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.

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.

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