Mirrored or not mirrored?

[disgruntledjawa]

I’m planning on getting a few smaller BESTA units from IKEA and have been toying with the idea of doing a mirrored back on them instead of the standard back. If I did do the mirrored back I would most likely use mirrored acrylic attached to the back of the unit. I was thinking this would also allow me to hide the wires for the lighting.

The collection would be 90% busts, statues or mini-helmets.

Just wanted to get opinions and pictures if anyone has taken on a project like this.

 

[LightSword]

I'm not too familiar with Besta ( I have a custom made wall to wall display unit), thus I don't know if you can actually run the wires for the lights behind the cabinet without the use of a mirrored back to hide them. I can tell you I did hide the wires for my three Detolfs using Hide-A-Wire from Home Depot, and you cannot see them. I then connected those to a remote control module and I never have to turned the lights on manually. I could show you a picture later on if you are interested. Just let me know so I can look for it.

That said, the mirrored back is pretty much up to individual taste. Keep in mind that since it will reflect the mini busts and statues on your shelf, it will create the optical illusion of having more of them on it, thus giving the false appearance of being a little crowded depending on the amount you choose to display on each shelf. If you want a more simple, clean look, then displaying them without the mirrored back is the way to go, in my opinion. But again, you would need to find a way to hide the wires as I know how obtrusive they can be just hanging there. Personally I do not use mirrored backs, but that's just me. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it is the look you really want. After all you'll be the one looking at it every day. Enjoy your project!

 

[ThunderCracker]

I'm not too familiar with Besta ( I have a custom made wall to wall display unit), thus I don't know if you can actually run the wires for the lights behind the cabinet without the use of a mirrored back to hide them. I can tell you I did hide the wires for my three Detolfs using Hide-A-Wire from Home Depot, and you cannot see them. I then connected those to a remote control module and I never have to turned the lights on manually. I could show you a picture later on if you are interested. Just let me know so I can look for it.

That said, the mirrored back is pretty much up to individual taste. Keep in mind that since it will reflect the mini busts and statues on your shelf, it will create the optical illusion of having more of them on it, thus giving the false appearance of being a little crowded depending on the amount you choose to display on each shelf. If you want a more simple, clean look, then displaying them without the mirrored back is the way to go, in my opinion. But again, you would need to find a way to hide the wires as I know how obtrusive they can be just hanging there. Personally I do not use mirrored backs, but that's just me. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it is the look you really want. After all you'll be the one looking at it every day. Enjoy your project!

Have any pictures of your Detolfs Lightsword?

 

[LightSword]

Have any pictures of your Detolfs Lightsword?

Looking for the ones I took a while ago when I was installing the lights to show the process. I know they are saved somewhere in one of the many memory sticks and SD cards in my desk drawer. If I can find them, I'll post them up.

 

[LightSword]

Have any pictures of your Detolfs Lightsword?

Found the pictures. The first one shows by numbers the steps I followed to make the wiring for the lights come out over the top of the unit, then inserted them inside the Hide-A-Wire self adhesive strip along the lip of the top of the cabinet, and inside the second piece of Hide-a-wire running along the back (left side) of the glass, running them all the way to the bottom of the unit and from there to the remote module connected to the wall outlet. I raised the unit a little bit using very short wooden legs also from Home Depot, to hide whatever wiring I ended up with, under the unit where it can't be seen. The rest are pictures from different angles of the three Detolfs. I added a second light to the Detolf on the hallway to give more light to those ships.

- Detolf in the hallway heading to the Collection Room.

- Pair of Detolfs inside the Collection Room:

 

[Mechleader]

Really nice set up!!!

 

[ThunderCracker]

Found the pictures. The first one shows by numbers the steps I followed to make the wiring for the lights come out over the top of the unit, then inserted them inside the Hide-A-Wire self adhesive strip along the lip of the top of the cabinet, and inside the second piece of Hide-a-wire running along the back (left side) of the glass, running them all the way to the bottom of the unit and from there to the remote module connected to the wall outlet. I raised the unit a little bit using very short wooden legs also from Home Depot, to hide whatever wiring I ended up with, under the unit where it can't be seen. The rest are pictures from different angles of the three Detolfs. I added a second light to the Detolf on the hallway to give more light to those ships.

- Detolf in the hallway heading to the Collection Room.

- Pair of Detolfs inside the Collection Room:

Looks wonderful! Well done!

 

[LightSword]

Really nice set up!!!

Looks wonderful! Well done!

Thank you very much, folks.

 

[disgruntledjawa]

Those turned out great. Gives me some more ideas. I like that you added "feet" to the detolfs. I hadn't thought of that. I might do that with the one I have.

Thanks!

 

[LightSword]

Thanks. Glad the pictures help with some ideas.The one with feet, since it is in the hallway leading to the Star wars room, looks better when your coming in being a little bit higher, and elevated from the floor. There is also someone on Ebay selling some cool looking risers for the entire cabinet with the words "Star Wars " engraved on them. Not sure if you have seen them, so here is a picture:

 

[disgruntledjawa]

That's cool. I was thinking about trying to build a riser with an open front to put SW novels in.

 

[LightSword]

That's cool. I was thinking about trying to build a riser with an open front to put SW novels in.

That sounds interesting! Would love to see pictures of your project once you get it going.