Dressing Up a Dormer Window with Shutters
Our home has beautiful dormer windows.
I love the little recessed ledges inside each dormer. But, the window in our hallway always looked so sad.
Then one day it hit me! This poor window has been neglected and has no character, jewelry or bling! For whatever reason (maybe because I was sleep deprived?) it took me a year to realize that the window itself had not been painted white like the other windows in our home.
The first thing I did was grab a paint brush and paint the muntin bars (or grille), the bars that separate and hold the panes of glass. Don’t say I never taught you anything on this blog! Want to learn more about the anatomy of a window? Look on Pella’s website.
It looked better, but there was too much white, so I painted the recessed area a sunny yellow.
Wow, that looks better! But, the window still looked a little stark. That lonely plant just wasn’t pulling its own decorative weight.
So, I ran up to the attic where all the original shutters from our home are stored. I pulled two out of the attic and painted them with a pretty aqua blue oops paint.
Next, I took a sand paper and roughed up the edges and distressed them until you could see the dark green peeking through.
I bought four gate hinges at Lowe’s and mounted them on the bottom and middle rails. I knew that there were studs on the edges of the window well, so I drove my screws into those corner studs.
The tops of the shutters protruded over the window well, so I couldn’t use a gate hinge there. I painted a faux hinge on the shutters instead.
I also painted a little sign over the dormer to fill up the visual blank space between the tops of the shutters. The board was just piece of scrap cabinet toe kick. And, yes, those are simple upholstery tacks holding it to the wall.
To create this little sign, I found a font I liked, then typed out the phrase on the computer. I was able to tile two sheets together to span the width of the board. I rubbed pencil on the backside of my paper. Then traced the letters on the front of the paper. By pushing hard with the pencil, my type was transferred on the wood. This allowed me to paint over the pencil marked letters: “Here Comes the Sun…” one of my favorite Beatles songs.
I dressed up the shutters by adding little keyhole drawer pulls.
I accessorized and put a little $5 Goodwill chair in the corner.
Around Christmas time I hung the star light for decoration, but it puts off the perfect amount of light for those darn night wakers. (Anyone else have those in your home?) So, it now hangs year round.
What do you think? Does it need anything else? Maybe paint the chair or distress it? Or maybe that chair just needs a colorful cushion.
I love your window…! A window seat perhaps would add a more comfy invitation to the lower part of the window, it looks amazing!!
I love this Brittany, featured you this morning http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/shuttered-dormer-window/
Wow! What a difference! It really changed the entire space! I love it!
Wow, did you do a great job on this! You have very wonderful ideas. PLUS, where did you get that little dog holding up the books??? SO ADORABLE!! I want him!!!!! 🙂
Best,
Gloria
Love this!!! I *might* add a cushion to the chair, but that's it, probably.
Recently found your blog and I love it! 🙂
Very cute 🙂
Ooh! I LOVE this idea, Brittany! 🙂 It's SO cute!
The before and after pictures say it all. The shutters add so much character to the window.
It is absolutely beautiful. You do some pretty amazing stuff.
Soo pretty I love the shutters.
What a sweet special place you have made this window -I love it!
How beautiful!
Your amendments to the dormer have made a valuable impact to your landing. I can imagine that you will tweak the area periodically, and whatever you add or edit will be wonderful! Thank you for sharing your charming renovation. Cherry Kay
Beautiful job, I love the little sign, I recommend a colorful pillow for the chair, with yellow, blue, green and black. Lovely
I'm telling you, I am SO crazy about those faux gate hinges! That's the kind of thing I would do and my mother would look at me like I had lost my mind. Thanks for being a kindred spirit. 🙂 Lisa~