A Window to the World

Salvaged windows add a unique and sometimes spectacular element to a space. Sourced on our travels, the windows we choose to bring home in a container from the other side of the world have to be truly one of a kind. Like the 19thC Arched Iron French window in our warehouse - believe it or not, we bought six matching windows of this size, originally from a church outside Paris, that had burnt down... now we can't image our space with any other window.

Over the years, we have sourced some incredible lead light and stained-glass windows from Victorian and Federation homes that were sadly being demolished. The original structures that housed these beautiful windows have been lost to time, but the charm still lives on. The windows below were in a new build in Bundeena, along with some of our French cloche lights. 

Leadlight and stained glass windows cast a beautiful filter on the light that comes into your interior and, in some cases, can hide the world outside - like your neighbour's ugly brick wall or washing line ...

Our focus when renovating the warehouse (previously an old glass-blowing workshop)  was to incorporate salvaged architectural elements to showcase the beauty of second-hand building materials. From large scale pieces like the French Iron Church window to small and imperfect pieces like this hand-painted early Victorian (1890's) casement window. This small lead light has a few breaks, but once the sun catches the delicate blossom, all is forgiven. 

Not all pieces have to be perfect – fragments of windows and small quirky finds can add a much-needed colour or interest to a small bedroom or studio space. The mottled and coloured glass have a plethora of crazy names, like English Muffle, Cathedral and Kosciusko, part of the charm of old glass and windows. They soften the light, and they have a somewhat magical quality ... but maybe that's just living in the Rainbow region.🌈

Think about using second-hand materials ~ even simple windows, colonial glazed or industrial iron windows will bring a hard-to-replicate quality to a new build or extension.  Architectural elements can transform your space and add a truly decorative element, and they're good for the planet, too.