Laowai

During our vacation I was gathering photos and thoughts about old windows. Why else would I go on a European vacation?

Back at home I've just finished one window and I've made a start on another. I realized after looking at all the very old windows in Norway that windows are not meant to look perfect like they were made in a factory. They are supposed to look handmade. So that takes a little pressure off when I'm working on my own windows. Not that I don't want to strive for neatness but I just see that even the windows at the Hanseatic Museum (where they emphasize proper restoration) show signs of a real person's hands.

Here are some of the lovelies that I saw in Bergen.

The little roofs above the windows were fantastic. I'm sure they have a name but I have yet to discover it. Also, they seem to have holes cut under there – for ventilation?

Most windows that I see in Europe are casement windows like mine. Most windows here in the US are double hung windows.

Doors are nice too.

Color!

They use bracket/hinges on most all of their windows.

The shutters are opened and closed with a rope on these very old windows. There was a little cleat to keep the rope in place in the middle of the window inside. Also, the hearts… swoon.

Wavy glass is fun.

You can see the rope that operates the shutters below (in the middle of the window)

This is charming, whatever it is.

I've even convinced my sister to feed my window obsession. Jennifer and Jenna are having a tour of Europe and she sent this one – I think – from Prague. So pretty.

So back to my little window world. Here's the window that I recently finished. It matches the other one in our upstairs hallway that I finished last summer. Now all the upstairs windows on the north side of the house have been restored – yay!

And finally, here are a few photos (inside and out) of the window I'm working on now. It's a window from the front of our house. They are about the same height as me – 60 ish inches tall! I already have all the old glazing and glass out and I only broke one pane. Progress over perfection is my mantra.

I think this is the first time we've ever had these windows open because they were painted shut and the storm windows are a bit wonky. The fresh breeze that came into the living room felt so nice.

I'm so glad I was filled up with window inspiration and motivation after our vacation. It's going to be so nice to have these old windows finally looking cared for.