SMART MIRROR

Custom smart mirror built from a salvaged monitor, Raspberry Pi, and two-way acrylic. Displays customizable information (weather, calendar, news) while functioning as a mirror—because why have a regular mirror when you can have one that tells you the weather?

Components:

• 27" LCD monitor (surplus auction: $10)

• Raspberry Pi 3

• Two-way acrylic mirror film

• Custom wooden frame

• RGB LED backlighting

• Hidden cable management

Phase 1: Monitor Revival

Found a broken 27" monitor at a surplus auction for $10. 

Diagnosis: failed capacitors. $3 worth of replacement capacitors and basic soldering brought it back to life.

Cost to working display: $13

Lesson: Electronics repair is often cheaper than assumed. Always check for simple failures (capacitors, fuses, connections) before assuming something is trash.

Phase 2: Frame Design

Designed custom wooden frame to:

• Securely mount 27" monitor

• Conceal all electronics behind display

• Accommodate two-way mirror surface

• House Raspberry Pi, power supply, and wiring

• Integrate RGB LED strips for ambient lighting

• Provide structural rigidity without visible fasteners

Key design constraint: Frame depth needed to hide electronics while keeping overall profile reasonable for wall mounting.

Phase 3: Two-Way Mirror Challenge

• The Problem: Actual two-way mirror glass: $150-200

• The Solution: Two-way acrylic mirror film: $30

• The Trade-off: Acrylic distorts when not perfectly flat (funhouse mirror effect).

  • Attempted tensioning methods to flatten acrylic with limited success. Usable but not ideal—acceptable for v1, would upgrade for v2.

Phase 4: Software & Integration

• Raspberry Pi running MagicMirror² open-source software:

  • Modular app system (weather, calendar, news, transit)

  • Customizable layouts

  • Voice control integration (planned)

  • Easy updates and new modules

1. Acrylic Flatness

Two-way acrylic mirror film bows under its own weight when unsupported, causing reflection distortion. Tested various tensioning and backing methods with marginal improvement.

Solution for v2: Invest in actual two-way mirror glass or explore rigid acrylic backing solutions.

2. Monitor Disassembly

Removing monitor bezel and stand without damaging LCD panel required careful disassembly and attention to ribbon cable routing.

3. Brightness Balance

Display brightness must overpower ambient reflection for visibility, but not so bright it looks garish. Extensive testing found optimal balance around 80% brightness in typical bathroom lighting.

What Works:

• Monitor repair was successful—13 months of use with no issues

• Frame design effectively conceals electronics

• Software customization is straightforward

• Total cost under $50 vs $300+ for commercial options

What I'd Change in v2:

• Genuine two-way mirror glass (eliminate distortion)

• Slimmer profile frame

• Integrated motion sensor (display on when approaching)

• Better cable management solution

• Wireless power for Raspberry Pi

Current Status: Functional and in daily use. Planning v2 with lessons learned.