklaces, glasses, and even pockets and cubbies for miscellaneous items. The various compartments satisfied all of my storage desires while allowing a tremendous amount of room for future growth. What more could a girl want? The only problem with this cabinet is I didn't want my jewelry cabinet sitting out in the middle of our room. So I took my photos to Alex and presented my next challenge, "Can you use this as a basis for the storage but somehow integrate it into our room?" After a bit of arguing that he could build the same thing for so much less money and at a higher quality, he eventually agreed, it was an excellent starting point for our needs and he could use the cabinet as a built in item, but make it unique to our room. Okay, problem solved and challenge accepted.

The place that I first saw this cabinet had it for sale for about $300. This was extremely steep given that we weren't planning to use the whole thing and that it isn't made of solid cherry or mahogany. Alex and I started searching for deals and eventually found one on eBay for just $110 including shipping. When it arrived we got to work. 

Since our room's walls are plaster on brick on two of four walls, and the third wall is a party wall between our house and our neighbor's, we really only had one place where we could locate the cabinet as an in-wall unit, and that was largely taken by the two doors to the room. Given our limitations, we found a good location that satisfied our needs and allowed us to conceal the whole unit. We cut a hole in the wall and had an amazing stroke of luck. The stud Alex expected to be in the way and we'd need to work around was mysteriously missing. It seems the walls had been altered at some point in the past and there simply wasn't a stud behind the plaster/drywall that occupied the area.

We put a support stud in place on both the side and bottom of the cabinet and popped the bad boy into the wall with two nails through either side of the cabinet. 

We had removed the mirror from the front and weren't sure if we were going to use it on the final install. Since this cabinet was going to live inset into the wall, we really needed something that offered a bit more overlay around the perimeter of the cabinet, but what that thing was exactly, I wasn't sure.

It wasn't until we were out at Luckett's Antique Store on one fateful day when I saw my mirror waiting for us. We had long debated if we should use a traditional dressing mirror or something more visually interesting. We had hoped to find something with dimensions that would conceal the entire cabinet, but also knew our specific dimensions made this very difficult. When we found this mirror its dimensions were nearly perfect, just a little short and narrow, its style was something that I loved, and one of the mirrors had a small and barely noticeable crack, which meant it was significantly marked down, score! We snapped it up and brought it home that day.

The mirror itself is actually three dimensional. Each four triangle section makes a pyramid that protrudes from the base several inches. The frame of the mirror is steel and is painted in a manner to make it looks weathered.

A short while after we brought it home Alex began work on the custom panel and frame for my angular and interesting decorative mirror find. He determined the ideal dimensions for the door and necessary overlay based on the side of the mirror, the size of the opening, and the location between the two doors. He also had to accommodate the light switch to the right of the location. It wasn't an easy calculation, so I'm very glad he and his anal retentive math skills were on the job.

Alex built the base of the mirror/door from 1/2" plywood and used a few wood screws to hang the mirror using the hanger holes on the rear of the mirror. The plywood allowed us to mount the mirror in a manner that would cover the entire cabinet and properly position the door in the area between the two passage doors. The end result looks completely integrated, but we can remove the mirror from frame at any time simply by loosening screws and sliding it out.

He then used a combination of two moldings to wrap the plywood, as well as a few pieces of 1/4" trim to form a border on the rear of the door. This effectively disguised the plywood and made a true frame for the mirror.

This also allowed me to carefully pry the black fabric panel from the rear of the cabinet's original mirror and affix it to the back of the newly built door. Alex finished off the whole install with a pair of European cabinet hinges that helps the door extend away from the wall as it opens. Without these hinges, the overlay of the left side of the door would gouge the wall.

He inset one side of the hinges into the door panel using a standard European hing drill bit, and then attached the business end of the hinge as a surface mount to the interior of the cabinet. We had to clear away a little bit of foam padding on the ring section to make it work, but it's a minor sacrifice to make this functional.

The end result is the jewelry cabinet of my dreams (to complement the closet of my dreams) neatly concealed behind a visually interesting piece of wall art. When I show off this little feature to people who visit our house they're usually shocked, excited, and a little bit jealous, all understandable.

It still brings a smile to my face every morning when I open the cabinet to pick out the bracelet or necklace I plan to wear for the day, and every evening when I hang my earrings or when Alex puts his cufflinks away after a fancy night out.  

What do you think of our cabinet? Did you ever think there was anything more to the mirror on the wall than just an interesting mirror on the wall? Do you have a creative jewelry cabinet or storage solution that you're particularly fond of? I'd love to hear about any cool thing's you've done. Perhaps we could incorporate it in a future project.

Comments 37

Comments

Tiffany
2/11/2013 at 10:33 AM
Lovely! This is definitely something I want when I get a house. :)
Alex
2/11/2013
A friend of ours bought their cabinet while renting a place with the ultimate goal of doing an in wall install once they own a place. That might be the way to go in your situation if you need the storage now.
2/11/2013 at 10:36 AM
Wow, that's cool. So now you need to add a hidden storage container for a vast collection of assault rifles and machine guns. You hit a button and a vault is revealed similar to something out of Commando. Every guy wants one.
Wendy
2/11/2013
Who says we don't already have one? I need to protect my vast collection of cheap costume jewelry, after all! ;-)
2/11/2013 at 10:57 AM
Awesome! I currently have a pile of necklaces tangled up on top of my dresser. I def need a better system. I'm going to look into doing something like this. thanks!
Alex
2/11/2013
Can't wait to see your project implementation if you go forward with it.
2/11/2013 at 11:34 AM
You guys are way too clever.
Wendy
2/12/2013
Thanks, Ashley! :-)
Tamara
2/11/2013 at 3:43 PM
Man, I would have never guessed that there's a storage even behind the mirror!
If you guys do something, you do it right :)

PS: What makes an european hinge european?
PPS: This is a serious question!
Alex
2/11/2013
That's a good (and completely valid) question. I think it's because they were created and used in Europe before they made their way to the states, and they offer a fully concealed hinge look, which is more streamlined and European. They aren't the typical fixed pin or single pivot point hinges that are visible from the front of the cabinet, but they extend while opening with far more versatility and accuracy. They scream Scandinavian efficiency to me.
threadbndr
2/11/2013 at 6:03 PM
I'm still at the 'pile of cardboard boxes in the dresser' stage.

