Window turned functional art
There are a ton of fabulous ideas out there about how to decorate your home with old windows. I’d like to add yet another idea to the mix.
This is a three part project yet you can easily adapt any of the parts to suit your own style.
What quote would you paint on an old window for display in your home?
One -- Completed Project
This is a three part project yet you can easily adapt any of the parts to suit your own style.
Two -- find a window
I recently came into this cute little square window. I love the size and shape but not necessarily the lack of character that the newer finish evokes. It is simply preference and I prefer the aged look of an old chippy window.
Three - paint on the glass pane
But before we get into aging the window frame, let’s talk about dressing up the glass pane. This is a fairly simple project that you can do at home!
Here’s what you need besides the window…
Printer & paper
Tape
Acrylic paint & paintbrush
Four -- select a quote or lyric
First select your favorite quote or song lyric. I chose to use the catchy lyric from Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros popular Home. Type it, choose your layout and preferred font. Once you’re satisfied, print it out and tape it to the underside of the window so you can read it through the glass.
Five -- patience and a steady hand
The next step requires some patience and a steady hand. I promise that this is the most tedious part of the entire project. And the most satisfying! Take a fine paintbrush and simply trace over the letters printed beneath. Do this until the entire lyric is painted on the window.
Six -- paint marker
An alternative to painting the words is to use a paint marker. You may find that you have more control over that rather than a paintbrush.
Seven -- let the paint dry
Once your lyric is dry, you have a totally custom piece of art for your home from a discarded window!
Eight -- Age the frame
You can take it a step further and age a newer window frame like I did here. I started by removing all of the old window hardware. Then simply apply milk paint or furniture paint of your choice. Milk paint doesn’t required sanding or priming so I quickly added some of my favorite color called Lucketts green.
The milk paint did what it is known for and chipped off in a few areas giving an authentically aged look. I added an antiquing wax topcoat to add to the aged charm. This technique made a newer window look vintage without leaving any harmful lead paint chips behind.
Nine -- balance the knobs
And finally, I chose to remove the original knob from the center and move it over. Plus, I added two additional mismatched old knobs to the group.
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