Sandblasted Geometric Mirrors: Two Built-In Wardrobes in One Bedroom

The client lives in an apartment with high ceilings and wide wall sections — classic Valencian construction where standard modular solutions don't work. The two wall sections in the bedroom had different widths: one approximately 3 metres, the other just under 2.5 m. The client wanted to maximize storage volume while preserving a sense of lightness and openness — without turning the room into a warehouse. The core challenge lay in artistic mirror treatment. The client found a reference with a geometric pattern of overlapping squares — matte areas on reflective surface creating a three-dimensional effect depending on light. He visited several workshops in Valencia, but none accepted: some don't work with sandblasting on mirrors of that scale (doors nearly 2.5 m high), others offered film imitations, still others quoted two-month lead times. We had to find not only the right technology, but integrate the decorative mirror into the sliding system so the pattern didn't 'break' at the door joints. The second difficulty: open curved shelves on both wardrobes' sides. The client had seen a similar solution in an Italian magazine and insisted on smooth curves, but standard particleboard blanks come only straight. We needed CNC radius routing plus 2 mm ABS edge-banding — without chips or steps on the edge. Plus the shelves had to carry weight (books, décor), so we specified reinforced mounting on hidden steel brackets.

We began with sandblasting. We sourced 4 mm mirror from a trusted supplier working with architectural glass. The pattern was vectorized and split across three doors so the square geometry would read as continuous whether any or all doors were open — when all three close, the pattern reads as one unified design. Sandblasting was done in two passes: first with coarse abrasive for depth of matte finish, then fine-grain for even texture. Protective film was removed only after installation — the mirror is fragile, any scratch during assembly would have ruined the entire piece. For the sliding system we chose aluminium profile with upper and lower tracks — a classic sliding-door setup, but with soft-close dampers on each door. The dampers were built into the top rail: in the final 10 cm of travel the door slows and closes smoothly without impact. This is critical for sandblasted mirror — violent contact could eventually chip the matte edges. The lower track was recessed 8 mm into the floor (the client coordinated with terrazzo installers in advance), eliminating any threshold. Curved shelves were cut from Egger supermatte white particleboard, 18 mm thick. Radius of curvature: 600 mm, three tiers per wardrobe. Routed on CNC, then edge-banded with 2 mm ABS in matching colour — postforming technology where the edge follows the curve seamlessly. After sanding, the transition between board and edge is imperceptible. Mounting on hidden steel brackets recessed 120 mm into the wardrobe side. Each shelf supports up to 25 kg static load. For the second wardrobe (functional) we used particleboard with light oak texture — Egger H1176 ST37, natural-wood décor with subtle relief. Interior fittings: full-extension drawers on smooth soft-close rails (premium-segment hardware, soft closure from a light push), hanging rails, upper shelves for seasonal storage. Doors combined: one mirror, one particleboard matching the cabinet. Mirror unadorned, standard 4 mm, in the same aluminium profile. In the first wardrobe (white, sandblasted) we added a pullout shoe module — 600 mm width, fully extending on rollers. Inside: eight shallow concealed drawers, one per pair. Handles integrated into the door (TipOn system), white supermatte seamless fronts. This was the trickiest detail: the shoe unit had to fit between the side and the first sliding door without hindering movement. We left 25 mm clearance — tested on a shop mockup, everything works perfectly.

Manufacturing and installation took three weeks: one week on design approval and mirror sandblasting prep, one-and-a-half weeks producing cabinet bodies and routing curved pieces, three days on-site installation. Both wardrobes fitted into the wall sections perfectly — the surveyor visited twice, accounting for all wall irregularities (in old Valencian homes, walls are rarely perfectly plumb). The client gained 5.5 metres of continuous built-in bedroom storage — with no visual heaviness, thanks to mirrors and a light colour palette. The sandblasted pattern functions as an art piece: in morning side-light, the squares cast soft shadows; in evening artificial light, the pattern becomes graphic and bold. Curved shelves now hold books and ceramics — the client says it's the favourite element of the entire project. Standard three-year warranty on hardware and cabinet parts; one-year on mirrors (sandblasting requires gentle care, but with proper use lasts decades).