Not sure what to do with this window
-
Vicki on Feb 15, 2015those are gorgeous; interested to find out what you doHelpful Reply
-
-
Rosey on Feb 15, 2015@janet chambers A friend of mine who owns and old family farmhouse kept sine old windows and showcases family photos behind the glass. She left the windows as they are, being antiques, and hangs them on the wall.Helpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Feb 15, 2015Thanks! I would leave them how they are because I know they are very old but someone has already varnished the heck out of them and pretty much slopped it on. I don't know about putting photos behind because the glass is kind of frosted.Helpful Reply
- See 2 previous
-
-
Jean Vercler on Feb 15, 2015I like your idea of stripping them and the staining the glass! those are REALLY pretty! can't wait till you post after pictures!!Helpful Reply
-
-
PattyV on Feb 15, 2015I would make a three sided light using the two windows for the side pieces and a solid board for the back. Create a raised platform in attached amount an inch up for the bottom and attach a light. I'd do a light sanding on the wood just to clean it up a little. A razor blade will clean up an varnish on the windows.Helpful Reply
-
-
Terryfuntash on Feb 15, 2015put a picture of your grandmother in the large center, and put family photos in the smaller onesHelpful Reply
-
-
Kerri on Feb 15, 2015I was given a pair of old windows = small ones about 12 x 16 with coloured glass in them I cleaned the glass gently and cleaned the wood, it was painted white a century or more past and one side had been shaved with an old plane. I considered refinishing the wood, then decided not to monkey in case something happened to the glass -- using strong brass wire and eyelet screws I hung them in windows where they catch the sun during the day -- wonderful reminder of the time 150 years ago when the sisters who taught in the school up the street lived in the convent next to it and these little windows cast light into their chapel I imaine.Helpful Reply
-
-
Kerri on Feb 15, 2015I also have several old windows of aged pine with Clear glass, albeit flawed with strawmarks and bubbles. A rather interesting hangs in another window while the rest are picture frames -- but if they had not clear glass this would not work. for these windows, try using lacquer thinner on the wood... it should help.. they would not look right with new wood from being stripped but the lacquer thinner usually eats through layers of varnishHelpful Reply
-
-
Pamela Golden on Feb 15, 2015Beautiful windows. Lowes would be a good place to get the proper advise on how to "clean up" wood. When this smoked glass is cleaned I would etch the first letter in your last name in the large center pane on both windows then hang them in windows with sunlight streaming in.Helpful Reply
- See 2 previous
-
-
Jilene Williams on Feb 16, 2015If they are strong enough, you could build a table with them and lay a piece of glass on top to protect them and use as the table surface. If the table was made high enough, it could be used in the entryway of your home and become a beautiful focal point.Helpful Reply
-
-
Luisa Simeoni on Feb 16, 2015Wonderful windows!! I would strip and varnish them and also clean the glasses. Afterwards I would apply a beautiful stencyl on the center and hang then on the wall as a piece of art . I don't like the idea of the pictures.Helpful Reply
-
-
Valerie on Feb 16, 2015They are beautiful. I would keep them the way they are, and use them as a photo gallery, including some of your best-loved photographs of her. I am sure that it would be simple enough to do. Probably screw on a backing board, and add hooks for hanging.Helpful Reply
-
-
Liliana Wells on Feb 16, 2015These are beautiful. I like the idea of stripping the varnish and cleaning the glass to start. The idea of etching the glass is also intriguing. There are etching kits available. This is permanent and you should practice on a piece of glass you don't care to damage if you make a mistake. You could also make entryway table(s) with them if you could build or find a base for them. Please post pictures of what you decide.Helpful Reply
-
-
Donna Gadbaw Mitchell on Feb 16, 2015Midge Podge different colors of torn tissue paper to simulate stained glass or put pics of family in each pane or put a beautiful print of art or an outdoor scene behind it.Helpful Reply
-
-
Elena Carlucci on Feb 16, 2015Stain the glass and hang them where there is much light.Helpful Reply
-
-
Kathy Stallo on Feb 16, 2015I would shabby s. the frame. Then, one thought: there is glass paint, a little pricey. I would 'doodle it'Helpful Reply
-
-
Kathy Stallo on Feb 16, 2015My second thought. I had an old window. I dried the flowers from my husbands funeral. I made a backing, cardboard covered with material and used the dried flowers. I think it may be on my pinterest page, under 'my creations board'Helpful Reply
-
