An old window on the curb . . .

My husband and I love to drive around the Milwaukee area and look at beautiful houses and gardens. Every once in a while we see more than the houses and gardens - we see a cast-off treasure sitting at the curb just waiting to be remade into something pretty and useful. Recently, we came across an old window propped up against a tree, waiting for garbage pickup.

At one time it probably looked like this.

Well, he's such a sport. I want it, but I never want to be the one to get out of the car and get it. Let's face it - it's kind of embarrassing. That doesn't bother him. Not one bit. He'll just go up to the door to check with the owners - just to make sure they're REALLY throwing the item away. Then, out come the bungee cords! We loaded it up and brought it home. Then we scrubbed it clean, and began to envision what could be done with it.

I decided to make it into an open hutch-like piece. I put together a simple "box frame" made out 1" x 6" pine, added a couple shelves at the mullions. It's pretty rugged, but so is the window. Then I attached the window to the box frame. The window is permanently attached to the the box frame. Since there is no glass, there's no reason to make a "door" that actually opens. You can just set things inside through the openings.

I had a table that was just the right size for the bottom part of the "hutch". So I set my new "window box" on top, painted them both a medium blue, and filled it up with some favorite pitchers and teapots. All for the cost of a little gas in the car and some paint!

Finished!

Now, winters are long in Wisconsin. All winter long we dream about warm, spring days spent in the garden. My goal is to find enough cast-off old windows so I can make one of these miniature conservatories in the spring!

Or maybe I'll hit pay dirt so I can make one of these!

Check back in June!

My old window hutch is here at the:

and at Miss Mustard Seed's:



and

Piece of Work Wednesday