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DIY: A Mirror by Two Paris Architects (Made with Materials from the French Equivalent of Home Depot)

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Bathroom Mirror CabinetsIssue 5 — International Style

DIY: A Mirror by Two Paris Architects (Made with Materials from the French Equivalent of Home Depot)

January 30, 2020

Hélène Pinaud and Julien Schwartzmann graduated from architecture school in Strasbourg in 2014 and promptly set up their own Paris firm, Heju. Operating out of their tiny garret apartment—we recently featured their $4,300 Kitchen Makeover—the couple became DIY experts out of necessity. They’re now so in-demand as architects that they they have less time to fiddle with scraps. But visits to Merlin Leroy, France’s version of Home Depot, occasionally lead to a new DIY. A recent project for their bathroom is this pivoting mirror that they describe as “a minimalist and geometric design inspired by Bauhaus shapes.” Hélène and Julien kindly agreed to explain how they put it together.

Photography by and courtesy of Heju.

The mirror is supported by a brass rod inserted into a water-resistant MDF frame that doubles as a shelf. The mirror pivots &#8
Above: The mirror is supported by a brass rod inserted into a water-resistant MDF frame that doubles as a shelf. The mirror pivots “just enough,” the designers explain, “that you can tuck some beauty products behind it.”

Tools and Materials

Supplies are all from Leroy Merlin and require little more than assembling. They used a 4
Above: Supplies are all from Leroy Merlin and require little more than assembling. They used a 42-centimeter round mirror and 1-meter-long brass rod, 8 millimeters in diameter. The frame is colored medium density fiberboard or MDF—in anthracite gray, so no painting or staining is needed—and the three pieces were cut to size at the store. (Unfortunately, colored MDF is harder to come by in the States; one source is ForesColor.) Go to Heju Miroir Pivotant for the exact specs.

Instructions

Drill 8-millimeter-wide holes into the top and bottom panels, 3.5 centimeters from the edge (one hole in the center and one at each end). Widen the holes as needed with your drill and screw the bottom panel to the back. N.B.: The designers recommend using black screws.
Above: Drill 8-millimeter-wide holes into the top and bottom panels, 3.5 centimeters from the edge (one hole in the center and one at each end). Widen the holes as needed with your drill and screw the bottom panel to the back. N.B.: The designers recommend using black screws.
If your supplier won&#8
Above: If your supplier won’t cut a brass rod to size—53 centimeters long—use a hacksaw and sand the edges.
The brass rod is centered and affixed to the mirror back: Hélène and Julien used a waterproof, transparent neoprene glue.
Above: The brass rod is centered and affixed to the mirror back: Hélène and Julien used a waterproof, transparent neoprene glue.
Thread the rod through the top and bottom panel holes and then screw the top panel into place.
Above: Thread the rod through the top and bottom panel holes and then screw the top panel into place.
Screw two sawtooth picture hangers to the back panel, and &#8
Above: Screw two sawtooth picture hangers to the back panel, and “you can proudly hang your mirror.”

The Finished Look

The shelf is just big enough to display a few pretty items.
Above: The shelf is just big enough to display a few pretty items.

Explore our DIY Archive for many more projects, including these three by Heju:

And check out our Steal This Look: The Heju DIY Tiny Kitchen Makeover.

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