Ballards Inspired Antiqued Mirror Topper

I was looking for something different to make a plain 30" table glass topper unique for a current make-over. These side tables are an inexpensive way to bring in vertical table space.  They are usually made out of MDF and can be found at stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond, Walmart, etc.  They require a 90" table skirt - which you can have made or can buy.  My client already had the table, she just needed a new table skirt and I thought a mirrored topper would be great to add some reflective surface to her room.   I was inspired for this project by this topper from Ballards for $99 - its the 30" Antiqued Mirror Topper. 

I have also loved all the pics on Pinterest of people making glass pieces into Mercury glass through a simple spray paint you can buy called Looking Glass by Krylon.  Sooooo - I combined the two and made an antiqued mirror topper for my client's 30" decorative table (I made a new table skirt too - that's for a later post!).  My glass was free (something I already had) and only cost a few dollars for the materials.

I started with a clean glass topper.  I leaned it on a bucket outside so I could get a good angle for the spray.  

I then used this...Looking Glass Spray Paint by Krylon which I found at Walmart. 

You will spray on the opposite side of the object that you want to show.  This didn't matter for this project, but if you are spraying a glass container you will want to spray the inside so that the mirrored effect will show on the outside of your container.  I chose to spray it on in bursts across the mirror rather than a sweeping motion as advised.  I wanted the mirrored effect to be random.  Spray lightly ...as I found out.  You don't want the spray to run.  I did several coats of the spray to get my desired result.  You wait a few minutes between applications for the spray to evaporate.  Pretty cool stuff...I can see using this on several projects!!

 

At this point, if you just wanted a mirror finish you could stop and do the final step of sealing the mirrored finish (see below towards end of post).  But for me, I wanted the antiqued look. So I used a fine sandpaper block and "etched" away a few areas where I wanted to put some antiquing glaze.  I checked every so often at the front to see how it was going to look on the finished side.

I used this *my all-time favorite glazing* from Valspar which I got at Lowe's.  I poured a little into this very special artist bowl. 

I added a teency-weency bit of water to the glaze and used the cotton ball to dab on small amounts to the areas where I had etched some of the mirror effect away.  I kept checking the front to see how it was going to look on the visible side.  You don't want a solid blot of the glaze, just "whispers" of the glaze where you have etched the mirrored paint.  This was a process - just go lightly at first - you can always add more later.

This is how it looked on the painted side with the mirrored finish and antiquing.   I did a few more coats of the Looking Glass spray to fill in areas that may still show clear.

 

Lastly, I used a sealer since the painted surface was going to be laying on top of the new fabric table cloth.  I used a clear acrylic matte finish spray.  I gave the topper several coats of this - letting it dry in between.  This helps to seal the paint.

And here's the end result installed in the home.  I loved how it turned out and was a perfect solution to the bedside table as the homeowner could put a glass of water there and not worry about damaging the fabric cloth.