Looking for ideas

Marg C
by Marg C
what would you do with these window panes? They measure 2'3"x5'...
I was thinking of making a screen...I would re-paint them black gold accenting. Aged black windows with gold showing thru the man-made worn parts.
  41 answers
  • We've seen coffee tables, garden cupolas, head boards, message centers & more made out of windows & window panes here on Hometalk. If you search for windows here, you will be amazed by the creativity!
  • Pam Pam on May 03, 2012
    Family photo albums or put different colors of glass in the panes or not, and hang from the ceiling as a room divider. Maybe between the couch and dining area. Won't close in the area because is only hangs 2'3" and about 10 inches from the ceiling if the ceiling is 8 or 9 feet high. Make a see through room divider by installing hinges on both glass panes or put in a corner and attach a shelf at each space where the sills meet. Or you could put mirrors in each panes and lean against the wall to make a small room look larger. OMG. Could go on and on. They have a multitude of uses.
  • Pam Pam on May 03, 2012
    Could also put decorative paper in each pane and vary the designs. That would make for privacy.
  • Thistlewood Thistlewood on May 03, 2012
    I posted earlier about a giant chalkboard that I made out of window frames. Here's the link: http://www.thistlewoodfarms.com/can-i-ask-you-a-question
  • Christina F Christina F on May 03, 2012
    Faux stained glass divider. Hinge them together afterward. Just a thought that came in my head.
  • Marg C Marg C on May 03, 2012
    I originally thought of room screen but I love all the ideas coming in....I just don't want a plain screen.
  • Heather W Heather W on May 04, 2012
    I would use them as a cold frame in my garden in spring, get an early start on my veggies.
  • Melissa K Melissa K on May 04, 2012
    I would attach them to my LR walls and paint behind them
  • Marg C Marg C on May 04, 2012
    thank you everyone for your input.....:D
  • Pam Pam on May 04, 2012
    Decupodge scrapbook papers to each pane or fabric held on with bottled liquid starch. That way you can peel it off down the road and change the colors on a wim.
  • Kris S Kris S on May 04, 2012
    Make your own mini greenhouse or seed starter bed. Or a headboard, or use them as French doors in your home. Very nice find for you!
  • Beverly H Beverly H on May 04, 2012
    Make a set of book cases. Locate two old doors for the sides and use a 3/4" pcs of plywood (the kind used for furniture making) and with that use one of the window panes for the door. Place the shelves where the window panes have the wood...a total of 3 shelves. Put small round legs on the units. We made one of these and placed it in one of our bathrooms for towels rolled up and other spa type items.
  • Trisha F Trisha F on May 05, 2012
    I antiqued mine and had black and white photos done of my kids and used a glue stick to glue the pics on the back of the glass hung it on the wall and added wood letters at the top that read "family" came out great. I am not a big fan of family photos on the wall but this does not jump out at you due to them being black and white
  • Douglas C Douglas C on May 05, 2012
    Poster style picture frames sounds like an Idea....
  • Kitty W Kitty W on May 05, 2012
    Make a cold frame? My grandfather had cold frames all made out of old windows. Not a good idea unless glass is plexiglass for safety reasons. Replace the panes w/cork and/or chalkboard to use as a memo board.
  • Ana M Ana M on May 05, 2012
    month calendar? you have exactly twelve panes!
  • Kathi P Kathi P on May 05, 2012
    we hung a large old window above our large screen tv. it took us a long time to figure out what wall decor would look good above that humongous monstrosity.
  • Marg C Marg C on May 05, 2012
    these are ALL great ideas! Now I need to find more window panesjust like them because I want to do everything suggested here! lol keep them coming please :)
  • Pat S Pat S on May 05, 2012
    I would just love to find one!
  • Judy W Judy W on May 06, 2012
    Take out a window and put these in for more light. Or in a foyer wall towards the living area which would give a sense of a more open an area.
  • Angel R Angel R on May 07, 2012
    What couldnt u do with those! From the garden to the inside,find a blank spot and dream it!
  • Peggy M Peggy M on May 13, 2012
    I would either paint a picture on each pane or decoupage a picture to each pane or any number of other creative endeavors to make a wall hanging....
