How can we cover/hide the windows above door frames?

[sairejayne]

We have brought a house and there are windows above all the doors on the landing. How can be hide or cover them easiliy without looking tacky?

[raysparx1]

It is quite an easy job to do,You can remove the glass, stud out the gap that is left, and plasterboard over the studding keeping it slightly inset from frame, and have it plastered, but will it make the landing really dark ? after all they were put in for a reason, you don't want to permanently have lights on, i

[sairejayne]

Thanks- i suppose you're right it might make it too dark - it just looks a bit dated though - my husband hates it. Any ideas to spruce it up?

[jno]

the people upstairs have just done the reverse: put a window above the bathroom door. It brightens the hall up a lot. Having natural light is a lot friendlier than having to put electric lights on as if it was permanently night (imho). If your husband feels somehow spied on, you could put in frosted glass. If it has to go, follow ray's advice.

[raysparx1]

Why not have a look round and just change the glass for some coloured glass, engraved etc, or if you do cover it just wallpaper over it or paint it in with the walls, once it has been covered it will look as if it has always been like it,,

[sairejayne]

Thanks a lot - i will put your suggestions to him!

[jno]

re frosted glass, you can get film to put on windows that in effect frosts them, without having to put in new glass - just done this myself. (Came from Homebase, I think.) Or if you want to be elaborate and expensive, why not commission some stained glass or other designer window?

[raysparx1]

Stained glass, thats the word, i couldn't think of, thanks jno, lol

[jno]

for instance

http://www.creativestainedglass.co.uk/gallery. htm

http://www.stainedglassartist.biz/

http://www.purlfrost.com/home.php

[sairejayne]

Ray, you said for total coverage to remove glass and stud our gap - is there any way to maybe cover with MDF or similar over the glass (incase we change minds) or would this just be impractical and not work?
Thanks

[jno]

you can leave the glass there behind the board and plaster or wallpaper over the board. Why not just try cutting some cardboard to fit and putting it over the glass to get an idea of how it will look before you commit yourself?

[raysparx1]

i think jnos, idea is good, cover it first and see what you think, and again as jno says, you can leave the glass in and then plasterboard and skim, but if I was you, and you do go for that I would screw or mastic plasterboard onto beading, because if you do nail it, you might crack glass or miss the nail head and whoops, glass broke anyway

[twinsein]

how about putting a nice glass motif on it or take glass out and put a pieace of stud wall in and plaster.

[ethandron]

we painted the ones over all the bedroom doors in our house. a decorator told us we'd need special glass paint, but we just undercoated a couple of times and then glossed, and it's fine. we thought we'd try the cheapest, easiest method first.

[WendyS]

We have these windows above all the doors on our landing and without them our landing would be a horribly gloomy and dark place. I love them and the difference they make. Neighbours have blocked theirs off and their landing is so dark at night that it's an unsafe place. Before you do anything you will regret I suggest you get some cheap cardboard or dark material and cover them all up temporarily and then see what the effect is. You might find it's not quite such a good idea after all.

[Compostella]

I know what you mean, it looks a bit council house ish doesn't it but you'll notice the difference in light levels and mood of the hallway if you cover them up.

I'd go for the frosted glass option with maybe a contemporary frame to make it look a bit more classy.

Some people pay thousands to design in natural light, it really is the best method so if you can keep it, do.