Total love this! I thought the mirror was just wall art - should have know once Alex got his hands on it, it would become something more.
Alex
2/11/2013
My goal is to eventually own a house with a secret door/passageway/room. I can't wait for that day.
2/11/2013 at 9:30 PM
All over America there are people looking at their walls trying to figure out where they can put one of these fabulous nooks. I for one one am trying to think of a way to get, my handier than me, husband to build me one.
Wendy
2/12/2013
:-) That's great Kerry! I can't recommend it enough. It's so wonderful to see everything you own, and I find I wear more of my jewelry this way, because it hasn't been forgotten in the back of a drawer.
Jan
2/12/2013 at 9:15 AM
Please transport your master bedroom to my house immediately ;-) That cabinet is the coolest thing ever.
Wendy
2/12/2013
Thanks, Jan! I love this project too! In fact, it's one of my favorite things about our home.
DC by Design
2/12/2013 at 11:39 AM
That is so clever, thank you!
Wendy
2/12/2013
Aww, thanks!
2/12/2013 at 2:18 PM
I hope that Jill does not see this and want to add something similar in our bedroom closet!

Cheers!
Wendy
2/13/2013
It would make one heck of a Valentine's gift. Just sayin... ;-)
2/12/2013 at 5:02 PM
That's your closet? If you'll excuse me I'll be moving in next month. That is beyond dreamy. Honest to God our old PAX closet still gives me nightmares (not the closet itself but what it took to put it together).
Wendy
2/13/2013
You are too sweet, thank you Alex! I have to agree with you on dreamy. I still can't believe we were able to carve out such efficient storage in our old home. :-)
Diana
2/12/2013 at 5:20 PM
Brilliant! knocking on/checking out all my walls now....
Wendy
2/13/2013
Thanks, Diana. Good luck!
JC
2/13/2013 at 1:10 AM
"...they're usually shocked, excited, and a little bit jealous..."

I fall in this category. I had spotted this unusual mirror in many photos, and I had wondered if there was a story behind it (more to do about where you acquired it, etc), but this is TOTALLY FREAKIN' COOL!

I'd love to build something similar, but I don't have that much jewellery. I will probably just end up making some custom drawer inserts for some of my existing furniture to better organize what I have. I used to wear one or two rings (of many) but ever since I got into cabinetmaking, they are always getting damaged/scratched and I stopped wearing them.

It would be nice to have everything in one spot though. Glasses, pendants, rings, etc.
Wendy
2/13/2013
I have to say, JC, it's WONDERFUL having all my stuff in one place. And as far as the mirror goes, it is really unusual, and I may not have chosen it except for its perfect dimensions. Knowing how it conceals my perfectly organized accessories, I can't be happier. :-)
maggie
2/14/2013 at 2:47 PM
I love it!! I have never seen a jewelry storage unit that I really really like. There is always some aspect that won't work for me, but that looks perfect! The little notches for the earrings are perfect! Usually you see that wire mesh that would require you to remove the little rubber stoppers that keep the earrings on, but that is perfect! And the ring storage! Genius! Where did you find the cabinet?
Stephanie N
2/27/2013 at 3:28 PM
I am catching up on older posts and can't believe I just came across this!! I JUST bought the over the door version of this and am in the process of moving everything over. It would be cool to have it in a hidden nook but I do not have a hubby to do that and not really something I want to tackle myself....:) Love the outside mirror accent.
1/21/2014 at 8:04 PM

I'm so in love with this idea! How clever!
When I'm able, I'm going to have to call my brother in to do something like this for me. =) I hope you don't mind! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! =D

Alex
1/23/2014

Great! Don't mind a bit. Be sure to let us know how it turns out, we're love to see it.

anne
1/29/2014 at 11:34 AM

Hi. I absolutely love the room and that mirror. Would you be able to tell me the dimensions of the mirror before you put the trim on? I'd like to look it up online and that may help.. Thank you!

Megan
6/17/2014 at 9:28 AM

Hi,
Just finding this entry thanks to google. I am in the process of doing something like this for my teenager, but not built in. Would u be able to provide a tutorial or tips on how you designed the inside components....like cushion back board and earring holder?
Thanks so much!

Laura
11/7/2014 at 5:57 AM

Awesome job on the jewelry cabinet. Can I ask....where did you find the little L shaped hooks for the necklaces?

Kathleen Dunagan
4/7/2015 at 8:54 PM

I love this idea! I wish I had an Alex at my house. Alt smile

Robin Baynes
4/8/2016 at 5:08 PM

I want the Safe-keeper Mirrored Jewelry Cabinet

4/21/2016 at 12:30 PM

I have that exact jewelry box already and am buying a new house with limited floor space. I am so excited about this idea. Just have to move in and find a wall it will work on. I'm already hoping to tear out part of a wall to expand on the built-in small closet. Yay, more demo!

Denise Gonzalez
5/17/2016 at 3:27 PM

Where can I find that amazing mirror?

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