-
Jean Blakeley-Cook on Feb 16, 2015Consider mosaic and grout with tile groutHelpful Reply
-
-
Diymama1 on Feb 16, 2015This window is Absolutely beautifulHelpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Feb 16, 2015Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! I really like the mosaic idea. I think I have decided to strip, varnish, paint a picture of an angel on the middle pane and then I am going to fill in the rest of the windows with pieces of colored glass. I will attach hangers to each side and hang them in a large window side by side. My sister has the bottoms to these two windows and I am trying to talk her out of them! I'll posts photos when I finish one! Again, thanks for all of your help.Helpful Reply
- See 1 previous
-
-
Mary cynova on Feb 16, 2015you have the right idea.pieces of stained glass could be placed over the existing glass.Helpful Reply
-
-
75591 on Feb 16, 2015I have read through the suggestions and think yours sounds the best. If you can get stained glass on them somehow that would be beautiful.Helpful Reply
-
-
LKloehn on Feb 16, 2015Alcohol paint is wonderful...it looks like stained glass...and for the wood, if you strip it and do not like the color it turns out to be, use chalk paint...It's wonderful to work with and you wouldn't have to strip the stain if you didn't want to.....Helpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Feb 16, 2015Pamela, I may try etching another time on something else. I am an artist and have decided to sketch my aunt's face right on the glass in the center, then paint the rest of the glass with stained glass paint. I have already removed all of the old varnish, sanded and restained one of the windows and it looks beautiful! I'm working on trying to get the bottoms of the windows!Helpful Reply
-
-
Sandra Sikes on Feb 16, 2015Clean the varnish and smoke off especially the glass. There are vinyl in different colors that are used for clings. They would make a great faux stain glass window and I would use it as a suncatcher in a sunroom or porch, anywhere sunny. That way the windows aren't harmed and can bbe used for something else in the future. I love old items and these are lovely but I like to see natural wood grain and color so I would strip wood and maybe stain depends whats under it. Have fun and anything you do you will probably love.Helpful Reply
-
-
Carol on Feb 16, 2015I would refinish the wood abd replace the glass with mirrors and hang them side by side over a dresser or breakfront or above a hall table or above a bed or above night stands.. I love these windows and can picture them above my 66" long dresser.Helpful Reply
-
-
Denise King on Feb 16, 2015It would make a beautiful family picture frameHelpful Reply
-
-
LKloehn on Feb 16, 2015It has been a long time since I used alcohol paints and I didn't use them on glass....I used it on a painted surface and I made my own using acrylic paint and rubbing alcohol. But I just recently saw samples on Pinterest. And here is an artist that shows you what to do, but she doesn't explain it.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGiIZodlFGA Practice on other glass, so you know what techniques you would like to use on your final project....I believe I saw some for sale at Michaels...(we don't have a local Michaels...so I can tell you for sure...)Helpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Feb 17, 2015Thanks so much! I do a lot of practice before I do anything final...I tried to watch the video but it said "unavailable at this time." I'll try to catch it tomorrow.Helpful Reply
-
-
LKloehn on Feb 17, 2015Hmmm, I wonder what is up with that, because I just watched it again...another site to try is https://www.pinterest.com/edwinanally/alcohol-ink-craft-projects/ I don't know if you are familiar with Pinterest, so if you are not, click on it once and then when it is brought up you can either click on the picture again or click on "go to site"...and it should give you directions on how to do it....Helpful Reply
-
-
Brenda Pippin on Feb 17, 2015why not just add a little hardware, some wire and hang them on your wall. I think they would be a very nice display.Helpful Reply
- See 1 previous
-
-
LKloehn on Feb 17, 2015Please show us when you are done!Helpful Reply
-
-
Tammy Sheppard on Feb 17, 2015I like the stained glass idea. I would go a little further and use that as a hanging light shade...Helpful Reply
-
-
Camille Carlin on Feb 17, 2015Please share your finished project. The windows are wonderful.Helpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Feb 17, 2015I would be happy to post a photo when finished so that you can see them! I'm going to hang them on my back double doors so the light shines through them. The wood part is finished, just waiting for them to dry. In the meantime, I will work on what I want to put in the center pane. I think I will put my last initial in the center in one color and then frost behind it. Thanks again to everyone here for your great suggestions!Helpful Reply
