Distressed Window Project (Part 1)
Have you ever bought something that you knew you wanted but didn’t have a set plan yet? I must admit that I do that sometimes myself. Well, maybe more than I’d like to admit. This time, I got a couple of windows at an outdoor barn sale. You know the kind of windows; the old used ones that are starting to chip paint or are a little rusty and rough around the edges. Those are the ones that speak the loudest to me with all their quirky character. I knew I wanted to make a project with an old window so I picked the kind of window that only had one big pane and no grilles (the piece that divides the glass panes). Follow along and I will show you how to distress an old window frame.
Tools I used for this project
- A window with wooden frame
- A Phillips head screwdriver
- An electric hand sander
- Sawhorses
- Paint (one base color and two accent colors)
- Wood stain
- 2″ Paint brush
- Paper towels
Supply set-up
Once I got home, I found an example of what I wanted to make. The frame would be painted, then distressed with our family name added to the glass. Painting the frame was going to be the first major step to complete. I don’t have a garage, so I set up outside in the yard for the first part. I removed the hardware that it had and used an electric hand sander to sand it down to remove any rough patches. Then moving to the deck, I set up the window on two sawhorses.
Prepping for paint
I wiped down the inner edges of the frame and the glass to wipe away dirt and debris of years gone by. In preparation of painting the frame, I applied painter’s tape along the glass edge to keep the paint only on the frame. I took extra care in the corners by making sure that the tape overlapped. To do this, I tore the paint at 90° so one end would cover the other end and not leave any exposed glass.
For ease of turning (Hack #1)
To make the window easier to turn while the paint would still be wet, I installed screws in the end of each short end. I spaced two evenly on one end and put one in the center of the other end. The screws stuck out of the wood by about an inch. I then positioned the frame so that it would balance on the sawhorses by these three screws. Then when it comes time to turn the frame; the end with two screws will be able to be picked up to rotate the assembly on the one screw.
Layer One
For the first layer, I used chalk paint in the colorway “Succulent”. I painted both sides and all the nooks and crannies with even coverage. Let this layer dry before moving on. Isn’t it just dreamy?
Layer Two
For the second layer, I used two different paints; white and brown. These colors are for accent and will help it look distressed later on. I painted “swatches” of the white and brown randomly over all the green. No rhyme or reason here, just dip the brush in the paint and swoosh it on. Remember to add paint to both sides that way you can use either side later.
Layer Third
For the third layer (or some might say “step” because there is no actual layer here), I sanded the paint to distress it. To do this, I used my electric hand sander to rough up the paint. Here and there, just marring up the paint to make it look worn and dated. It may feel wrong to do this as you just took all that time to paint it and make it look nice; but this was fun for me. Once I got going on this part, I didn’t want to stop; but knew I had to stop to keep from painting the whole thing again. Again, remember to sand both sides. Leave your options open.
Layer Four
For the forth layer, I added the stain. For this step, make sure you’re in a well ventilated area. This stuff is stout! Brush on the stain evenly. Avoid leaving thicker brush strokes as it will dry darker. If you’re ok with that, don’t worry too much about the even-ness. But I wanted an even looking stain to let the paint underneath do all the talking. Work in one section before moving around the frame.
Follow up to see me add some details
This is how I distressed an old window frame. Be sure to check back to see the finished product for this project. I will be adding our last name and wedding anniversary on the glass using vinyl lettering. I will also be adding some twine, mini clothes pins and pictures.