Simple Kitchen Makeover Continued
From a Boring Apartment Galley To a Classy and Inviting Kitchen Continued
Written by Kenneth Pfaff, Copyright 2004
I purchased two picture frames inlaid with a blonde wood, but frames come in many varieties so pick the style you like best.
Discard the cardboard or solid backing that comes with the frames (or give to your children for drawing on rather than your walls).
Also remove the plastic / glass protector, and it is to this protector that you will apply the window film (following the directions provided by the manufacturer) using a large, flat work surface.
I highly suggest that large, flat work area as it this greatly aids in applying the vinyl treatment to the protector. Most window film is applied using soapy water, so this part of the upgrade takes barely 10 minutes. Keep some rags handy to sop up the water.
You will want to add some small metal brackets to your empty frames before placing the protector back into its slot. I had some small L-shaped brackets hanging around from a previous project, so I used those, but feel free to use any other form of bracket you may have.
A safety tip - temporarily hang your empty frames onto the beams and adjust the beams to closely fit as you wish, but try to arrange the frames so that the frame isn't touching or even too close to your light source.
This method using beams and frames has effectively lowered the ceiling, but produced more light.
The backlit panels are very effective
The manufacturer may have specific safety guidelines for you in the materials provided with your window film.
Once you've attached your brackets to the four corners of your frames and tested the fit and placement to the beams, simply replace the protector back into the frame and secure in place.
Don't add the cardboard, as the light must shine through your pane. Lastly, place your panes onto the beams.
Secure them or let them simply hang via the brackets depending on your set-up and need for safety. The great thing about floating frames is that you can now easily create seasonal panels - just buy some extra frames and the window film scene you want and replace the panes whenever your want to make your kitchen seasonal or holiday-related.
Not all apartments have fluorescent fixtures, but in my case, I had two fluorescent light fixtures that I wanted to hide, so I put the longest side of my panes along the length of the beams. Play with the spacing and direction of your panes to your liking. I chose the Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass look, which gave me the benefit of turning the frames in any direction, but many window film scenes are directional (plants and outdoor scenes especially). You don't want your beautiful stained glass wisteria to grow upside down do you? How can it be upside down when it is parallel to the floor? I'm glad you asked. Sit where you will most often be looking at your panes. The side closest to you is the 'ground' and the side farthest from you is the 'sky.'
As you can see, my two new stained glass panels provide a real sense of depth and warmth to what was once a bland kitchen. The perceived ceiling height is lower, and that creates a firmer sense of coziness. The light from the 'daylight' bulbs I added filters through the panes giving the whole kitchen a golden glow it lacked previously. The ceiling above the beams has a radiance that always existed, but the wooden beams and stained glass panes help define and deepen that area.
From a Boring Apartment Galley To a Classy and Inviting Kitchen Continued Next Page.............
