Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: catsaplenty on October 16, 2016, 09:44:05 pm
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I have seen several of you reference choosing to not have the mirror on the wall next to the stove. And I understand the need to make that decision before it gets mounted. But I am wondering if any of you have found a suitable alternative that offers the protection for the wall, i.e. easy to clean and would allow an option to put up magnetic hooks or a knife rack etc. I am hoping I can find something I can have them install when they build mine as I am not all that coordinated at remodeling projects. Wondering if I would do best to just leave this item the way they build it. Thanks - counting time now till I have my RV.
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We have the mirror and have gone back and forth over whether to remove/replace it. On the one hand the mirror is very easy to clean and it does make the interior of the rig look a bit bigger or less confining.
We thought that a magnetic surface would be perfect, allowing magnetic paper towel holders, spice bottle holders, etc to be easily used and removed. Then we thought that it might pose a bit of a fire hazard having these things right over the burners. Still mulling this over.
Another nice option is glass tile with sticky-backs, which looks very easy to install and (according to reviews) seem to hold up and clean very well. Apparently available at Lowe's or Home Depot.
Am interested in hearing how others have used this surface area...
- Mike
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Love the mirror. Agree with Mike about it adding a little bit visually to a sense of roominess (every little bit helps!) and also the fire hazard danger of hanging things over the stove.
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If you cook, you do not want paper towels or spices over the stove. I purchased the magnetic paper towel holder recommended by another forum user (which they loved as it worked for them). I popped it right up there under the microwave and turned on the stove - the whoosh of hot air lifted the end of the paper towels, they unrolled toward the flames and I was grabbing and smacking and turning the stove off as quickly as possible. We returned the magnetic holder and bought an over the cabinet door one that hangs on our pantry and holds the towels vertically similar to this one https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/over-the-cabinet-door-vertical-paper-towel-holder/1042096672?skuId=42096672&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_kitchenaccessories_&product_id=%7Bproduct_id%7D&adpos=1o2&creative=43742642509&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=COHB-YX64c8CFYxZhgodbNoB7Q I put felt pads on it where it touches wood to prevent marring.
Spices should never be stored near a heat source, it ages them prematurely. Ours are in the cupboard and occasionally sit on the shelves mentioned below if we aren't blasting heat in that zone.
We purchased a kitchen "wall bar" system from Ikea and two hanging wine glass holders/rack/shelf things that hook over the bar. Phoenix installed the bar over the back of our stovetop and the "shelves" ride in the cabinet and get put up as part of our setup. We use them to hold the little jar of ground coffee, sweetener, and miscellaneous small countertop clutter items - we normally remove these prior to firing up those burners. The wine racks aren't shown anymore on the Ikea site but I think it was the Grundtal system shown here http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/ikea_kitchens/series/08006/ - we had to go with the shorter bar. It's possible these systems won't fit with newer models as they widened the kitchen window (jealous) but there may be something out there at kitchen stores that will fit. Someone else on the forum used the Fintorp series and hangs a basket on it for fruit and such http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/ikea_kitchens/series/21592/
We kept the mirror and like it. It is easy to clean and brightens the area. If you hate the idea of glass, Ikea and home stores sell metal backsplashes/panels for your walls. The glass tile is beautiful but heavy and I figure it will be harder to clean than a smooth sheet of glass as you now deal with grout. A metal panel would be about the same to clean as the mirror but might show streaks and spots even more clearly than the mirror (due to reflection of the front of the rig - it confuses the eye... until it gets really bad then you have to clean it).
We also have a small, clear Command hook next to the mirror where we hang a silicone mitt when in camp (rides in the drawer).
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I liked the mirror so much that I got one from Phoenix for our older PC. I cleaned the wall and used the adhesive Phoenix recommended, but the mirror fell off during our first time out. The adhesive stuck to the wall, not well enough to the mirror. Fortunately I was able to remove the adhesive off the wall to put it all back to the old way. I wasn't going to try installing the mirror a second time. I later accidentally broke the mirror at home so it's really done for us and PC kitchen mirrors.
Still, I liked the look and the practical application for food splash and nice reflecting of the hood light for the chef. If only it worked for us.
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2frazzeled - would never have paper towels there. Or spices. But you did shake me outside the box - I had been focusing on magnetic hooks etc but had not thought about the command hooks. There are a number of things like those hooks that might work on the mirror surface. That may be a good combination.
Thanks to all for sharing your experiences. I thought deciding on which RV was the hardest part. The details that are still coming up are going to keep me hopping. I am using Search on this forum a bunch to see what everyone has done with some of these things in the past. I really is a great thing to have this forum available for those of us just joining the "family".