I picked up these old windows at Country Fair Mall for $9 each.  I love, love, love old windows 🥰.  I don’t know what it is about them but I have a hard time resisting the urge to buy every one I see!  I’ve collected a few over the years that I use in my home decor. Do any of you change up your home decor all the time?  I change mine whenever the mood strikes!  Especially if I get something new!

This arched window came from a friend of mine that lives in an old house.  One day when I was helping him do some work in his attic I saw this gorgeous arched window lying there on the attic floor, covered in dust.  I literally swooned!  He handed it over to me (looking at me as if he thought I might have some loose marbles)! 🤪  I’ve used it as a headboard for my bed and now it is the topper on my DIY fireplace mantel.

Here are a few other vintage windows that circulate in my home decor that I’ve picked up at flea markets along the way.  Don’t you love the vertical white one with the beveled glass???  Definitely one of my faves!  I’ve never painted any of these windows, I like them just as they are.

I wanted to paint the windows I purchased from Country Fair so they could be used as signs.  Signs seem to be trending now, especially with the farmhouse decor.

I painted the black window first.  I applied two coats of grey primer on the glass and then two coats of Folk Art Home Decor chalk paint in Rich Black for the base coat.  I used Folk Art Cottage White for the lettering and floral stencil design.  After having some bad luck with stenciling on a previous project I decided to try a trick I read somewhere online.  You apply spray adhesive on the back of the stencil and press it onto your project.  It holds it down and helps prevent paint from seeping under the stencil.  It worked pretty well!  I was worried when I lifted it up that the black base paint would come off with it but it didn’t, and it really helped keep the design nice and crisp!  When it was finished I thought it looked like a chalkboard.  I wish I would have thought of that first!  Oh well, I will keep that in mind for the next window I see that I can’t pass up! 

I used brown antiquing wax to seal the wood around the black window and on the rusty hinges on the top.  I painted the knob with Folk Art Brushed Metal Bronze.

On the white window, I wanted more of a country farmhouse feel.  After the two coats of white primer, I applied a raised stencil design using DAP spackle to give the design some texture.  I think my flowers turned out looking a little more Boho than Farmhouse. 🤷‍♀️  I was wishing I had a sunflower stencil but I think it still turned out pretty cute!  For the text, I tried a (new to me) type of stencil by Show-Offs that is a reusable adhesive silkscreen stencil that I picked up at Michaels.  It worked amazingly well and I will definitely be looking for more of this type stencil in the future.  I used Folk Art Home Decor chalk paint in French Linen for the lettering and to highlight the raised design. I wanted the floral design and the text to look worn like the frame.

I used brown antiquing wax on the rusty latch on top.  I sealed the chippy white paint on the wood with a clear matte sealer.

I sprayed the glass on both windows with Rustoleum Chalked Clear Matte spray paint to seal the design.  I attached picture hooks and wire to the back of both windows for hanging purposes.

Products Used:

• Kilz White Primer
• Zinsser 1.2.3. Gray Primer
• Folk Art Home Decor Rich Black
• Folk Art Home Decor Cottage White
• Folk Art Home Decor French Linen
• Rustoleum Chalked Linen White
• DAP Spackle
• Waverly Antique Wax
• Rustoleum Chalked Clear Matte Spray Sealer
• picture hooks & wire
• stencils

I hope you enjoyed this vintage window makeover!  Check back soon for a post I’ll be sharing on DIY Industrial looking lamps that my brother creates.