I LOVE our little 70 year old working-man’s bungalow, but let’s face it… most of the character found in the place has been added in the last year of our renovations! That’s why I call it a “working-man’s bungalow” – it wasn’t built to be a showcase, it was built to house a family. Okay… a house for a SMALL family!
One of the almost-charming original features of my house? Piano windows. Well… three of them to be exact.
No… this photo isn’t my living room and no… these aren’t my piano windows.
But they’re lovely aren’t they?
Charming!
THESE are my piano windows – dining room, living room and bedroom.
Sure… they’re cute… like I said, they’re almost-charming!
But… If we had the extra money I’d hire someone to create and install beautiful stained, leaded glass windows. But with 3 piano windows needing to be replaced, that could cost a LOT of money!
Yep… I’m cheap!
So instead of hiring an expert stained glass craftsman to create the perfect windows, I’m going to attempt a faux leaded glass project… but that’s a post for Monday and Susan’s Metamorphosis Monday blogparty!!
Besides… today is FRIDAY, the day when Julia from Hooked on Houses hosts her Hooked on Fridays blogparty… and this post is supposed to be all about something I’m hooked on!
Since I’m about to dive into a project with an unknown end-result, I thought I’d share some of the beautiful leaded glass windows I’ve discovered in my pattern research. I’ll even show you the pattern I decided on! Because I’m Hooked on Leaded Glass!
Then – on Monday - you’ll have to come back to see if I pulled it off!
Even when left to crumble, leaded glass windows are beautiful!
This diamond pattern was one I was considering for our windows… but the more I thought about it, the more I felt it was too busy for my simple little house.
Lined up neatly in a local antiques shop… I had so much fun exploring the windows this shop had on display! Finding 3 that would perfectly fit my windows would be next to impossible… so I moved on.
I loved the Victorian patterns in these windows, but I’ll be working with a leaded “tape” so making these curved lines just can’t be done.
So this pattern wasn’t for me.
THIS pattern was a strong contender… but still too Victorian, perhaps.
But definitely something I could duplicate with my lead tape. Well… I at least think I could!
Now THIS is a pattern and style that could work in my little house!
Here’s a fantastic pattern that would definitely work!! In fact it so perfect that I’m tempted to change my mind…
But you see… I’ve already found the perfect pattern… but I’ll share that in a minute!!
First… let me share a few beautiful leaded glass windows I discovered!!!
And then I found myself thinking about this window…
It’s the original leaded glass window at the front of our house – our dining room window – the first feature I saw as we climbed the stairs of this soon-to-be-ours little bungalow 2 years ago. “How wonderful and charming!” I thought to myself at the time. Unfortunately it was cracked, single paned, painted shut and had to be replaced.
This window got me thinking about…
Wait a minute!!
Leaded glass in my little house… I had the perfect pattern!! Perfect because it CAME from my house… it was ORIGINAL to my bungalow!!
And were was it?
My back yard!!
There I was searching the internet and local antique stores for the perfect leaded glass pattern and I had it all along… in my back yard!
The photos above are of my old front door (on the left) and of the single French door that used to lead to the dining room. The patterns are identical. 70 year old leaded glass.. original to my house! Don’t worry… I’m salvaging this original glass to use in the house somewhere!!!
So I start this project on Saturday. I don’t know how many of my 3 windows I’ll finish this weekend, but now you know what my piano windows are supposed to look like!!
Wish me luck… and come back on Monday to see if I got it right!!
P.S. One of our readers – Greet – wanted to know why these windows were called “piano windows”. I thought a photo would provide the best explanation…
These windows are all about ensuring that there’s room along the wall for a large piece of furniture, a book case (like the living room I shared above)… or a piano!!
Thanks for the comments… keep them coming!
17 comments:
Wow! Some beautiful leaded glass in those photos. How lucky you re-discovered the perfect leaded glass for your windows in the back yard!
The first real 'house' I ever owned had the diamond patterned leaded glass windows and I adored them.
I live in a city that's well known for its 'heritage homes' and get to see a lot of beautiful leaded glass which is wonderful!
Good luck with the windows.
Can't wait to see how it all goes.
Linda. :)
Beautiful windows! And isn't it funny that you searched high and low, and there they were in your own yard. Can't wait to see what you do, it's always a treat! Kathy
These are beautifully crafted glass windows. The details of this art are just fascinating.
Don’t you just love it? I mean having art glass windows is just amazing.
Wow, I think this will look great when you're done! That's so funny that you had what you were looking for the entire time! Good luck; I can't wait to see the end result!
Hi Victoria,
It is the first time that I'm hearing about piano window!!! I never heard about that before!
Where does that name 'piano' comes from??
Leaded glass indeed can be beautiful! But take attention to the style of your home before adding the right styled leaded glass in that window!!
Greet
Can't wait to see the end result, Victoria! My husband the architect, has now designed two stained glass windows for different homes that he has designed. It really is a special effect, and adds so much to a home!
Ha! And don't the infamous "They" say that ~ sometimes what you're looking for is in your own backyard. Can't wait to see how this works Victoria, and if you'd recommend the product.
Ah, I was wondering the same thing about the piano windows. I love leaded glass and wish you luck this weekend!
Good luck on your project!
I love old windows too, that was the main thing that sold us on our 100 y/o foursquare, it still contained all the original windows except for 2.
Gorgeous stained glass windows! I am impressed by your project.
Victoria, I am sure glad you did tell us why those are called piano windows! I read this entire thing hoping to find out :)
So THAT's why they're called that and why they are so ugly. They served a purpose at one time and so now I truly understand. I see them all the time on people's homes when I watch CityLine. I love a lot of the leaded glass windows you've shown here. I'm partial to that oval one in the peach room but also those lovely graphic straight lines in the others.
I truly enjoyed this. thank you.
I personally love 'piano' and 'lead glass windows' as they can lend so much character and personality to a home. Looking forward to seeing your completed project.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND VICTORIA! -Brenda-
Thank you for sharing such an interesting post and with such great photo examples. I love decorative glass windows and have often used a company, who offers a glass overlay process, for a less invasive fix. Can't wait to hear more about your experience and to see the pics!
Cheers to you! Wanda S Horton
There's no place like home to find exactly what you're looking for. That was too funny! So many solutions are available to us if we just ponder the situation and walk around the house (just tell yourself you're on a scavenger hunt).
Great fun this post was!
Bette
Great idea! I too fell in love with the stained glass window in our White Rock beach cottage. I loved it so much I enrolled in a night course to learn how to do stained glass up at Semi.Secondary. It was the most fun ever and I ended up with a one of a kind window that we installed next to the orinigal window! Looking forward to seeing your completed project!
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