Upcycled Old Window into Wall Art

A couple of years ago when we renovated our rental house, one of the most expensive things we did was to replace all of the old original windows from the 1940s.  I was so excited with ideas for the old windows, even with worn and rotten wood, because of the wavy glass in them and just for the love of the architectural details.  Unfortunately all of the windows were stolen the next day from the garage of the rental house except for three with broken glass.  I won’t even talk about the anger and frustration over that situation, but instead write today on how I recently upcycled an old window into wall art.

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Even though I only have three of the original eleven windows, I have still been able to use the old and worn window frames in my home.  Mostly as a backdrop for decorations on my large stone fireplace and wood mantel. I have also found that by leaving the original hardware on the frames, I have been able to use the hardware as hooks for decorations and wreaths since I can’t put nails in to the stone of the fireplace. The versatility of having these old frames has been well worth saving them.

 

 

Just like a lot of things, we get tired of how we are using something and want to change things up so i had recently pulled the windows down from the fireplace and put two of them in storage.  I didn’t want to use them but certainly didn’t plan to get rid of them either. In the same room as my large fireplace, aka the family room or the front room as we call it, the ceilings are 17 foot high and create a lot of empty space to fill.  This room has been through it’s own transformation in the last couple of years and you can read all about our Industrial and Modern Family Room Makeover.

 

Upcycled Old Window into Wall Art

On either side of the long credenza in the front family room, a makeover of our damaged master bath vanity from when a tree fell on our house in 2015, the walls are tall, slanted, and brightly lite up by custom windows and skylights.  Since so much of the room has rustic industrial features like my granddaddy’s 100 year old ladder, I have been searching for something architectural to add on either side of the credenza that will have the same industrial vibe.  Now that the holiday decorations were put away, I realized I already had exactly what I needed in the two wooden window frames.

 

Old architectural items like windows or corbels make some of the best DIY artwork.

 

 

First I just hung up one of the windows and liked it, but also thought it was a bit boring.  Then I considered adding chicken wire or hardware cloth to it but nixed that idea because chicken wire is too Farmhouse style, and hardware cloth is much too heavy.  The windows are heavy enough as they are.

 

 

So instead, for one of the old worn windows, I took just basic jute twine and a staple gun and created my own version of architectural wall art.

 

 

To wrap the back of the the window frame in a boxed pattern of twine, I first attached the strand of jute twine to one side with the staple gun, pulled the twine across the back to the other side, attached it with a staple, then made a square turn on the same side about one inch above the first staple, then pulled the twine back across the back of the window frame to the other side of the frame.

 

 

 

I repeated this process until I had a filled in the back of the window frame with a boxed pattern instead of random slanted strands.

 

 

Using twine instead of something sturdier and more permanent like chicken wire means I can easily change out this window again in the future.

 

 

 

Hanging the upcycled window frame back on the wall, I stepped back to see how it looked.  I liked it a lot, but it still needed some extra charm and character.

 

 

Earlier this same day, I had purchased these Spring tulip bunches from Michael’s, so I took one bunch of them and wrapped the stem in burlap ribbon and raffia.  The jute twine strands attached tightly to the back of the window frame were just perfect for holding the tiny tulip bouquet in place for a unique and simple piece of architectural artwork for tall wall near the windows.

 

 

Easy upcycled old window into wall art project!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is definitely not expensive or fancy artwork, but the pop of color with the tulips draws attention to the old and worn window frame that has a bit of history behind it for our family.

 

 

Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

 

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