  • Pam Pam on May 13, 2012
    Margery, watch out as this can get addictive once you get started. But that's how creativity starts. Have fun and show us your completed projects.
  • Marg C Marg C on May 15, 2012
    I certainly will. thank you.
  • Jan C Jan C on May 15, 2012
    Go to "Deja Vue Designs" website. She makes all kinds of fantastic things with doors and windows. Lot of ideas, I'm sure.....she also has stuff here at Hometalk too.
  • Marg C Marg C on May 16, 2012
    I love keeping my hands busy. I usually paint or make jewelry. I've hand-made many things over the years...stools, birdboxes, shelving, hiking sticks...the list goes on. I also love sewing and decorating the house, so now I'm into the world of 're-purposing' :) Can't wait to get started on the many plans in my head! Estate sales and yard sales are my newest sport :).....so much fun! thank you all for the fabulous ideas and I will def post pics of the final work.
  • Brenda J Brenda J on May 17, 2012
    photos in each pain then attach to the wall
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on May 19, 2012
    If you have a large blank wall, these would be perfect to make poster board panels the size of the panes, attach something like your children's art to white poster board, including photos of them at the age they did the drawings (use collogue style) and then fill each pane. Then this could become one large picture frame that you paint the color to match your decor or just leave it black. Or take out the glass and use as a decorative headboard...painted to desired color.
  • Marg C Marg C on Jun 12, 2012
    you will not believe this!!! hubby went in to the huge barn the other day that we have on the property and found 6 windows! some are 4lite and some are 6lite. We moved in 8 yrs ago and I've never gone in there to really investigate. I decided that now is the time...so I saw a window way in the back dark corner and asked if he would get it out for me and he pulled out 6 of them. I'm so excited !
  • Meg S Meg S on Jun 26, 2012
    you can make a small green house or one of those green house boxes for herbs and such... some make coffee tables out of them too .I like to paint them and hang in front of a bad view...the sun coming in changes the look compared to when the lights are on...also you can hinge them and make a lovely room divider that you can decorate with paint decupage or even pictures....Have fun! cant wait to see what you make!
  • Marg C Marg C on Jun 26, 2012
    well I've decided....I'm making a room divider and since they don't go floor to ceiling I'll be hinging them together and putting hanging plants above them. I'll take pics when I'm finished. thank you for all of the ideas ladies :)
  • Meredith K Meredith K on Jul 05, 2012
    That sounds beautiful, Marg! Can't wait to see your finished product! Good luck! xoxo
  • Stacy Stacy on Aug 11, 2012
    Can't wait to see how this turns out!
  • Marg C Marg C on Aug 11, 2012
    amost finished and I'm pretty pleased with them..I just need to do the finishing touches.
  • Recaptured Charm Recaptured Charm on Aug 17, 2012
    About two years ago, someone was giving away all very old chippy painted windows.. they're beautiful and I took them all thinking I would just KNOW what to do with them. Well I used 3 and have about 10 left. I'm stumped too..lol Good ideas here. Can't wait to see what you've done Marg.
  • Judy W Judy W on Aug 19, 2012
    Using them like a screen, one could paint them with a Christmas scene simulating stained glass, and a light behind them. For that matter it could be redone for each season.
  • Cherie M Cherie M on Sep 08, 2012
    I would put them together like a room devider, and buy stained glasspaints and do all the glass in a design you choose, but I would age the wood with a bright base coat, the scratch most of it off, and stain with a light green like a petina. Thats what I would do! :)
  • Gwerts15 Gwerts15 on Jul 17, 2015
    You could use faux stain glass paint and paint a picture as if you were looking at the window seeing a scene, Ie a cat person could paint a picture of all her favorite cats peering through the window panes.
  • Debbie Debbie on Jul 18, 2015
    I would use mirror spray paint & make a large floor mirror
  • Sherre M Sherre M on Jul 22, 2015
    I had some old windows & I did this with some flat glass marbles. You wouldn't have to cover the whole thing, maybe just some cute shapes, flowers, or even words!