Saturday
May262012
Design Crew
Sat, 26 May 2012
Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don't know what to do? You're not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you .... that's you lot ... the readers! This week's problem is from Sue May.
Hi! I wanted to share this dilemma with you guys. I have a set of two lovely fairly big windows but due to a recent break-in at my neighbor's house we decided to place these awful iron bars. I truly feel like I'm living in a concrete jail.
I've been trying to figure out how to make them less hideous. I'm going to make two plant boxes for flowers and herbs. But besides that I'm lost.
Reader Comments (17)
There's a political analogy just begging to be made... but I refrain. I can only suggest heavy-duty camo. http://www.wallpaperforwindows.com/pc/home.asp
Not sure where you live or aspect of the room but you could consider a sheer natural linen drape which covers the window permanently....it would aso offer a touch of sensualness to the room. Good luck.
I would suggest a very ornate, artistic designed forged iron. And a soft curtain to soften the view.
I had this very same dilemma with one my clients windows and what was an eyesore are now beautiful focal points and it was very inexpensive and easy to do. It seems I can't attach a picture but you can view my facebook page at www.facebook.com/modifyinteriors and view the before and after album of my Chelsea Project there and see the dramatic difference or you can go to my website at www.modifyinteriors.com and view my chelsea project and and view the before and after photos there as well
Oops Apologies I had my url incorrect but fixed now so you can view album from my Modify Interiors Facebook page
Hello, I live in Costa Rica. This place is a new development and we bought the house last year and nothing happened within that period of time. But about a month or two a new couple bought the home in front of us and they were the victims of the house invasion. Apparently they have very bad luck because a week before someone stole their car (it was not in this area but still).
So we saw the video that another neighbor's security camera took and it shows our security guard passing by and he did not try to do anything not even call the police. After that he disappeared from here :s
There still several constructions sites around and apparently (it is awful to start assuming) the workers along with some guards were doing the home invasion. Nothing happened since but still I hate using iron bars.
To be honest I even thought about washi tape them as soon as Mt Casa comes out :P
The intricate pattern might be a good idea also.
Our country it's at it's worst right now regarding corruptions and high criminality rate, so that analogy is completely fitting.
And thank you in advance for your help.
The Chelsea Coop AFTER images posted by Modify Interiors (see comment up a couple of notches) are really beautiful. Security screens don't necessarily need to be metal ... they could be wood and still do the job.
I have a laser-cut plywood 8' tall screen on my front porch in front of a large window for peek-a-boo privacy and security. I painted it periwinkle blue and it really pops in front of my pale gray MCM house. I got mine from Crestview Doors -- see their line at http://www.crestviewdoors.com/browse/products/redi-screens.html
Hmmm, this is a tough one. The flower boxes are a nice idea - use TALL plants, maybe a bamboo, so the bars are obscured all the way up.
I would consider starting with an easy, less expensive idea, like a soft, semi-opaque white blind that obscures the view but allows in a lot of natural light. I would also consider having the bars painted a matte gray to lower the contrast - glossy black or white will draw attention where gray will dissolve into the background a little more.
You could have metal grates beautiful made in a moroccan pattern wrought iron, or some kind of ornate floral scrollwork. That will be very costly, but it's the only way to provide security without looking like a jail bars. I hope they catch the thieves so you can rest easier.
I would consider security shutters that you can lock during the day or when you are out and open when you are home and want to enjoy the view.
I also live in a neighborhood where everyone has bars on the windows. Not us. I can't abide looking out through bars -- makes me feel like a prisoner in my own home. I would rather take my chances and pay my insurance deductible. Keep all irreplaceable items or valuables offsite in a secure location or in a safety deposit box.
As I see two dogs in the photo, for all those that suggested keeping a permanent light drape or blind across the window, I would bet the dogs would vote against that idea if they like to look out...as doggies usually do.
I'm with Christa in painting the bars a light colour. When you look out the windows, choose a paint that's close to the light colour that dominates outside.
Very sorry that your beautiful country is going through a difficult time. May that change soon.
Thank you guys! I believe the first thing will be the plant boxes with tall items, as one of the commenters suggested. Then paint the bars a light color and maybe put twinkle lights and some other distracting things .
As you can see in one of the pictures I was trying window film but due to the size of the windows it would have been a bit expensive.
Those awful bars were expensive on it's own, around 800 dollars :( that could have been used for something beautiful.
Again thank you for your advice and kind words.
I like the tape idea. Or can they be spray painted? White, orange and so on... could turn into a piece of art. Sheer curtains in a solid subtle color would frame out the piece.
Can you take down the bars, spray paint them a gorgeous color, before putting them back up, and then arrange your living space to reflect that color? That way, you'll incorporate the outside with the inside and perhaps that will make it feel less like a jail and more like a happy place.
haha... You can tell from the wall posters that he/she is a BattleStar Galactica fan, we still do exist... I have no advice about design but I wanna salute my fellow scifi fan.
Yes I am! I have a few other posters from firefly as well :D
I live in Johannesburg where we all have bars on all our windows, so I know how lame they are!
I definitely suggest painting them white or a light color - but don't go crazy & make them too colorful, or else they just draw your eye even more. Making them somehow ornamented can also help distract from the jail-like nature. Could you find a few funky ornamental wrought iron pieces and attach them (like this http://www.giftsunusual.com/images/32402%20Wrought%20Iron%20Swirl%20Sconces.jpg)?
The best antidote is windows with pretty glass, but that's an expensive undertaking. I also love the idea of trellising ivy & wrapping them in lights.
Good luck!
I honestly think if you combined the above comments, and painted the bars and frame a white or a very light colour, and then got drapes that could be tied off to the sides, (so doggies can look out and plants are ok on inside and out_ - you could put planter boxes in a matching white on the inside, or even find a way to attach strings of little crystals or mirrors in the gaps in between the bars, to make it look more like a pattern.
bar, mirror string, bar, mirror string, etc... and then you have the soft organza drapes framing the whole window.