DIY: Mercury Glass Vessels

You have probably seen mercury glass–that silver & gold antiqued glass–in high-end designer homes featured in magazines and on television.  This “warm when it needs to be, cool when it needs to be” accent is great for every room in every style of interiors: from traditional to contemporary.  Antique mercury glass can be quite pricey, as well as some lines of current accents.  However, with a little practice, you can DIY your own candle holders, vases, and even lighting shades.

Featured in the January 2010 Martha Stewart Living Magazine, here are some detailed instruction for you to unleash your creativity!

Tools and Materials

• Glass candleholders
• Vases
• Picture frames with glass
• Spray bottle with water
• Mirror paint (krylon.com)

The How-To
Work on a protected surface in a well-ventilated area. Clean glass before starting. Cover vessels’ exteriors with paper, or remove glass from frame. spray interiors of vessels or frame glass lightly with water and then with mirror paint (the water will make the paint mottled). Turn vessels upside down on a drying rack (so air circulates inside). Let dry completely, at least overnight. Repeat if too sheer. For flowers, arrange in a glass and place the glass inside the vase.