A Rant on "Picture Windows"!

Have I mentioned that I HATE picture windows? I do. I HATE them!

I guess what happened is that glass manufacturers made advancements in the manufacturing of glass to the point that large panes of glass became affordable. Previous to that, I suppose that glass was cheaper in smaller panes and so expensive in general that it was worth all the woodworking to divide a window up into multiple panes.

So, one day in 1950-something large panes of glass became affordable and some glass salesman was quite the trend-starter and "picture windows" became all the rage! People ripped out those wonderful old divided light windows and slapped in a big ole piece of glass and were all caught up with the Jones.

50-some years later, I'm wondering if I can glue wooden grids onto the glass to make that window in the living room look like it did originally. To me, "picture windows" scream "STALE OLD PEOPLE" (who SMELL like old people, incidentally -- old people have their own smell, you know, according to my daughter!). They are gapping maws, blank, expressionless, OUT-DATED! As I write "out-dated" I realize that is probably exactly what the Jones and their neighbors thought about the beautiful, vintage, paned windows they mercilessly ripped out to put in the trendy picture window. Times change.

I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do about that darned picture window. But, trust me, you will hear about it when I figure it out!

The Living Room -- Before

View from living room to dining room. Very flattering to the carpet that doesn't really look that good! Beyond the dining room, you can see a bit of the kitchen (with the plaid wallpaper) and a smidge of the back sunporch beyond that (just to orient you!).



View from living room to front bedroom. I LOVE the vintage french doors! That white door to the right is the front door.

Fascinating view of the corner! Panelling, panelling, and MORE ugly panelling! I'm sure the orignal plaster walls under the panelling are in poor, bumpy, crumbly condition so I understand why someone would go to the trouble of panelling over it. Blessedly, I really LIKE painted panelling (and all of this panelling is painted over now which you will get to see shortly). Bless everyone over the past 95 years who refrained from painting over the gorgeous original trim! Wait and see how good it looks up against the paint colors!

View toward the enclosed front porch. Lovely bulky, window-blocking air conditioner, lovely towel shoved in the window, lovely picture window (I HATE those!), lovely hideous art left by previous renter, lovely tacky headboards in their "before condition".

So, here's my blank canvas. This room is coming along very slowly but sometimes that means that something really wonderful is coming and I just haven't gotten to it yet!