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Help me find: A vanity mirror (Please)
Our vanity is 48" wide but there is an unfortunately placed outlet that prevents us from getting a mirror wider than about 38". The height of the mirror is also limited to about the same. We could potentially raise the light fixture as we're replacing it anyway. We've looked at Home Depot, Lowe's, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Z Gallerie, Target, and some other places that I can't think of right now. We would like something with a chrome or polished nickel finish.
The new light fixture (Nuvo Lighting Bento Three Light Fixture):
Other mirrors that I like that don't fit our space:
PB Slender Studio Mirror: http://www.potterybarn.com/products/slender-studio-mirror/?pkey=cmirrors
Restoration Hardware Traditional Wall Mirror: http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1161360&categoryId=cat1639032
Restoration Hardware Classic Wall Mirror: http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1553006&categoryId=cat1639032
Please help!
Re: Help me find: A vanity mirror (Please)
Sorry, but for some reason my links aren't opening in another window.
I agree move the outlet if you can.
Otherwise you could try a pivot mirror that would allow you to access the outlet still.
Or I've seen big mirror with an outlet cut into the mirror. The outlet then has a mirrored cover (you still see the two round white oulet faces though).
Or you can go to a local mirror/glass shop and have them custom cut you a mirror any size you want. Attach it to the wall and then frame it yourself with trim pieces. Or have a frame shop make a wooden frame for it and then notch out the back to fit around the brackets you attach the mirror to the wall with.
I was under the impression that moving the outlet would be more difficult than moving the fixture. Our house was built in the 1950s and the electrical is...creative. The outlet is connected to the light switch so that when the switch is off, the outlet won't work. I'm not sure where the outlet is related to the wall stud, so I might have to bring up the wiring to the attic and wire it back down the wall on the other side. It just seems like it would be a harder thing to do, rather than moving a light fixture up or down a few inches.
Is the outlet in a corner? You just need to move it to another stud, so really it wouldn't be that hard if you're already paying an electrician to move the fixture.
I'll look for mirrors in a minute though.
ETA: Okay now that I actually read the rest of the paragraph, I'd have an electrician work on the bathroom and separate the outlet and the switch anyways, just because if it was built in 1950, it's always good to update the electrical.
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No necessarily. Is the wall construction just drywall and 2x4 studs? If so just figure out where the studs are and see if you have space to move it within the cavity.
The national electrical code has a minimum distance an outlet can be within a sink it sounds like your outlet might be violating that. It would be worth it move it for both safety reasons and for resale (if the inspector finds that you could be required to pay someone to move it so you might as well move it now while you'll be patching that wall anyway). Also changing the outlet to not be controlled with the switch is a very easy no wall opening operation if the outlet has 14-3 wires running to it. That outlet should also be a GFCI...big code and safety issue if it's not and that is another easy update.
If you're hiring an electrician to move the light have him see how much of a deal it is to move the outlet before you go ahead and rule it out. Personally, I would consider cutting one big hole in the wall to make moving the light and outlet easy. Then I would add blocking for the mirror. Patching one big hole is easier than a bunch of little holes.
Thanks for the info. We just bought the house (closed on March 16th) and the inspector didn't mention that the outlet was too close to the sink, so I think it's probably okay. The outlet is already a GFCI, too, so we're also good in that regard.
We're not planning to hire an electrician to move the light - it's something we've done before and we feel comfortable doing ourselves. You are making me think we could probably just move the outlet, too, and get the mirror we really want. I'm going to talk to my husband and see how he feels about it. He was the one with trepidation on that, so I think I may have to convince him.
The outlet is exactly the same as the light just different fixtures get attached. They are both just boxes with one-two wires coming into them. Both should be attached to a stud or blocking. Good luck!