Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Questions for You!


Remember the old house next door? Well, all that is left of it is a pile of splintered boards. However, we were fortunate to get some of the scrap lumber and these wonderful windows. The picture is not so great--sorry.

So...Does anyone have any ideas for old windows? I asked one friend and she said she's seen a few ideas. Some people bust the glass and twine fake ivy around them. I suppose you then hang it on the wall. She also said she had seen old windows made into mirrors (with mirror glass in place of the panes). Another idea was to create photo collages behind the glass.

Now I am goofy and I think they are pretty just as they are. I would hang them as art. But I can almost guarantee that Billy would not appreciate that, and since this is his house too, I try to avoid decorating with things he really does not like.

The paint is certainly lead, so they will need to be safely cleaned and painted over. Quite honestly, I have no real need for 10 windows, so I might fix some of them up in the ways my friend suggested (or according to any of the wonderful ideas I know you all will come up with!), and sell them.

Which brings up another idea, for the far future. I read one time on a blog about some ladies who painted old furniture and had a twice yearly shabby chic yard sale. All the furniture was painted white, cream, or pale pink, and it became a much-anticipated event with returning customers. I love this idea for several reasons.

First, the cost would be fairly small. You can get beat up old furniture that is still structurally sound for just a few dollars, and sometimes for free. Paint and minimal hardware is not that expensive either. A coat of paint can turn an ugly piece of furniture into a true treasure.

The other thing is that you could work on it throughout the year. If you picked up pieces all year for a few dollars, and spent a few hours here and there painting, the time involved would not be that great either. In a year's time, you could build up quite a collection. The only problem with this is that you'd have to have a place to store the stuff, which I do not. Like I said, this is something I'd like to do in the future.

Finally, if you had it as a yard sale, you would not have to pay for a space or booth at a craft fair or antique mall. So...The place would be free.

I actually found an interesting article about this type of idea.

OK, now my other question.

I was recently fortunate enough to be given some wonderful, high-quality old sheets and pillow cases. However, even after a thorough washing in hot water, they still have a musty, old-house smell. Does anyone know how to get rid of this? I can't wait to use them, so I'm looking forward to your replies!

11 comments:

Hannah's Mom said...

Coffee table!! That first window... when I saw it I thought Coffee Table top. Desk... Gosh you could do so much with those.

Hannah's Mom said...

Oh my gosh!!! I just read the post with these windows... A photo in each window!! Oh my gosh, I need to go yard selling, I can picture it in our living room with all of our first photo safari photos. Fabulous!!! I was looking for frames, but none of the frames struck me. Thank you for the inspiration. What a find!!

Please keep us posted as what you do with them.

Erica said...

I saw a house decorating show in which an old window was stripped and then either painted or stained, and hung in a room that had no windows. It was not hung on the wall as a picture would be, but hung from the ceiling by two small ropes so that it was out from the wall a bit. The idea was that the small, windowless room, needed an airy feel, and that did the trick.

I love windows, and I also love the illusion of more space that mirrors provide, so the mirror idea would be a favorite for me!

How about getting one of your children to do a big watercolor of the sky on some butcher paper, then after the window is cleaned up (even just scraped so you're left with a distressed look) tack the picture to the back of the window, and hang on a wall above a bed that doesn't have a headboard?

Anonymous said...

What wonderful windows!!! I really like the mirror idea. (My aunt did this for her bathroom mirror. Love it!) The picture idea is great, too.
I agree with Windy. Coffee table, tea table, yes. What an incredible conversation piece!

Hannah's Mom said...

Absolutely wonderful ideas... love the window less room and putting one of them in there. How fun is this!! :)

Anonymous said...

I have so wanted a couple of windows like this! MAIL THEM TO ME! :) ha ha!

Hannah's Mom said...

Hey Stephanie...

About the sheets... at Wal-Mart (im sure every where else too)they have Frebreze for the laundry. I will post a picture if I still I have a bottle. I use if for Todds work clothes, they get stinky, the sheets and towels, ok everything. lol

Anonymous said...

Here's a sheets idea...
Have ya tried OxyClean w/ orange???

Charity Grace said...

Wow, each of you had wonderful ideas! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Hi, i'm out here in so. calif. and we would just about give our eye teeth for thoes windows...they could be hung out side from a patio rafter making an outside room...not obscuring the view,but dividing the area...gads i'll take a couple myself...(you could clean them leaving the vintage shabby look and then coat with a clear varnish to keep any led paint from being exposed to the kiddies). love'um
sid

Anonymous said...

These windows are simply...ART!