DIY Shabby Chic Antique Finish for Salvaged Window Frame

My boyfriend’s mom gave me seven vintage, wood frame windows. After a few months of thinking about what I should do and having them collect dust, I finally started working on them. I decided to paint them all with a white and black shabby chic finish. There were a few articles on how to this, but many seemed really complicated (with over 20 steps). My process wasn’t that complicated, but it was time-consuming since I had to let the paint dry in between coats. Below are the instructions on how to paint your own or you can buy my window frames from my Etsy shop.

Step 1: Sand. Wipe down the frame to remove any dust, cobwebs, etc. Use an electric sander to remove the old paint. If some paint is remaining, that’s fine. Just make sure the surface is even so when you paint the frames there aren’t uneven spots.

Step 2: Prepare the window. Stick blue painter’s tape on the border of both sides of the window. This will help not get paint on the glass, but if you do, you can slide a razor blade on the glass to remove the paint.

Step 3: Primer. I had left over white primer in my garage, so I used that. Lay the window frame face down and paint the back and sides of the frame with a bristled brush (not foam). Let dry for about 24 hours. Turn frame over the next day and paint primer on the front side. Let dry for another 24 hours. Place brush in a Ziploc bag and keep cool until you paint the next layer of white in a few days.

Step 4: Prepare the Shabby Chic look. Run a wax candle along the edges and corners of the wood frame. Brush excess wax off the frame. This will not allow all the black paint to be on the bottom white layer.

Step 5: Black paint. Use a clean bristle brush to paint a thin layer of black paint on the front side of the window. The bristle brush adds texture and shows the brush strokes for a vintage look. Let dry for another 24 hours. Wash brush thoroughly.

Step 6: Last coat of white paint. Paint a thin coat of white paint on top of the black paint and wax. Let dry for another 24 hours. At this point you must judge for yourself if you want more white or black showing, and paint another layer accordingly.

Step 7: Finish Shabby Chic look. Use fine sand paper to remove the top layer of white paint from the edges and corners of the frame. This will be especially easy where the candle wax stuck.

Step 8: Clean up. Wipe down frame with clean cloth to remove dust. Remove painter’s tape from the glass. Spray glass with glass cleaner to remove paint and dust. Slide razor blade over any remaining paint on glass to remove.

Step 9: Install D-ring hangers. Place window face down. Measure 3-7 inches from the top on each side of the frame and mark with a pencil. Use drill to start holes in the D-ring. Fasten D-rings on each side with screws that come in the D-ring package. All done!

Ideas for using your window:

• “White board” for kids to draw on
• Dry erase board for weekly meal planning
• Calendar
• Menu for special dinners
• To do list
• Schedule of events for guests to see on your wedding night
• Picture frame
• Chalkboard (paint glass with chalkboard paint)

Are there any other uses you can think of?