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Vintage Medicine Cabinet

April 25, 2020

After finding and holding onto this vintage medicine cabinet for a few years, I was pretty happy to get a sweet place for it in the lower level guest bathroom. It was in need of some restoration help though. Although I’m not an expert, I’m not afraid to tackle a project like this and figure it out as I go along.

(shopping links for products I used in this project are at the end of this post)

This charming vintage medicine cabinet has some sort of small, thin tiles covering the face of it, creating a lovely design. I actually can’t tell what they’re made of… plastic? porcelain?

Whatever they are, unfortunately a few of them were missing when I snagged this cabinet up.

I’m not a hoarder… I don’t think… but I have been known to buy a vintage item here and there without an immediate plan for said item. If I get it for a decent price, I figure I can always re-sell it if I don’t come up with a plan for it. The thing is, unique pieces like this vintage medicine cabinet just aren’t readily available, so sometimes you have to strike when the iron is hot… and come up with a plan later.

When we were nearing the end of our whole house renovation, it came time to finish this lower level bathroom. The suddenly obvious plan for this piece appeared right before my very eyes. This treasured, (by me at least) vintage medicine cabinet was the perfect petite size for this space. It was also the perfect style! I hadn’t had time to work on the medicine cabinet ahead of the carpenter installing it so it went into the spot as is. I was hopeful that when the renovation dust settled, I would have more time to fix it up a bit.

It did have a few issues indeed. There was missing paint around the mirror edge.

The vintage metal interior was a little worse for the wear…

Icky, rusty and more missing tile on the front edge.

I admit, it’s been installed for a while, (going on 2 years now, whoops!) but honestly, this bathroom is rarely used and there have been so many projects ahead of it on the list!

Finally, I ‘scheduled’ it in this last week. Yay! This was a fun project. Not having it finished didn’t feel like a burden, until now that it’s done, I realize it really was nagging at me before. I’m so happy to have it checked off my list now and tickled with how it turned out.

Here’s what I did:

I started by scraping all the loose and peeling bits off.

To paint over loose and flaking paint is not going to last long, so I wanted to be sure to get down to a good solid base.

Scrubbing with a toothbrush worked wonders to get into the little grooves and around the hinges.

When it was time to tackle the missing tile,

I taped off the area with good painter’s tape.

I debated on what to fill the gap with, creating replacement tiles. I finally decided that I already had paintable caulk which is waterproof, good for a bathroom area, so that’s what I went with. Ok, so I guess not a lot of debating! I didn’t really have anything else on hand except sheetrock patch fill. That would have been easier to work with, but would have been too easily compromised with water and not last.

Caulk isn’t super easy to shape like clay would be. Caulk is sticky and that was a little challenging, but I managed okay for the few pieces on this medicine cabinet

The razor knife worked great to get the individual tile cuts in the mostly dry caulk. (I tried cutting it when the caulk was still wet, Remember when I said caulk is sticky?! That didn’t work at all! The caulk clung to the knife blade and just made a mess)

Matching the exact color of the existing tile on the vintage medicine cabinet wasn’t all that difficult.

Working with acrylic paints, I mixed some white, tan/gold and grey. Using an artist paint brush, I simply painted the now dry caulk replacement tiles with this custom mixed paint. (After that tile color was dry, I went back with watered down grey and lightly painted in the cracks to give it a similar look of depth between the individual tiles.)

I also painted the edge by the mirror with the custom matched paint. No worry if some of the paint got on the glass.

Once it was dry, I simply used the razor knife to scrape the paint from the glass.

The final treatment for the tile and trim touch up paint was to seal it with a couple thin coats of water based poly. I chose a satin finish to best match the existing vintage tile.

Now to do some restoration on the interior of the vintage medicine cabinet.

I primed the entire interior with a bonding primer. I also sealed over all the rusty spots to prevent bleeding through. Lastly, it got 2 coats of white latex paint in a satin finish.

I could have stopped there, but I thought a little pizazz inside the medicine cabinet would be fun.

I measured and cut some pretty wrapping paper that coordinated nicely with the outside of the cabinet.

Next the inside of the door, and the back wall of the vintage medicine cabinet got a liberal coat of Mod Podge..

After carefully placing the paper on the Mod Podge inside the cabinet door and back wall,

I painted another liberal coat of Mod Podge over the top of the paper. I let that dry overnight, and re-painted one more coat of Mod Podge over the top of that to give it all a good seal.

The Mod Podge wrapping paper treatment dried to a durable finish. I love the opportunity of unique creativity Mod Podge gives me!