-
-
Margie on Feb 17, 2015@janet chambers I think I would use these 2 beautiful windows to create a unique headboard for a guest room by mounting them into a larger wooden frame with a spacer board in the center to separate the two (according to the size of bed you have). Of course you would need to clean the glass carefully using a razor blade scraper and a light sanding on the wood part to remove some of the excess varnish. I love the idea of the etched glass idea and the photo ideas also. Please share an 'after' photo of whatever you decide to do with them ...old doors & windows (of any size) always catch my eye!Helpful Reply
-
-
Mary Infante on Feb 17, 2015Have you thought about mounting copies of treasured family photos in some of the panes? Just to kind of link them to your aunt. Whatever you decide to do, they are beautiful pieces!!Helpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Feb 19, 2015Phase I complete! Stripped, sanded and revarnished, then came the cleaning of the glass. Cleaning the years of smoke and dirt off of the glass took longer than the whole staining process. They are so beautiful!Helpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Feb 25, 2015The first window is finished! I will start on the other one next week when I get back from vaca. If you enlarge the photos, you can see more of the detail. I took this photo on a table and you can see my porch furniture legs behind the center but you can see the window well. I will think of my blessed Aunt every time I look at them and treasure them always. A big thank you to all of you and your wonderful suggestions! I will post a final photo when both are hung properly. What do you think?Helpful Reply
-
-
LKloehn on Feb 26, 2015Neat...what did you do to the center part?Helpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Feb 26, 2015Thanks! I stenciled the center with a black paint pen, and did the colors with stained glass paint. The center of the sun and the decoration around it is done in clear stained glass paint. The stained glass paint I used is not smooth but "bumpy" giving it more of a 3D look.Helpful Reply
-
-
Linda Fraser on Feb 26, 2015(Stain glass) I would get some glass paint and paint each sections a different colors. Put 2 I hooks in the top and add a thin chain and hang it in a window.Helpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Feb 26, 2015Linda, that is exactly what I did! See photos, thanksHelpful Reply
-
-
Ellen Killeen Kroliczak on Mar 02, 2015Would make beautiful cabinet doorsHelpful Reply
-
-
Luisa Simeoni on Mar 03, 2015Excellent work!! Congratulations!Helpful Reply
-
-
Mary Infante on Mar 03, 2015Absolutely gorgeous!!!! Wonderful job!!!Helpful Reply
- See 1 previous
-
-
Janet chambers on Mar 12, 2015Windows finally completed and hung. I found wire thin enough that you can even tell it's there with the trees in the background. This inspired me to use up the rest of my paint and so I painted two glass pieces for each side of my front door. I will post them on another page. Thanks again for all of your great suggestions!Helpful Reply
-
-
Anne fenske on Aug 25, 2015Lovely! if u want to take it further next time; try leaded art strips on a plain window. Put a picture behind and follow the lines with leaded strips and then paint with glass paint and u can make xmas scenes or whatever. The paint is bought at a craft store and not hard to do. I did a large Santa and Naive or Hearts and his lady. Love it and it looks like the real thing.Helpful Reply
-
-
Janet chambers on Aug 26, 2015Great idea, thanks!!Helpful Reply
-
Related Discussions
What to do with kitchen window that looks into the garage?
Recently purchased our lake house.... the kitchen has a window over the sink that looks into the garage!! Hubby did not want to cover it over - now I am stuck with it... See more
Bay window blinds too short . What should I do to make it work
Ugly aluminum trim & silver storm windows- what can I do to them?
We bought an amazing big "farmhouse" style 1900's home. Previous owners had "basic" aluminum siding and ugly silver aluminum storm windows.. love the practicality, b... See more
What to do with window after enclosing outside patio?
We had an outside patio that is now enclosed leaving this once outside window frame in place. We don’t want to make it a full wall or a door but need ideas how to c... See more
What can I do to cut the draft on my window sills?
What to do with Old drafty windows but no money to replace them??????
Winter is coming up and we live in a very old home. We just moved in a few months ago and it's roughly about 3,000 sqft home. The windows in this house are from somew... See more
What to do with window wells?
I have several window wells which I have recently cleared out of rock and debris from the previous owners of my home. They look like this picture except there are no ... See more