Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Faux Muntin windows!

Here's the big reveal!

I have wanted these windows on my house FOREVER! I finally got them for a fraction of buying a whole new window! This project cost me under $20!


This isn't the original window, but I didn't take a "before" picture, and this window is almost exactly like the one I redid. (Note the cute cottage shutters? How-To soon!)-----







After------








Cute, eh?













Faux Window Muntins (or Grilles)
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It used to be more economical to use smaller panes of glass in the old days. It was cheaper to manufacture and replace.
-1/2"x 3/4" trim
-Gorilla glue***
-stain
-polyurathane

1. Measure across your window and divide by 2. This is where you will make your mark on the top and bottom of the existing window frame.

2. Cut a piece of trim to the height of your window. Be precise!!

3. Follow the directions on the back of the bottle of Gorilla glue to prep the surfaces.

4. Glue the trim to your window, using a level to make sure everything's straight. You will need to tape the trim in place for 1-2 hours.

5. Take the height of the window and divide that # by 3. This measurement will be your new markings down the sides of the existing window's frame. (This way it cuts the window into 3rds)

6. Measure from the window frame to the first verticle trim for your measurements on the crossbars.

7. Repeat step 4.

8. Mask off the window and stain your trim, follow with a coat of polyurathane so that you're not replacing this trim years down the road. The hard coat will help a ton! (Or you can stain the wood before you glue, your choice!!)

9. Repeat this whole process on the inside of the window!
***You can also use automovite tape, but it's $10 for an 8' strip, and that's WAY out of my budget!




----------->
Here's a picture of the front of my house after the window was done. Doesn't seem like a big difference, but with the change to the outside AND my dining room, it really adds a lot of punch!




I will be continuing this project on my back window (the one pictured above), and my patio doors. I've always wanted french doors, and now I can have them!!

Shanty 2 Chic

11 comments:

  1. Wow! That is really cool - what a great project! Looks awesome :)

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  2. Oh my gosh, you are now my new hero. I'm so excited I can do this to my windows! Thanks for the great tutorial, and I may bug you for help when I do mine. :O)

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  3. Sure! It's really easy when you get the hang of it. Check out my faux french doors, too, using the same technique!

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  4. See, I love posts like this. So much cheaper than buying new windows and yet you feel like you have really perked your house up. Love it!

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  5. OK This is just brilliant! My builder only put these on the front window in the house and no others... so it just seems weird... so now I must go and do this... one important question though... Does it prevent the windows from opening? how not???

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  6. Brilliant--I love the name of your blog. Love your energy and your projects and I am now a follower and hope you will come by and do the same

    Cheri

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  7. This is really ambitious, tackling such a huge project! They turned out great, you should be proud of yourself, and your lovely windows.

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  8. Don't we all want exactly what we don't have! I have small windows, with iron grills - and I long for the huge plain glass ones!

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  9. This is so AWESOME! I am definitely going to try this. Thanks
    Monica

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  10. Took me time to read the whole article, the article is great but the comments bring more brainstorm ideas, thanks.

    - Johnson

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