Dilemma.
Oct 2, 2007 Our door has a large window, right smack dab in the middle of it. I didn't pick the door out because I wouldn't have chosen something with a bunch of glass in it. You know, since we have 3 huge windows in the living room. I guess it was decided that we needed more windows, because the people across the street couldn't get a great view of the WHOLE inside of our front room from their yard.
Right now, I taped some tissue-paper up there (which is thisclose to hanging some Smurf sheets up in the window) to keep prying eyes away, but I'd obviously like a more permanent (read: normal) solution.
click to view larger
but don't judge me
I have three ideas:
1. Put up some contact paper, since it's temporary, like this or this, or maybe even this. This isn't bad, either.2. Make a rectangle of fabric to cover the window, and then add 4 loops -- one to each corner. We could put some of those eye screws at each corner of the window, and then I could hook the loops on, one on each corner.
3. We could just get one of those cheapie curtain rods, and put that on the door.
Here's my dilemma:
Is 1 tacky? I don't want my front door to look like a bathroom window at some pyshiatric hospital.
For 2 and 3, do I really want to put holes in the door? I'm sure option 2 wouldn't pose a problem for the door clearing, but we'd have to be really careful lining up the eye screws. For #3, I'm worried that the door might not clear the curtain rod if it's fully open, but if it doesn't stick out too far, it might not be an issue. But again, do I want to put holes in the door?
Also, #2 and 3 would require that I get some material to make curtains, and I'm not sure what color/fabric to use. The living room has had the least amount of work done to it, but it probably needs the most -- painting, doors and windows properly framed, hopefully new flooring (maybe one day). I'll have to use something temporary, but I don't know if I want to go through all that trouble.
Help me. What would you do (besides poking out the eyes of passers-by on the street)?
Reader Comments (7)
I got these cool heavy duty magnetic curtain rods for our back door, which is mostly glass also. I put one at the top and bottom and got a curtain for it. But you're much handier than I am, so I'm sure you could make one that's awesome!
As a matter of fact, the make a small set of blinds specifically for that particular door. They're like, magically compatible, or something. :) I found this at Lowe's:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=209213-424-209213&lpage=none
But it doesn't look like the same exact door. I'll run the measurements, and see what we can do, or I'll find the one that is manufactured specifically for our door.
I'm sorry I didn't check with you about the door originally, I was trying to keep it a surprise. I should have thought about the windows, lol. Sorry hun.
I like the last contact paper option. Not that I even know what contact paper is. I heard it mentioned on "Friends" once though.
On the other hand, poking out eyes is both free AND fun - and Belle's probably tall enough to reach most people's eyes, so you could just send her out to work while you kick back in front of the TV.
I would do one of two things:
1. I would get some window paint and make yourself a faux stained glass window OR
2. I've seen faux stained glass sheets at Home Depot that you press in like that clingy plasticy stuff. It looks awesome.
Now. Can you send me some money for Starbucks? I so want to take you up on that offer.
I would either do stained glass with the paints, or knit a lace curtain. Personally, I like being able to see out the front door so I can see who is at the door.
http://madewithlovebyhannah.com/WordPress/?p=49
Look at that link, that's a pretty nifty and permanent solution. I am considering doing that with my own door, but my door does have small windows like her's.
You're so clever, though, I know you'll come up with something. What about that glass paint that looks like stained glass?
I definitely vote contact paper. I think the key is using something with a little color in it-- the psychiatric hospital bathroom look is usually just plain etched, or white patterns, but I think if you got something with a little more color-- that last paper option looked pretty cool-- then it would look more like stained glass. If you really wanted to get creative, you can buy this liquid paint that looks like lead piping in a small, craft paint bottle (like fabric paint) and basically you draw a design, let it dry, and it is just like the lead on stained glass, so then you could paint the different sections of the image with regular glass paint and it looks like stained glass. But that is A LOT of effort, and if you didn't like the way it looked, it would be permanent, and you may have to take the door off while you painted it (the lead-looking paint is pretty thick but I don't know if it thick enough not to run on a vertical surface.)SO, as previously stated, I think contact paper is the easiest solution. If you don't like the way it turns out, then you can explore fabric options.