I love mirrored "open top" boxes - get them as tall as the tallest products. They make a small area look sleek and brighter , and he can still just grab and drop back when he has used stuff. I'd get a row of maybe four identical , about as narrow as a shoebox size or smaller so that they just sit along the top nicely together. weddingbee a few years back shows how to make them of you can't find any locally. If your back wall was papered I'd be papering the boxes to match and then they wouldn't be so noticeable. (I'm a one for wallpaper!)

We may not share artistic values but we do share one good thing... love and our life together - he's simply your typical man who loves to lounge around even when covered in dirt! We may have completely different ideas for our home but he is a good egg :) Anyway I do believe we have found common ground... surprisingly he really likes my idea of using grey with bright colours. We have agreed that as long as I stop forcing him to endure flamingos or similar, he will put up with me buying vintage and completely unnecessary furniture. He's said I can do whatever I want with those awful armchairs... WIN! I think we are going with man friendly greys meets pops of colour/vintage. It's pay day next week and I simply can't wait any longer!! Having said that... some ideas for what style of vintage and arrangements will be wonderful! Here is the photo from my kitchen door - anything attached to the walls were already there from the previous residents and will be removed... such as the mirror which isn't in line with that hideous folding table and the strange religious wall in the corner.... plus the half finished wallpaper on the chimney breast lol. x

Hi I recently styled a small area of a wardrobe to work as a vanity. Despite the area being tiny it needed to look rather luxe as well as giving the impression of light and space. I used acrylic cut to size for shelving in front of the mirror to reflect light as well as acrylic storage for make up. I incorporated some easy lighting that pushes on and off and downlights the area. Additional toiletries such as cotton pads etc are stored in the drawer cabinet at the bottom. For accessories, I chose a range of metals. Brushes and mascaras are stored in gold and silver tea glasses. Tiny silver mercurised vases hold flowers to add colour and the upper accessories are in gold and pink. I hope this tiny project helps give you some inspiration. xj

Hi Nic, As kiki indicates, having just a light above will potentially cause shadows, and the uneveness of the light can be problematic for some. to opt for a mirror which already has lighting built in (either top & bottom, both sides or all round) is preferable - and needn't break the bank. If you wanted to spend a little more, then we would recommend HiB mirrors - excellent quality, and the lighting is top notch, with some mirrors allowing you to vary the light from "cool" through to "warm". While some look "bathroomy", not all do! For a simpler, less expensive unit, I'd recommend the Pura Luna - it is by far our best selling mirror, and comes in a variety of sizes. List price starts at £240 (though you can usually find them well discounted!), and they're easy to install. The lights top & bottom are very subtle, so do not look too bathroomy, especially when unlit If you still prefer a retro-fit light over your mirror, then check out websites for Sensio and Sycamore lighting - should find some nice options there too. Caldicot Kitchens