1950's picture window in our vintage cabin....
vintagecabin
9 years ago
Hi there! I am struggling over what to do with this ginormous 50's picture window, which looks dated from the exterior. I have tried to improve it a bit with shutters, but it still looks out of character with the rest of our vintage cabin. Should I replace it, and if so, with what?? A smaller window might seem too small....I also think the roofline adds to the awkward feel of the exterior. I am thinking about possibly creating a gabled roof over this space, but I'm afraid of the expense involved. I am including an interior pic as well, although the window looks better inside than it does from the outside, IMO.I would love to hear any and all suggestions!! Thank you so much :)
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9 years agocrowley48
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Need understair shelving ideas please
Comments (20)It seems that 2 story houses are becoming much more the norm here. At least in the metro areas. People are wanting bigger houses and builders can get more house on less land. Mattresses, box springs and dressers have to be the WORST things to get up stairs ;-) I love the look of staircases and love the view a 2nd story provides. I'll tell ya though - we're not elderly (YET!) but I love not carrying laundry and other items up and down stairs ;-)...See MoreGold/Beige sofa dilemma!
Comments (14)Love your floors good job. Good luck in design school. I find working in the field is more help than taking classes. There are many furn stores that hire designer or want to be designers, for their stores. To help clients, and go to their homes, to help them buy furn. You can gain so much knowledge this way . And make a living at the same time. Working as a assist to a designer, is a great way to break in to the field. A lot of designers will hire from the school. I'm sure you have a job board. Check it for even part time work. It pays off. Now your room. Like your sofa. Good color to work with. But, don't forget the small stuff. Like window covers, art, area rugs and accessories. Putting a room together is the hardest thing to do. It's very easy to put a sofa and chairs in a room. It's the accessories that bring a room together. Study a designer you relate too on TV. There are many I used to love Candice Olsen. Not sure if she is on the air. She does have books out. Study them see how rooms are pulled together. Then copy it for your room. Color is a matter of taste. Look for unusual things to add to your room. A simple thing like stacking some books together with a art item on top,is inexpensive and space filling look. You don't have to spend a lot. Rug, pillows window panels are found everywhere. Unless you have unlimited budget, can shop, Ikea, Pier One, World Market, Z galleries, West Elm. Even some deals at Restoration Hardware. Sometimes just go window shopping at above, to get ideas, find fun things. Don't rush. Take your time and find just the right thing for you. Good luck. That being said go a 6x9 rug in a traditional look with yr red and gold print. Stay with those colors just go different tones. Going the dark reds over bright is way to go in traditional. The bold colors work better with a modern look. Mix up design, size and prints in pillows. Panels on end of windows with a bamboo shade in dark brown. A inexpensive look that is timeless. Panels could be a gold velvet, that will give you a more traditional look. Move media for TV closer to firepl. If in budget go a round or square 24" coffee table in glass to show off rug. Over firepl a big 36" sun burst mirror hang 7" from top of mantel. TJMax has great price. Also ck them for pillows, rugs. They have a great return policy, which is very important. Always ck store policy on returning. Because you will be returning, it's part of the job. I will buy. 3 rugs at a time, to try in clients home. That's OK. Things look different in different light. Also coffee tables should be no more than 18" from front of sofa....See MoreHelp! Boring downstairs loo
Comments (15)Hi. Have you ever considered a real interesting eye catching piece of art work to really brighten up an area, I think a select piece of art would really make the space stand out, add interest, colour, texture and add a great talking point to the room.... Please check out my website if you like the idea and please get in contact, commission work is also welcomed so if you like a particular style I can do in a select colour palette and size as an original piece…..I’m also able to produce all original paintings in high end print format, in any size same or smaller than the original. (all within proportions to the original so not to cause distortion) All prints shown are Giclee prints onto soft textured fine art media. All prints come with a white border these can be made to measure too. So lots of options, www.guigsart.co.uk...See MoreNeed help for my Living Rooom
Comments (31)Thanks Decoenthusiaste! Yes that sofa is unavailable here and hard to find anything similar in local stores, but I may have one made up! So yes I’m using the images you post as inspiration and hope to find similar items here, I also love the grey Scandanavian sofa ideas you had earlier, and will use them as inspiration to get a lighter replacement. The blind on my window is screwed in place, but I could easily replace it with something that would let in more light, like the top down blinds (which are new to me!). I’m really glad no one has thought the absence of curtains an issue, as light is scarce here & I prefer the no curtains look. I do agree we should move the car to another part of our drive to get a nicer view out. A radiator cover that could double as a shelf would work well I think, I love the bespoke one, how cool! Also good to find out that you can get ones that allow the heat to rise. Re the music centre, I might replace with an iPod doc with speakers as Glo kindly suggested, In meantime I might cover it (and the dreaded TV!) with a piece of framed art leaning from the floor, aware that’ll be another competing focal point, but hopefully a nicer one! Thanks a lot for the tip re dimensions for a piece of art over the sofa and a coffee table, both of which are on my list to get, I would’ve had no clue re this and it’s fantastic to discover that there are certain rules which, if you apply them, can make your room work visually! Thanks again for the brilliant advice, I really appreciate it....See MoreBob
9 years ago
makaloco
9 years agovintagecabin
9 years agoThank you all so much for your input!!! This is exactly what I needed to get my wheels turning! Actually, we do plan to put a rock veneer over the brick. I HATE the brick color too! I am intrigued by the thought of re-arranging the furniture, but I'm not sure how to try it so it would function for TV watching. I will attach a few more pics so you can see what I mean. We are putting a new wood stove on the brick pad, BTW. I'm glad you all seem to think that major structural changes are not necessary to salvage the exterior....I would love to explore other color combos, but keep in mind, our cabin is smack in the middle of absolute wilderness in Montana, so we need to keep it very rustic. Thank you again for the ideas!!
PROSandy G. ltd.
9 years ago
groveraxle
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoProperly-sized shutters with all trim painted any color with a lighter value might look like this:
vintagecabin
9 years ago- PRO
Sandy G. ltd.
9 years ago vintagecabin
9 years ago
PROPPF.
9 years ago- PRO
Sandy G. ltd.
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago-- The porch posts didn't show much until Groveraxle's magic and they are a great detail in ranch design. It might be a good idea too to add a third post on the left of the porch to complete the lineup.
PROvintagecabin
9 years ago- PRO
Sandy G. ltd.
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago-- Yes, I see the third post. Thank you - missed it in the photo! You could add a 4th down by the window so the front view of your cabin flows across the whole way.
As far as the shutters, and adding panels to each side, they could be attached so they are not fully flat against the wall - almost flat but left a little open. This would give some dimension to the wall and appear less massive.
Another solution would be to leave the shutters as is and build a planter below the window. It would come up to the window and extend beyond the shutters a foot or so. It would have the same board/batten siding painted your red trim color. Add low evergreen shrubs with your rocks topping off the soil. You will see this finishing touch from the inside. This would fill in this "hungry" part of the property. It feels like it needs a little attention and this would add dimension and bulk in another way.
To camouflage the view of the sofa from the outside, you could install café curtains inside, across the bottom 1/3 of the window. Simple, gathered on the rod, brown/rust buffalo plaid [to coordinate with the outside paint colors].
vintagecabin
9 years ago
wendig
9 years ago
PROUrbanata/Steve
9 years ago
Denita
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoAs others have said: functional looking shutters with hardware that are sized right will make a huge difference. Here is a short excellent article, with photos, about shutters http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/
I like red and brown, but as grover points out a little lighter trim might work. Here is one of my favorite combo's of red and light brown (and gray) here on houzz
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groveraxle