That's a great point about 1950s school bathroom windows. My elementary school was built in the 50s so I know exactly what you mean! That one's really out of the running in my mind anyway.

I like the crosses too, but H won't. If you get close and peer through you can really see quite well into the house. Of course, that means some weirdo would be on our front porch peering into our house through the film... in plain sight of neighbors, etc.

That one will look really cool from the outside, with a bit of light escaping through the clear lines.

And no one is going to lean in to peek through those lines.

Tibbrix, big city lights isn't a cling film--it's actually like a very sticky sticker. Just fyi, in case you ever buy any of this stuff yourself or recommend it to anyone else. It's not like the others. I peeled off the back and was surprised. So it was immediately out of the running. No way could I competently install that. I'm way too clumsy.

lol, I'll let you come and tell my insane H that. I'm going to take the sample down before he figures this out. He likes it too, but he hasn't realized how well you can see through it. By the time I've bought it and installed it it will be too late. He's also a cheapskate, so he won't want me to buy a different one. (There is also a storm door in front of the door, so that does help.) :)

If he's a cheapskate and won't want you to buy a different one, buy that one and get it up quick!

Unless you've got a meth lab going on in your LR and you expect the DEA to peek through your front door, I seriously doubt you have anything to worry about. and if you do have a meth lab going on in your LR, you've got a lot to worry about and that film won't make one bit of difference.

So there's your astute argument for the film! Meth lab or not, it's the right film! Hard to argue with that!

Was the Big City Lights neat-o looking, though? It's easy to install, btw. You just use a paint spatula and go from the bottom up, or top town. Not a big deal. I'd love to see a sample of the Big City lights..hint, hint.

Yes, I loved Big City Lights. Unfortunately I am such a klutz it stuck to itself right away so I just pitched it!! I don't think it was right for the front door, too busy. It sort of looked pixelated or something, The squares were no more than a quarter inch in size.

BUT----I do need some film for yet ANOTHER location in the house, the basement windows. It's not a walkout basement, so these are just the normal small basement windows at the top of the walls. We want to cover them with film :) (my H loves window film now--lol--and while I had already secretly thought of the idea, he brought it up independently, which is absolutely a miracle; he never thinks about house stuff at all). Our basement is a playroom and TV room and workout room combined, and has vinyl gray and white tile in diamond check pattern on the floor, white painted paneling from 1960 on the walls, and a black spray painted unfinished industrial-looking ceiling with can lights---it's not a beautiful space, just functional, so curtains would do nothing but attract cobwebs. Film is absolutely the right thing (and again--privacy is a good thing, as is screening the ugly underneath part of our deck revealed by one of the windows.) Maybe Big City Lights is just the thing for those windows? I dunno. I admit I would really like to use it, and we do get nice evening light in those windows, which is sometimes a bit too bright, so it would be nice to screen it just a bit. I bet that film would look awesome, and this is a basement that definitely does not need to be taken too seriously.

I wonder...if you have a storm door, wouldn't it be easier to put the film there, than to fill in the panes on the doors?

and to be honest, I think just a plain frost would be fine.

If you do use the Big City Lights, or the like, the way you put it on is you peel back just a small bit, get the edge lined up to the trim of your window, then slowly, from underneath, start pulling the backing off while moving the paint spatula thing (not thinking of the right name right now) down pressing and smoothing the film to the window in as you peel from behind. If you get a crease, you just pull it back off the window and smooth it out with the tool and keep going.

I'm surprised to learn the BCL squares are only 1/4"! Goes to show you just cannot tell scale from a pic. Like my honeybee wallpaper! the bees were HUGE!

Yes, it looks like pixels. I think it looks cool, and would look cool in the sun.

Agree with using a plain frost.

I also agree with plain frost.

Im going to be a dissenting voice, and I don't like the look of the patterned cling. No offense, but I think it looks a bit cheesy, especially since your entry is so nice. I think plain frosted would look better, if you're set on the cling.

Also, if you'd really love leaded glass, check out Etsy. I had two stained glass panels made for my kitchen cabinets and thought it was very reasonable considering the workmanship. So it might be worth pricing out?

In our family room we have a cream collar solar shade under the

valance. It lets in the light and you can see through it.

This way you can pull it down each evening and keep it up during the day.

You can see through it from inside the house, however, from the

outside you can't see in.

Ditto those suggesting plain frost. I don't like any of those patterns.... and the one with cracks in it defeats hubby's intention of privacy.

Here it is ... This one is a bit heavier than my last shade,

Someone can be right outside in front of the window...you can see

them but they can't see you. And it looks nice too.

