Windows + Crazy = Me
When attempting the restoration of wood windows, normal people take it a room at a time. You know, spread out the work. Don't overdo it.
I'm obviously not one of those people as I am speeding towards finishing them all. All of them. All forty of them. Which is an insanely large amount of windows to try to do all at once. This is where my OCD tendancies can be seen as helping me or hurting me depending on how strongly you feel about the wood windows versus my ability to get anything else done.
Aaron has been incredibly patient with the eerie light in here due to the 6 mil plastic sheeting and plexiglass.
And now, it is clear. I have gone over the edge.
My neighbor down the block lives in a house that is extremely similar in design to ours. Without proof, I would hazard a guess that eight of the houses on our block were a) built by the same builder, and b) a variant of the exact same design. She has our same Prairie-style windows.
When I walked out of the house one morning and saw the van from the window replacement company parked on the street at her front door, I hyperventilated a little.
There, on the curb next to the van, were the pieces for nine gorgeous hardwood Prairie-style windows. And her windows were in even better shape than ours. They just needed a tune-up and some decent integral weather stripping.
I asked the contractor about them. After looking at me like I was really nuts, he waved his hand at me. "Take them."
So, like a squirrel hoarding acorns, I toted them one-by-one down the block.
And here they are. At least three of them can be used to replace wood windows in our house that were going to be very difficult to repair because of exposure to the elements. (I guess storm windows weren't used as dilligently in the past on our house as they could have been.)
I'm like a little kid at Christmas time. The only downside so far?
Explaining to Aaron why there are now forty-eight windows in our house instead of forty. And thinking of a plan for what to do with the rest of them.
(11)
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Comments
Wow! What a find! Why, oh why, do people use replacement windows when they have beautiful original windows like that? I guess so that people who really appreciate them can haul them off like squirrels hoarding acorns...
Posted by: elise | June 1, 2007 1:36 PM
Why does this never happen to me? I clearly need to take more walks.
Posted by: Josh | June 1, 2007 3:09 PM
Love reading your blog! Can't tell you how much it helps to keep me sane as we restore our old house. We too are in the midst of repairing our wood windows. We have large sheets of plywood covering our openings as we repair. I'm sure the neighbors think we are crazy. We have only completed 3 thus far, but they are amazing when done. Can't imagine any new 'maintenance free' windows operating better (or looking any nicer)!
Makes my stomach sink when we see old windows being riped out. We also have managed to accumulate a large 'collection' of old windows. The best was watching my husband walk down the street with a wheelbarrow piled high with old windows!
Thanks for sharing your story with us!!!!
P.S. We were able to take a class on window restoration with John Leeke. The class was extremely helpful. Would highly recommend. (http://www.historichomeworks.com/hhw/index.htm)
Posted by: Colleen | June 1, 2007 3:15 PM
Love reading your blog! Can't tell you how much it helps to keep me sane as we restore our old house. We too are in the midst of repairing our wood windows. We have large sheets of plywood covering our openings as we repair. I'm sure the neighbors think we are crazy. We have only completed 3 thus far, but they are amazing when done. Can't imagine any new 'maintenance free' windows operating better (or looking any nicer)!
Makes my stomach sink when we see old windows being riped out. We also have managed to accumulate a large 'collection' of old windows. The best was watching my husband walk down the street with a wheelbarrow piled high with old windows!
Thanks for sharing your story with us!!!!
P.S. We were able to take a class on window restoration with John Leeke. The class was extremely helpful. Would highly recommend. (http://www.historichomeworks.com/hhw/index.htm)
Posted by: Colleen | June 1, 2007 3:16 PM
We had a loft apartment with a bedroom without windows. My wife cleverly hung them on the walls (like pictures). Behind each frame of glass, she hung favorite pictures / post cards / etc.
The effect created the illusion of windows where there weren't any and gave us some cool "frames".
--Eric
Posted by: Anonymous | June 1, 2007 5:51 PM
And WHY is this crazy??
I think it makes all kinds of sense.
Posted by: beckie | June 1, 2007 6:25 PM
I've been known to horde a window or two myself. I'm currently collecting them with plans to build a child's playhouse or potting shed. I've seen some built out of primarily salvaged materials. Very quirky. We also used an old window in our kitchen remodel, though this was a smaller art glass window. You probably have a pair flanking your fireplace? We hinged the top and installed it as a pass-through to a pantry.
Posted by: Don | June 1, 2007 10:56 PM
I am a hoarder of old windows. One day I will make a crap-load of cold frames with them for the garden.
Posted by: gary | June 2, 2007 7:29 AM
How about building a potting shed/greenhouse and use the left over windows. Use the windows on the southside and on the roof. Hinge them so they open awning style.
Posted by: Jan | June 2, 2007 9:09 PM
My husband and I love reading your blog! We bought a fixer-upper last year in Memphis, TN and we're having a lot of fun, although, I must say we haven't got near the amount done as you guys have.
Anyway, about those windows. Wonderful find. My mom collects old windows off off the curb and uses them everywhere. One set is hanging in her bedroom. She also has them hanging on her patio walls and the fence that surrounds it on two sides. Just a few ideas because those windows are too great to just be pitched.
Posted by: Can | June 8, 2007 2:19 PM
I had to laugh at this. We found a window sash in someone's trash this week. I can't salvage the frame, but can use the giant 36" square wavy glass to repair one of my own sashes.
Any chance you can get a photo of what your neighbor's house looks like with the new ones? Do they blend in with the rest of the old, or did they remove all of them? Did they only do the back of the house?
Posted by: Carol | June 9, 2007 2:45 PM