Medicine cabinet

Meg Thompson
by Meg Thompson
Any ideas on how to refurbish this ugly medicine cabinet?
  32 answers
  • Pat Pat on Nov 21, 2013
    I don't think the medicine cabinet is ugly.....you could paint it though. I am not too fond of your sconces but I think they do go with your medicine cabinet. If you bought new sconces and painted your medicine cabinet white or whatever goes with your bathroom, I think you would see a big difference
  • Meg Thompson Meg Thompson on Nov 21, 2013
    Thanks so much! I want to paint it white and some how update the sconces. This is my boyfriends bathroom.
  • Cindy Cindy on Nov 21, 2013
    I also agree that your cabinet is definitely not ugly its very nice actually Your sconces do have a victorian look I would replace them, unless that is your style.
  • Meg Thompson Meg Thompson on Nov 21, 2013
    Not my style I think I'll paint the cabinet white and also the cabinet doors of the vanity
  • Pat Pat on Nov 22, 2013
    Have you thought of painting the scounces? I can see the brass painted black, the hobnail bottom painted yellow like your tile and and then get new lamp shades. Maybe clear glass ones with a decorative bulb.
  • Meg Thompson Meg Thompson on Nov 22, 2013
    Good idea! I was thinking painting the brass silver and everything else white
  • Kate Allen Kate Allen on Nov 22, 2013
    You may want to try a creamy "old" white. Apply a clear wax (like Annie Sloan's), wipe off excess then take a medium grade sandpaper and run over edges. Some of the dark wood will show, giving it a vintage look. Let wax dry overnight and then buff.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Nov 23, 2013
    I love that medicine cabinet, but the sconces need to go! If they are part of the cabinet, find a way to take them away completely. Another fixture can be added if light is needed. You can use the attaching pieces for the current fixture and usually screw in newer components...probably just by screwing them into the base attached to the wall and connecting wires.
  • Cheryl Gough Cheryl Gough on Nov 23, 2013
    I like the cabinet. The sconces sre ugly. Get something a little more craftsman to go with the cabinet in a darker color.
  • Tobey McCool Tobey McCool on Nov 23, 2013
    I think painting the cabinet with Annie Sloan chalk paint in white or cream would brighten it right up. I love that with Annie Sloan you don't have to tape the mirror. if you get paint on the mirror it just washes right off. If you want to change the sconces that can easily be done, and would make such a big difference.
  • Dee Dee on Nov 23, 2013
    I'm in agreement with everyone else, paint the mirror but the sconces have got to go.
  • Carol Harris Carol Harris on Nov 23, 2013
    I don't think its ugly, get new light fixtures
  • Linda B Linda B on Nov 23, 2013
    Beautiful medicine cabinet. Replace the sconces with some that are smaller and more modern...can't just remove them without having to repair the tile.
  • Meg Thompson Meg Thompson on Nov 23, 2013
    Thanks everyone I can't remove the mirrors maybe replace the sconces and definitely paint the rest? What about the brass parts? Paint them too
  • Irish53 Irish53 on Nov 23, 2013
    yes something more up to date with the sconces. Som thing with cleaner lines to much the style of the cabinet and picture frame. The milk glass is too much detail.
  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on Nov 23, 2013
    That cabinet is gorgeous and I wouldn't do anything to it. Those sconces are terrible though and I would change them out first thing !! I think you will find the cabinet more appealing once you change the light fixtures !!!
  • Meg Thompson Meg Thompson on Nov 23, 2013
    I just want to brighten it up. It's terrible putting on my makeup
  • Trisha Trisha on Nov 23, 2013
    I also love that cabinet and giving it an antique look is a good idea. Is there anything you can do about the tile behind it? I know that there are some types of wall paper you can use over uneven surfaces. Maybe frame it with something solid. I'm not crazy about the plain shinny tiles on the wall.
  • Kim Dagenais Kim Dagenais on Nov 23, 2013
    I would add some more pics. It is hard to see your medicine cabinet and how it works in your bathroom.
  • Anna Ibarra Anna Ibarra on Nov 23, 2013
    When I first read ugly then saw the pic, I don't think it's ugly at all, in fact the frame around it adds to it and I've not ever seen a medicine cabinet with a frame around it. I also agree to paint it, but also if you want a modern look, paint to a color scheme you two like. Sconces can be painted replace the top, but replace altogether if you absolutely hate them.
  • Barbara Thomas Barbara Thomas on Nov 23, 2013
    The frame around your cabinet is beautiful but the silver around the mirror is not matching your light fixtures. I'd replace those fixtures with a more modern silver type. I have glued a picture frame around my mirror that's the same as yours. I found the perfect size and it changed the whole look.
  • Cherrie Cherrie on Nov 23, 2013
    I would try to upcycle the old light fixtures. Spray paint ORB or other metallic paint finish that complements the rest of the bathroom. Add Edison lights and see if this fix for less than $25 gives you the update you want. Based on the pic, the cabinet is really unique and very pretty but I tend to agree with others.... not a fan of the white hobnail milk glass, especially the hurricanes, the bottom globe just might look nice with the Edison-style bulbs. Have fun with your project.
  • Meg Thompson Meg Thompson on Nov 23, 2013
    Barbara Thomas can you send me a pic of your mirror?
  • Lynn Lynn on Nov 23, 2013
    I agree. Love the cabinet. Not the sconces.
  • Sheila D Sheila D on Nov 23, 2013
    are you looking to moderinze or keep the "country look " with the milk glass globes? Even changing the globes might up date the look.
  • Frankie Laney Frankie Laney on Nov 23, 2013
    I would paint the mirror frame with a chalk paint in your choice and consider taking out the side lights and installing an overhead fixture in order to have better lighting. I freak if I don't have great lighting in my bathroom. I've been known to take along a good bulb when I travel and change out the hotel's night light they call a light bulb!
  • Meg Thompson Meg Thompson on Nov 24, 2013
    I hate the sconces but they are attached to the cabinet so I want to modernize the whole thing
  • Val Val on Nov 24, 2013
    Hi Meg! I'd change up your sconces for sure, but keep the sidelighting. Overhead lighting is very unflattering for doing makeup. If you give your cabinet mirror frame a coat of glossy white paint and rough up the high spots a bit I think you'll enjoy the fresh new look! Good luck with your bathroom update! Val
  • Val Val on Nov 24, 2013
    Hi Meg! I'd change up your sconces for sure, but keep the sidelighting. Overhead lighting is very unflattering for doing makeup. If you give your cabinet mirror frame a coat of glossy white paint and rough up the high spots a bit I think you'll enjoy the fresh new look! Good luck with your bathroom update! Val
  • Meg Thompson Meg Thompson on Apr 17, 2014
    Painting the cabinet a darker color and the brass will be silver and the sconces are going!!
  • Cleta Cleta on Feb 29, 2016
    Spray paint the mirror and sconce holders. Replace the hobnail top with a different globe and the bottom hobnail remove and glue a medium size clear or color crystal to replace the bottom. This makes the light look shorter and more space. I have done this and they look totality different.
  • T. Martinelli T. Martinelli on Nov 05, 2016
    Those lights are antiques an worth a lot , that's hobnail milk glass Fenton, I wouldn't mess any of it up,if u don't like it,remove it all an sale it.