Our basement is a "true basement". No walk out. No full size, light filled windows--no egress windows even. All the windows are glass block and very small and high. It makes it a little claustrophobic. At best it's just very basement-y.
Mr. RBR dumpster-dived some old windows for me. What a guy. :) Honestly he's regretted it ever since because he found a bunch, and they've been laying around for years as I've slowly been finding uses for them.
I think two windows would made a perfect addition above the couch in the mom cave. Here they are, waiting in the "cool junk pile" in the basement ready for their makeover.
I used two windows that (I think) were a pair. A top and a bottom. After a decent cleaning, I sprayed the back of the glass with Krylon Looking Glass spray paint.
Looking Glass spray paint gives a mirror like finish to glass. You simply give a few coats to the BACK of the glass. That's it!
Looking Glass spray paint has the perfect level of reflection for this project. It's not super highly reflective like a mirror. It's almost old and smoked looking. Perfect for these old windows.
I found this spray paint at Hobby Lobby, but you can find it at other craft stores or online. The cans are pretty small, and I used 2 cans--one for each window.
Then I painted the front side of the windows black because there are a lot of black accents in this room. I removed the latching hardware from the bottom window, so I could get the windows as close together as I could. The latch was in the way. Next I attached the windows together with some reinforcing hardware (got this at Lowes).
Hung it up behind the couch with some wall anchors....
Ta Da!
A room with a view! Sort of. It's kind of fun, don't you think? It certainly brings a sense of lightness to the space.
Soon I'll add some curtains, and you won't even recognize this wall! It's already an awesome transformation. Take a look at this progression. It's all the same wall.
Looking for another window project? Check this one out.
Linking to some of these great parties.
Now go make something!
I am currently living in a basement bedroom and I love this idea. I'll have to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do! Send me your link if you do. I'll be sure to give you a feature. Warm hugs to you and your boyfriend on your difficult journey.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing about the spray paint. I didn't know that such a product existed. I have a project using old windows in mind. This may be what I need for that project. When you hang those curtains, it will look like a real window! So clever!
ReplyDeleteJane
http://cottageatthecrossroads.com
I didn't know about the glass spray paint either. That gives me ideas... THANKS!
ReplyDeleteI saw your link on Motivate Me Monday and I love what you did with the windows! My grandmother used to do something similar, and with the bottom half of the windows she'd take a large picture of outdoors (usually from a magazine or calendar) and attach it so that part of the window looked like you could see outside. I've wanted to do a project like this ever since, but I've never found a good window. I'm keeping my eyes peeled now!
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower of your blog now. :-)
http://educatorssoliloquy.blogspot.com
I really like the look but I think you lose something having them so low behind the couch. I think you should turn them and make it more of a picture window look, like an alcove with a bay window. Maybe eventually add a narrow shelf behind the couch for some pots filled with greenery. It would make it feel more real as if you really brought the outside in. Just my two cents. Cool project no matter what!
ReplyDeleteThis is more than cool...it's AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job on a great idea.
Hope you just love your new girly cave.:))
xo bj
oops..just in case you don't realize it, your word verif. is on.:) just sayin'
Oh wow this is so neat! So let me get this straight... you sprayed the glass on the windows with this paint & it looks like a mirror, right? I am so going to do this some where in my home, thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, Mrs. Egers. You spray the BACK of a piece of glass and it gives it a mirror-like finish.
ReplyDeleteCool ideas, MCM! I'm hoping to win you over once I bring in some drapes.
OH sometimes I hate blogger... I just wrote 3 paragraph comment and it disappeared!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I just said how great minds think alike, cuz I was planning art for over my master bath tub and this is what I am going to do! Great job!
Cassity
I love it!! I will defiantly have to remember this! I have been looking for pane windows forever :(
ReplyDeleteI will be featuring this today. Plz stop by ;)
Angie
http://create-it-fab.blogspot.com/
Love this! I've been looking for glass paint everywhere- didn't know it was available in a spray paint! Thanks for sharing ♥
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I found your post! I had been thinking of mirrored tiles w/ molding, but I like this even better.
ReplyDelete