How to reinstal sliding mirror medicine cabinet?

[Edgar]

I am trying to figure out the best way to reinstate/restore the old 60's style bathroom medicine cabinet. The recess still exits, as does the original frame. But the sliding mirrors have long been removed, along with whatever runners existed. I wish to put it back how it was originally. Any advice would be welcome

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Edgar,

Restoring a 1960s-style recessed sliding mirror medicine cabinet to its original condition is tricky, mostly because those cabinets often used proprietary tracks and panel sizes that aren’t readily available today. To reinstall sliding mirrors, you’d need mirrors that fit the recess, some kind of handle or frame, and a track system at the top and bottom for them to slide properly. Off-the-shelf tracks and mirrors rarely match those old dimensions, so most people end up needing a custom solution.

You could consider installing the framed mirrors on hinges instead of sliding them, which is often simpler and avoids custom tracks entirely.

If you want to keep things original-looking but avoid a fully custom sliding setup, another option is to measure the recess carefully, including the width, height, and depth and see if a modern cabinet could be retrofitted. While it won’t be an exact match, you can get a similar style with functioning doors and storage, and it will be much easier to source and maintain. If you can let us know those dimensions, then we can check out the current range to see if anything might suit.

Let me tag @Noyade and @AlanM52 to see if they have any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[Edgar]

Thank you Mitchell. 

[AlanM52]

Hi @Edgar,

I really like what you are doing and same thing here for our inherited A V Jennings 2-story home built in 1971.

You should be good to do that job and here are some of my thoughts to prepare yourself.

There should be glaziers in your area able/offering cut-to-size vanity glass (beveled) with finger grip and even supply the correct tracks.

Prepare for the first visit:

That's a lot of glass for a vanity (they may even recommend 6mm) so have with you the photo you posted here plus exact size of the opening.

As I mentioned enquire/confirm beveled/finger grip/tracks.

Think about safety/ability to DIY install may need quote in include install.

Does the vanity need to be lockable, any kids or grandkids.

Last year had to help family friends and take their glass to glazier to have keyed lock fitted - sadly dementia.

Cheers