I’m super happy with the finished vintage medicine cabinet. It’s by no means perfect, but it is fun and has a clean fresh feel.

The replacement tiles that I made from caulk aren’t perfect either, but they do blend in pretty darn good!

I think if you didn’t know where they were, you’d have a hard time picking them out.

The vintage medicine cabinet finally has a happy spot, nestled between 2 vintage wall sconces in our lower level bathroom.

This bathroom has the original vintage pink bathtub in it… Saving that is a whole other story…

Shopping Links:

  • Good Painter’s Tape
  • Paintable Caulk
  • Acrylic Touch Up Paints
  • Water Based Poly
  • Bonding Primer
  • Latex Paint
  • Mod Podge

Did you know I now offer decorating and DIY coaching? I can help you with your decorating needs via email, without having to step foot in your home. If you’re interested in more information, visit me at Frame and Frills. I’d love to help you with your project!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please feel free to follow and share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook, Pinterest, Flipboard, Bloglovin, YouTube and Instagram! I appreciate you reading along.

Here are more projects on this whole house renovation:

Re-Thinking the Living Room Furniture Plan
Creating a Built-In Faux Fireplace
Antique Inspired Kitchen Island
Wall Mounted Pot Rack
Front Entry Portiere
Repurposing Vintage Screen Door
Simple DIY Curtain
Tiling the 2nd bath floor
Before and After Living Room Renovation
Before and After Front Entry Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Incorporating Vintage & New Light Fixtures SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Fireplace Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
How to Install an Interior Storm Window SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to tips Window Well Installation
Vintage Window Awning Redo SimpleDecoratingTips.com
hall closet into library simpledecoratingtips.com
front porch addition mostly done SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing SimpleDecoratingTips.com
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating the Basement Apartment
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Cedar Closet Lining
SimpleDecoratingTips.com From a Tub to a Shower
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How I Made Curtains without a Sewing Machine
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating a Whole House is a Lot
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Door & Window Decisions
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Adding a Front Porch
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Bathroom Renovation Done
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Surface Mounted Suspended Ceiling
SimpleDecoratingTips.com we had to cut down 13 trees
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Repurposing Cabinets
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Progress Report on our Whole House Renovation
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating Update Post
Dining Room Progress SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Main Floor Completion Celebration Giveaway SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to Change a Door Lock
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Luxury Vinyl Planks
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Progress

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Comments

  1. Lynnie says

    April 25, 2020 at 9:49 am

    Forgot to say I luv luv luv the perfect little sconces beside the cabinet…and those shells…❣️

    Reply
    • Liz says

      April 25, 2020 at 9:52 am

      They are kinda fun, aren’t they? The shells are a vintage arts and craft project. Found them on eBay.

      Reply
  2. Lynnie says

    April 25, 2020 at 9:40 am

    “…..I thought alittle pizazz inside the medicine cabinet would be fun…!”……..of course you did !!! 😜🤗

    Reply
    • Liz says

      April 25, 2020 at 9:42 am

      Right?! Isn’t a little pizazz always fun? 😍

      Reply

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Our Whole House Renovation: Mid-Century into Colonial Revival Cottage Style

Antique Inspired Kitchen Island
Simple DIY Curtain
Vintage Window Awning Redo SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Dining Room Progress SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Progress Report on our Whole House Renovation
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Repurposing Cabinets
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Door & Window Decisions
Before and After Front Entry Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating Update Post
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Luxury Vinyl Planks
Re-Thinking the Living Room Furniture Plan
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to Change a Door Lock
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating a Whole House is a Lot
Wall Mounted Pot Rack
SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com From a Tub to a Shower
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Cedar Closet Lining
front porch addition mostly done SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Main Floor Completion Celebration Giveaway SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to tips Window Well Installation
SimpleDecoratingTips.com we had to cut down 13 trees
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Surface Mounted Suspended Ceiling
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
Incorporating Vintage & New Light Fixtures SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Before and After Living Room Renovation
Fireplace Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Progress
Front Entry Portiere
Creating a Built-In Faux Fireplace
Repurposing Vintage Screen Door
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating the Basement Apartment
Tiling the 2nd bath floor
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Bathroom Renovation Done
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing SimpleDecoratingTips.com
How to Install an Interior Storm Window SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Adding a Front Porch
hall closet into library simpledecoratingtips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How I Made Curtains without a Sewing Machine

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Disclosure Policy: According to the FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials and shopping links. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

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  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
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