This is a ten foot motorized shade, however on our end Windows

that are about 18"wide we have these shades on a side operating

roller chain, they are super easy to operate. If you wants pic

of the side chain roller-window, let know

I truly appreciate your honesty, those of you championing plain frosted. I guess it hasn't looked very good when I have seen plain frosted film because bubbles and the like seem to linger which is frankly why I immediately gravitated toward a pattern. I have some time to think; I'm not ordering right away.

What about the Gallery Glass that someone suggested?

What about rice paper window film. Much more subtle than some of the ones you've looked but with some texture.

Now I'm thinking about that gallery glass again. Looking at some pictures online... Hmmm. Plain would obviously be easy but wheels are also turning for a very very simple design.

Like this but all clear, no color

Yeah, I kind of like a bit of a pattern, simply, nothing ornate, because I think plain frosted film LOOKS like you're only going for privacy, like 'Keep out'...something not quit right about that to me.

Of course, I'd have to be actually capable of doing this, which is not at all a given at this point.

You cracked me up! (but that sure is pretty)

I'd like a prettier pattern, but the divided nature of my windows precludes my ability to do much in each panel. Which is fine, given my messy nature.

I don't feel that people who have blinds, curtains or shades covering their windows is saying Keep Out to me. I just figure they want their privacy. I don't see a problem with that.

Cliff-and-Joann: I would love to see/know more about your shades. Don't want to hi-jack-can you post on a new thread?

Ok, I called around to Joann's, Michael's, etc.---no one has gallery glass or I'd be working on my doors right now! So I ordered some online. Maybe next weekend I can get cracking. (hopefully not literally!)

I am thinking of maybe a pattern like this. If it looks awful I'll just go plain.

Ok, I did the leading last night (not the soldering though)--I'm going to like it! I wanted to look at it in daylight before soldering. A couple pieces need some straightening and a few others need to be stretched a tiny bit, but overall I really like it.

Wow! It's gorgeous! But I'm not seeing how that helps your DH with the privacy issue.

I still have to do the actual glazing part. You do the leading first, then the soldering and let that dry, then the painting/glazing. It should look like the last sample I posted (or close to that).

Rather than install real stained glass, I think I would go back to that solyx decorative films website and look at their "made to size elegant" that way you can get the stained glass look fit to the size of your window without having to worry about installation, leaking etc

I think that is going to look fantastic!

I put window film on our front door. We look out the blinds if we need to see someone but we are considering installing a camera. We are in the city and people do come up to the front of the house (solicitors) and we do have to be concerned about break-ins. I used a site called Wallpaper For Windows. We keep all our blinds closed if we are not home during the day.

http://www.wallpaperforwindows.com/pc/home.asp

Im about to spend a fortune trying to get rid of the hideous privacy glass the previous owner of my new house put in the living room windows. It looks so awful. I'm really glad you went the art glass route and I'm wondering if I could dress the hideous windows up a bit with it while I consider my options.

Does it come off? And do you think it would adhere to a textured glass surface?

I'm a light person all the way and would have chosen a shutter or a blind in your situation, but I'm really interested to see how the art glass looks. I like it how it is now! Good luck!

Wow, that looks wonderful! Even as is, to dress up your entry, so the privacy will be a bonus.

Really appreciate all the info on this thread. We have a full window in our new bathroom. We've got a nice roman blind on the top now, but it makes it really dark to have it down and a bit embarrassing to have it up. I'm thinking if we just do the bottom of the window with a plain frosted film, all will be good. I've had fun looking at what's available on the various websites listed above. Thanks!

I I might add another coat later if H insists but this is pretty terrific. And EASY. I mean I could do it. It is so much better than the curtain and so much more light!!

Wow! That looks fantastic! You did a great job, I'm sure you're husband will be very happy.

That really does look great. I think you made the right choice.

What products did you use for that, Purrus? It looks fabulous.

SOOOO much better than where you started!! Glad you are happy. It looks fabulous.

Wow, you did a great job! Perfect solution!

Ghostly vision, I used gallery glass crystal clear and leading strips as well as the liquid lead. It was super easy. Just google it and you will see some very easy tutorials. I am super sloppy. If I can do it, anyone can!

It turned out great! Welcome to the light. : )

That looks so much better than a film. I have film on my garage windows and am no happy with it. Tell us what you used and more details on the process?

That looks aMAZing.

Errant, it's gallery glass crystal clear. See this blog and many other similar posts on the web:

http://lovelycraftyhome.com/2012/08/02/holy-faux-awesomesauce-batman/

Wow!!!! This thread is a keeper. That is a project which will be referred back to often. What a great idea. Looks amazing.

Daisy chain, that solyx site has some really cool gradient window films! Those might work for your situation!

Gradient films