Fuse Box Takes Cover
Her basement under siege from an unsightly fuse box, one Houzz user fought back with a clever camouflage
The fuse box is near the top of the list of awkward but necessary home features. It's ugly, it's bulky, and it seems impossible to hide. And it needs to be easily accessible, of course. It can be hard to come up with a solution that keeps it tucked away but still handy.
Cathy Zaeske found herself facing this problem when renovating her basement. Instead of just leaving it in the open or awkwardly hiding it behind a piece of furniture, Zaeske camouflaged the unattractive piece with a little home improvement magic.
Cathy Zaeske found herself facing this problem when renovating her basement. Instead of just leaving it in the open or awkwardly hiding it behind a piece of furniture, Zaeske camouflaged the unattractive piece with a little home improvement magic.
BEFORE: The window on one side of the room inspired her to keep things symmetrical.
AFTER: Besides designing an adorable basement hangout space, Zaeske made the fuse box area look like a natural part of the room.
Zaeske hung the blind on three hooks. Two are on the right door, so when she needs to access the fuse box, she simply takes the blind off the far left hook; the blind remains supported by the other two.
The seam between the mirror and the molding is covered, and curtains on either side keep the outer edges of the mirror out of sight. The door opens with a slight tug on the molding below the window.
The seam between the mirror and the molding is covered, and curtains on either side keep the outer edges of the mirror out of sight. The door opens with a slight tug on the molding below the window.
"The best part is the reflection of the lights on the mirror," says Zaeske. "The blind hides 95 percent of the mirror, which allows just enough visible shine and reflection to mimic a window."
Extra DIY: The light on the blue wall was another clever DIY from Zaeske. She purchased an inexpensive round mirror from a hardware store and had a mirror expert drill a hole through the center. An electrician attached the light to the wall through the hole for an elegant sconce that reflects light around the room.
Tell us: Have you hidden your fuse box in a clever way? Share your resourcefulness in the Comments section.
More:
Blended Doors for Standout Style
Secret Passageways and Hidden Spots
Extra DIY: The light on the blue wall was another clever DIY from Zaeske. She purchased an inexpensive round mirror from a hardware store and had a mirror expert drill a hole through the center. An electrician attached the light to the wall through the hole for an elegant sconce that reflects light around the room.
Tell us: Have you hidden your fuse box in a clever way? Share your resourcefulness in the Comments section.
More:
Blended Doors for Standout Style
Secret Passageways and Hidden Spots
The carpenter installed doors that swing open and are trimmed with drywall, wainscoting and moldings to match the walls on either side. Zaeske also had a mirror measured to fill the window frame, with a cut right down the middle for the door opening.