This $15 DIY Is An Iconic Designer Dupe That’s Worth Thousands

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Apartment Therapy reported on TikTok creator Nick Lowry’s low-cost bathroom-door project, which uses circular acrylic mirrors to evoke the porthole doors of designer Jean Prouvé. Lowry said a set of eight 12-inch mirrors costs $15 and recommended removable tape for renters; the result is an interpretation, not a Prouvé door or a verified equivalent in value.

Interior design creator Nick Lowry has shared a rental-friendly bathroom project using 12-inch circular mirrors to echo the porthole doors associated with designer Jean Prouvé. Apartment Therapy reported that an eight-mirror set costs about $15; Lowry’s installation adapts the look rather than reproducing a Prouvé door, which he said he could not afford.

In a TikTok video described by Apartment Therapy, Lowry said he wanted to bring the feel of Prouvé’s porthole doors to the bathroom in his rental. He said the doors appeal to him because they let light pass into spaces, but buying an original-style door was beyond his budget. His alternative was to attach round acrylic mirrors to the existing door.

Lowry said he found 12-inch acrylic mirrors sold for use beneath wedding centerpieces. He cited a pack of 12 priced at $25, while Apartment Therapy also pointed to a separate eight-piece set listed at $15. Prices and product availability can change, and the article does not say that Lowry used the exact eight-piece product.

For his layout, Lowry tested different arrangements and settled on three mirrors in a centered vertical column. He said he placed the same arrangement on both sides of the door to reflect light through the bathroom. He used an image editor to preview the layout before measuring and mounting the mirrors.

A Lower-Cost Door Design

The project shows one way renters can borrow a recognizable design feature without replacing a door or buying a costly designer piece. Mirrors can reflect available light and add a visual focal point, while a symmetrical arrangement can make a small bathroom feel more considered. Those effects are the rationale for the design; the source does not provide measured light levels or evidence that the installation makes a room physically larger.

For renters, the choice of attachment matters as much as the price. Lowry recommended 3M tape so the mirrors would be easier to remove when moving out, rather than relying on the adhesive strips supplied with the set. That is his advice, not a guarantee that a particular tape will leave every painted or finished door undamaged. Renters should check their lease and test any adhesive in an inconspicuous area before mounting items.

The Porthole-Door Inspiration

Jean Prouvé was a French designer and metalworker associated with modernist furniture and architecture. Lowry’s video refers specifically to his porthole doors, whose round windows can pass light between spaces. Apartment Therapy framed the project as a way to capture some of that visual character in a bathroom without investing in a comparable door.

The difference is substantial: Lowry’s approach places reflective circles on an existing door, while a porthole door has openings or windows that allow light through. The mirrors reflect light already in the room; they do not create a view or let light pass through the door. Apartment Therapy’s headline describes the project as a designer dupe worth thousands, but the report does not identify a specific door price, appraisal, or market valuation for Lowry’s DIY.

“This is how you transform your bathroom door for under $15 in a renter-friendly way.”

— Nick Lowry, in the TikTok video quoted by Apartment Therapy

Price, Adhesion and Results

The report does not give the date of Lowry’s original TikTok, a direct product link for the exact mirrors he installed, or confirmation that the listed eight-piece set was used in the finished project. The two cited prices refer to different pack sizes, so the article’s under-$15 framing should not be read as a complete accounting of every material or tool used.

Apartment Therapy does not provide an independent assessment of the design’s cost compared with a specific Prouvé door, nor does it verify the headline’s “worth thousands” framing with a price or appraisal. The report also does not measure how much extra light the mirrors reflect or say whether they caused damage when removed. Those results depend on the door finish, lighting and adhesive used.

Check the Door Before Mounting

Anyone considering a similar project can follow Lowry’s general method: preview a layout, measure the door, and decide whether the mirrors will go on one or both sides. His measurements—22⅛ inches from the top and bottom, 11 inches from each side, and 4.5 inches between mirrors—were specific to his door and should not be copied without checking the dimensions of another door.

Before installing anything, renters should confirm what their lease permits and test removable tape on a hidden area of the surface. Product prices and stock may change, and the source offers no follow-up on how well Lowry’s mirrors stayed attached or whether removal was damage-free.

Key Questions

What did Nick Lowry use for the bathroom-door project?

He used 12-inch circular acrylic mirrors mounted in a vertical arrangement on a rental bathroom door, according to Apartment Therapy’s account of his TikTok.

Does the project cost $15?

Apartment Therapy cited an eight-piece set listed at $15. Lowry separately said he found a 12-piece pack for $25. The source does not confirm which exact set he used or give a full materials receipt.

Is this an actual Jean Prouvé porthole door?

No. It is a decorative mirror installation inspired by the look. The mirrors reflect light; they are not windows and do not let light pass through the door.

How did Lowry arrange the mirrors?

He chose a centered column of three mirrors and said he placed the arrangement on both sides of the door. He advised measuring each door rather than assuming his dimensions will fit elsewhere.

Is the installation guaranteed to be renter-safe?

No such guarantee appears in the report. Lowry recommended removable 3M tape, but adhesive can affect some finishes. Renters should check their lease and test the tape on an inconspicuous area first.

Source: rss