Five Ways to Decorate with Antique Windows

I love old windows. There's so much history and character in them. Here's five ways I have decorated using antique windows in my home.

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#1

Any kind of decal can add so much to the glass of the window and can help incorporate your style to the decoration. You can use words or interesting designs. Decal found at RoomMates Peel and Stick Decor.

Side note: These decals are by far the best I've found. You can re-position as many times as you want until you get it right. They don't leave residue and don't peel paint off even after they have been there for a few years. I have found that if they are on the wall for a long time (I took one off that was there three years), and depending on the design of the decal, it's hard to not tear the decal itself while removing it. I had purchased this one for my son's bedroom three years ago and just removed "Baby." It was hard to save it (although I don't know why or if you would want to save them?)

#2

As a backdrop for a vignette. Use the window frame to hang decor off of or frame an image.

(Eventually I will pin the hats to the frame, rather than have them hanging on the wall, like pictured. Who else hates filling and re-touching holes in the wall?!)

#3

There's a lot going on in this picture, but the large window on the bottom right is one of the old storm windows from the farmhouse. The pieces at the top are old decorative fascia. Bring inside what was once outside to create a rustic gallery wall.

#4

Here's an example of how you can incorporate decals to fit a specific design and purpose. This one is over my washer and dryer. This window came from our barn and the decals have been applied directly to the wall.
Decal found at RoomMates Peel and Stick Decor.

#5

Here's my favourite way to use old screened windows. These are also from the farmhouse (I found these and the one from #3 idea in the basement.) The photos are Instagram prints from Social Print Studio. They are attached using Dollar Store or craft store flat base stud earring parts. I attached them using scrap-booking foam mounting squares, found in the same store you found the earring parts. Then just stick the stud through a hole in the screen (they just fit in these old screens), and attach in place with an earring stud back stopper. I can remove the mounting squares when I want to change the photos and reuse the earring parts, AND I can keep the photos.

My $1 Key Hook

Thrift store shopping: it's so much fun and you find the weirdest and most wonderful things. Every time. A few weeks ago I found this black wooden star for $1. Yes $1!!! I also found a cute little upholstered stool and its lid opens up (the kids love it), and a macrame plant hanger. A good haul in my opinion.
I moved some things on my walls to make room for a new-to-me antique hoosier cupboard (more on that in a future post) and that meant I had to get rid of my peg hook where I hung keys before (a garage sale find). After searching Homesense for a replacement, unsuccessfully I might add, this idea came to me.

My $1 wooden star(!) and some hooks I removed from walls of the farmhouse when we moved in.

Drawing my design on. I used the idea here for inspiration.

Painting the design with acrylic paint - a work in progress.

The finished design.

The hooks I decided to use. Then I laid them out and marked the positions on the star. I just had to hand screw them in.

The finished product.

I always keep picture hanging supplies around and it was simple to install this one.

And now I have a one of a kind key hook that cost me $1, and completed it with things I already had around the house.

First Post

So what is my very first blog post going to be? Wait, am I officially a "blogger"?! Right now I'm hoping this won't control my life. Will I have time to do this?......
All that aside, I'll probably start by giving you an inside look into my life.

My husband and I cash crop 2,500-3,000 acres of soybeans, corn, canola, wheat, barley and some hay. This varies from year to year as we rent all of our land except the 100 acres we live on and own. And I'll be honest, I have no idea how to run any equipment or understand any of the technicals of farming. I look after paperwork; billing, making sure things get paid like our hired men and the GST/HST. I'm not so much of a procrastinator as I used to be, but I'd much rather be out in the garden or work on some project for the house, than be sitting doing paperwork. So sometimes the pile of papers gets quite overwhelming.

We have two very busy and active children, Jenna (almost 8) and Jacob (almost 3). Jenna loves to talk, and Jacob is still working on getting his words. And as you can imagine, its frustrating at times to try to communicate with the two. But when they are talking, playing, running and laughing, I know they are healthy, and that's all that matters to me. Last year I created this video for a contest on the importance of growing up on a farm.

Oh, and I can't forget our house cat Chino and farm dog Vixen. They've provided much needed distraction for me and make the kids so happy.

So what will this blog be about? Watch this space for recipes, ideas, photos, how-to's and a look into the daily life of a farmer's wife.

I'm on Instagram and Pinterest, so make sure you follow me there too - the links are at the top of the page, If you're viewing this blog from a mobile device, you'll have to switch to web version in order to see the links.