A couple of weeks ago, we were doing a walk-through of a rental house that my father-in-law had just finished renovating. When we got to the backyard, I spotted something I HAD to have.
An old nasty window! Isn't she fantastic in all of her chippy glory? You just can't recreate that, I don't care how skilled a faux painter you are. Hubs raised his eyebrows at me when I grabbed it off the garbage pile. I ignored him. I had a plan! He felt obligated to tell me that all the chipped paint was probably lead based paint. I assured him I wouldn't lick it or eat any paint chips that happened to fall off. Anyway, I wanted to hang her on the wall. The problem is, I couldn't find a nail or screw long enough to go through the window frame and still secure it to the wall.
I've used this metal wire in the past to secure flowers to wreaths, so it does work for that, although I don't really know what it's for. I bought it at JoAnn's Fabric. Today, it's going to help me hang up a window on a wall. I cut 5 lengths of wire about as long as the window, then I twisted them all together. Then I screwed a wood screw in the back of the window frame, about half way in, wrapped the wire around the screw threads, and screwed it in the rest of the way, repeated it for the other side and that's it. Just to make sure it would hold, I did hold it up with one finger (it did hold, but I think I sprained my finger. That thing is heavy!).
Then, I took this ugly painted boat oar that I got at Marshall's for $12.99 (because I'm too impatient to wait to find one in an antique store), flipped it over and distressed it with my handy dandy hand sander.
And voila! 
Aren't they fantastic? They make a great pair over my couch, which I've decided is in desperate need of more pillows. Also, you're getting a little sneak peak of my new (again) living room. Along with my "new" coffee table. I'm hoping that will be finished very soon. I spent all day today redecorating the living room, so hopefully I'll finish up tomorrow morning so I can post some more pictures.So anyway, don't be afraid to pick up something, even if it's "trash". Even if you can't imagine how on earth it will hang on your wall, if there's a will, there's a way. I've had this window leaning against the living room wall since my birthday, trying to figure out how to use it. Same with the oar. I hated the painted side, but I loved the plain light blue side. You can only see one side anyway, right!
4 comments:
I LOOOOVE old windows like that but have yet to find one WITH the glass!!! Know what you can do? If you are interested. Use modge podge to put pictures in the panes :)Oh and you can buy picture frame hanging materials just for future reference so you don't hurt yourself with wire.
I know, I was pretty lucky that this one still had the glass still in it. I thought about using the hangers to hang it up, but I didn't have any and I was afraid that they wouldn't be strong enough. I figured this way, no one would get knocked out by sitting on the couch :P
That's a great idea on the glass. I've never used modge podge (it kind of scares me), but maybe it's time I learn how!
The picture hangers go by weight so you would have been safe to sit on the couch. If you had some. I've never used modge podge either but from what I have seen you just slap it on and let it dry.
Ahhh, yes, but if you go buy picture hangers, it defeats the point of finding a (free) way to hang up a (free) window! I mean, why waste money on an old, busted-ass window when you can find it for free!
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