Thursday 18 September 2014

Kitchen window treatments...

Okay, so my kitchen window is all nice and white, has a proper sill and is looking much better. So what about window treatments?

I don't need a closing curtain or blind as this window overlooks the back garden. But I would like something to perhaps soften the look and add some architectural detail if I can.

Initially, what I was thinking was to add moulding around the outside of the window recess. Like they would have in old Edwardian houses and like they seem to do a lot in American homes. Even modern ones. I really like the unfussy look and I think that framing the window is such a nice idea.

http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/window_trim_how_to_tutorial/


Isn't it lovely?
I got some pine moulding from Wickes and had a bash at that...


This is why I left the ends of the windowsill sticking out so far. It all needs priming and painting so it'll eventually be a lot more subtle.

I mitred the corners...



and used a coping saw to cut around the kitchen cupboard cornice...


Yeah, it's a mess but decorators caulk will fix that. It's the best friend of the amateur carpenter.

I decided not to add too much of a pediment at the top because I have the coving up there. I might add more height later as having looked at the photos, I think it would elongate the window.

But my window is not a beauty and I'm not sure that framing it will be enough to turn it into one.

So then I thought, how about disguising that whole ugly top section with a sheer-ish lace curtain? The problem here is that, the middle part of the kitchen can be quite dark and I can't afford to lose any more natural light.

But I love this...




I could do that with a bit of old tablecloth...


Thank you to Vibeke for letting me use these photos.

Then I got all wistful about having cottage windows with little panes of glass...
These are very expensive to have made. We have replaced a few windows here but cottage windows were out of our price range.

Okay, these are UPVC but you get the idea...


But wouldn't it be lovely? I could wash the dishes, gazing out of my cottage window into the garden.

So I started to think. Could you fake that cottage window look? Hmm...

I did a little Internet search to see if anyone had pulled this kind of thing off. With varying degrees of success, it seems people have used white electrical sticky tape or balsa wood batons glued directly onto the glass.
I thought I might want my faux window to be slightly less faux.

What about creating a wooden window frame that sits inside the window. Surely it's more honest if it's timber?

I know what you're thinking. It's going to look awful/insane/ridiculous.
Yes it could. But it just might work. So let's have a go.

I got some wooden moulding for about £8. See, already I'm making a saving of about £592. My first attempt was a failure. I prefer to use the word PROTOTYPE. I was feeling quite positive now. I knew what hadn't worked and how to fix it.



So, back for more wood. (Still £584 better off.)

And I'm knocking up another little window frame...

Time will tell if it's a stroke of genius or an act of lunacy...

Thanks to those who have voted for me so far. The rest of you? Come on now!
I don't even know what the prize is or if there is one. Hopefully a great big satin sash with DIY BLOGGER OF THE YEAR on it that you get to wear for whole year. Daily. And a crown would be good.
Truth be told, I've got no chance as there's some really stiff competition but it's really nice to be nominated and supported by my readers.

http://www.interiorblogawards.com/vote/paint-style/

 Off to crack on with that window frame... and get some tiles on.



Treasure Hunt Thursday

25 comments:

  1. Love the idea of the wooden frame to sit inside the window and I think if anyone can pull it off then you can - off to register my vote, good luck, I think you have EVERY chance! xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. I admire your dedication and attention to detail....me, I just couldn't be arsed. Cottage windows look nice but they do cut out more light and I hate being in a gloomy room but guessing you have big windows in a 60's house? Love the café curtain look.
    x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Haha. That part is an 80's extension and it's not huge but there's a glazed door next to it that lets in more light. I hate gloom too. I need to look into some swish modern lighting...x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the framing idea, it looks great. I was going to comment that little cottage-y panes of glass will be a pain to clean - then I remembered I never clean the windows anyway, whatever their size, so I can't talk! I always admire your Can Do approach, EK, you never know till you try! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the beauty of a little faux cottage window frame! It'll pop out for very occasional cleaning! xxx

      Delete
  5. Voted for you - I have to agree with Fiona, I just couldn't be bothered with my windows :)

    Lizzie's Daily Blog

    ReplyDelete
  6. Framing a window sounds a lovely idea. Can't wait to see the end result.
    That cottage window looks like our kitchen window. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. when we moved in here there were cute painted wooden cottage windows to the front. The panes were evil to clean and probably never had been, the wood was going mouldy and there was no way I was going to paint them, ever. Had "Georgian" panes double glazing installed. An old dear who had used to visit before we moved in was freaked out when she saw the new windows and started stroking the glass to look for the frames, she'd never seen glazing bars inside glass before. Easier to clean, and they do stop the windows being gaping black holes.
    I like the look of those baby lace curtains hiding the opener.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know old wooden cottage windows are completely impractical but they look so pretty! Isn't it worth a bit of mould, condensation and rot?
      I need me some of those mini curtains... I'm going through the tablecloths to see what can be sacrificed as we speak...xx

      Delete
  8. I have no doubt your post-prototype version is going to be EXCELLENT. And I reckon you subconsciously stuffed up the first one to make those of us who are not as Wonderwoman-y as you feel a bit better about all our bodged jobs :p xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hehe, I wish! It was a freaking disaster but I learnt an important lesson about which joints are the strongest! I don't see any bodged jobs from you! xxx

      Delete
  9. You've done a fabulous job framing out your windows and I can't wait to see what you come up with for wood window mullions! If the wood doesn't work out, maybe you could try the adhesive lead strips that make your windows look like old leaded glass. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Vickie, I'm not so fond of that leaded look. Hopefully this will work...x

      Delete
  10. I'm not sure I'd go down the cottage windows route though they do look lovely. We've got four cottage windows at the front of our ancient cottage (it's not ours, was tied, now rented.) I really think you might lost some light and your view might actually be dissected rather. But I love the way you're thinking this through. Yes, "prototype" is such a useful word for when you've tried something out and it hasn't quite worked....I use it a lot when sewing things. Like the rather odd slippers I'm currently wearing. They're a "prototype". The next ones will be brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely Lizzie. My dad always says, after you've done something you know just how not to do it. The trick is remembering all that the next time you tackle it! x

      Delete
  11. Cottage windows are indeed so dreamy like, I'd want them for my home too! Anyways, good job you've done so far!

    ReplyDelete
  12. There are really a lot of window treatments to choose from. The amount of DIY feats that are available to us are almost endless. In any case, the look of lace treatments always look so lovely to me. I'm sure you did well on that competition, Emma! Thanks for sharing that! All the best to you! :)

    Bob Ward @ Allure Window Treatments

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am hoping the same best effort from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing skills has inspired me.
    DIY

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear your comments!