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How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem - Πώς Έλυσα με Ευκολία το Πρόβλημα των Υαλότουβλων

ByJane & Sonja

I have a problem in my living room with the Glass Blocks on the wall….

I have a problem in my living room with the Glass Blocks on the wall.   Today I’m going to show you how I easily solved my glass blocks problem. This is what it looked like before.

Έχω ένα πρόβλημα στο σαλόνι μου με τα υαλότουβλα στον τοίχο. Σήμερα θα σας δείξω πώς έλυσα  εύκολα το πρόβλημα των υαλότουβλων. 
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Glass blocks, before, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
Now you are all probably wondering what is the problem?  Take a look at the picture below.  Do you see that glare of light behind thewall unit?  That is my problem. In the winter this glass block window allows warmth and light into the room which is very welcome.

Τώρα πιθανότατα αναρωτιέστε ποιο είναι το πρόβλημα; Ρίξτε μια ματιά στην παρακάτω εικόνα. Βλέπετε tη λάμψη του φωτός πίσω από τo σύνθετο; Αυτό είναι το πρόβλημά μου. Το χειμώνα αυτό το παράθυρο από υαλότουβλα επιτρέπει τη ζεστασιά και το φως μέσα στο δωμάτιο.
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Living Room with glare from window, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
But in the summer it is blinding and causes pain to the eyes. Remember I live in Greece the land of the blinding sun!  And I do not exaggerate. You see that TV in the corner?  It is very hard to watch with all that light coming in.  Is that a good thing?  Maybe I don’t need to watch TV?  That is a topic for another post! Excuse the awful photos but this actually shows just how bad it can get when the curtains are drawn. 

Αλλά το καλοκαίρι είναι εκτυφλωτικό και προκαλεί πόνο στα μάτια. Θυμηθείτε πως  μένω στην Ελλάδα, τη γη του ήλιο που θαμπώνει! Και δεν υπερβάλλω. Βλέπετε τη τηλεόραση στη γωνία; Είναι πολύ δύσκολο να βλέπω κάτι με το φως που μπαίνει στο  δωμάτιο. Είναι αυτό ένα καλό πράγμα; Ίσως δεν χρειάζεται να βλέπω τηλεόραση; Αυτό είναι ένα θέμα για μια άλλη μέρα! Συγχωρήστε τις απαίσιες φωτογραφίες, αλλά αυτό δείχνει πραγματικά πόσο δύσκολα ειναι όταν σύρονται οι κουρτίνες.
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Close up of glare,How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
I didn’t want to add a curtain to the window because it would have looked out of place there.The wall  unit is black metal and wood.  Not exactly cottage decor.  I also did not want to add blinds. I just wanted an easy fix.  And here is where I found it. This is a slim piece of wood that was left over from when we had installed trim on the doors. The nice part about it is that it is pliable. ​

Δεν ήθελα να προσθέσω μια κουρτίνα στο παράθυρο, γιατί δεν θα ταίριαζε.Το  σύνθετο  είναι μαύρο μέταλλο και ξύλο. Όχι ακριβώς εξοχική στυλ διακόσμηση. Επίσης, δεν  ήθελα να προσθέσω ρολά,  Ήθελα απλώς μια εύκολη λύση. Και εδώ είναι που τη βρήκα. Αυτό είναι ένα λεπτό κομμάτι ξύλου που είχε απομείνει από όταν είχαμε εγκαταστήσει τελειώματα στις πόρτες. Το καλό με αυτό το ξύλο  είναι ότι είναι  εύκαμπτο. 
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Piece of wood trim, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
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I took some leftover fabric and cut it into strips. Lots of strips. I believe it was once a tablecloth. 

Πήρα κάποιο ύφασμα και το έκοψα σε λωρίδες. Πιστεύω ότι κάποτε ήταν   τραπεζομάντιλο.
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Fabric scraps, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
Fabric scraps length,How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
And then I tied them onto the wood in a haphazard sort of fashion. 

Και μετά τα έδεσα πάνω στο ξύλο με ένα τυχαίο τρόπο.
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Tying the fabric scraps onto the wood trim, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
I bent the wood a bit, and wedged it into the opening of the window, like this. 

Λύγισα το ξύλο και το σφήνωσα στο άνοιγμα του παραθύρου.
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Filtered Light, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
Now it may not look like much cover in the photo but believe me when I say that it let’s in just enough light without glare and without my having to wear sunglasses indoors. 

Μπορεί να μη μοιάζει σαν αρκετό κάλυμμα στη φωτογραφία, αλλά πιστέψτε με όταν λέω ότι αφήνει  αρκετό φως χωρίς αντηλιά και χωρίς να χρειαζομαι γυαλιά ηλίου σε εσωτερικούς χώρους.
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Filtering the bright light, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
And I now have shabby chic curtain. Or can I call it a deconstructed, non-curtain? Well, whatever it’s called,  I think it looks kind of cool up there.  

Και τώρα εχω μια κουρελιάρικη σικ κουρτίνα. Ή μπορώ να το ονομάσω μια αποδομημένη,  κουρτίνα; Λοιπόν, ότι ονομάζεται, νομίζω ότι φαίνεται το δροσερό και ανεπανάληπτο.
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Night view, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
It’s hard to photograph up there in that corner, so I can show off my pretty bottles and frosted jars. 

Είναι δύσκολο να φωτογραφίσω αυτή τη γωνιά, ώστε να μπορώ να αναδείξω τα μπουκάλια μου και τα βάζα.
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Night view with bottles and vases, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
This is what it actually looks like in the morning light.  You can see that the “curtain” is doing its’ job filtering the light. It is so dark, that it’s hard to photograph.

Έτσι φαίνεται πραγματικά στο πρωινό φως. Μπορείτε να δείτε ότι η “κουρτίνα” κάνει τη δουλειά της και φιλτράρει το φως. Είναι τόσο σκοτεινά, μου είναι δύσκολο να το φωτογραφίσω.
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Morning light filtered in, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
Using fabric scraps and wood trim to filter out the light of a glass block window, How I Easily Solved the Glass Blocks Problem www.theboondocksblog.com
This was a ten minute fix!  And it easily solved the glass blocks problem! Now I can relax on my couch without worrying that I’ll go blind. from all that light.  And in the winter I just  remove it. An easy way to filter the light and such a frugal repurpose! What would you have done to cover up that blinding light?

Αυτή ήταν μια λύση δέκα λεπτών! Και έτσι έλυσα  εύκολα το πρόβλημα των υαλότουβλων! Τώρα μπορώ να χαλαρώσω στον καναπέ μου, χωρίς να ανησυχω ότι θα τυφλωθώ. από το φως. Και το χειμώνα το αφαιρώ. Τόσο εύκολη και λιτή επαναπροσδιόριση!  Εσείς τι θα κάνατε για να καλύψετε αυτό το εκτυφλωτικό φως;
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Αν σας αρέσει αυτό που βλέπετε, να το μοιραστείτε με τους φίλους σας, ή να το αποθηκεύσετε στο Pinterest. Επισεις μπορείτε  να εγγραφείτε στο blog μου και να λαμβάνετε τις περιπέτειες  μου δύο φορές την εβδομάδα στο e-mail σας.
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Hello, we're Jane & Sonja, sisters, moms and lifelong crafters.

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67 Comments

  1. Mary, lol, you are so funny! But I can soooo relate to your problem! I have the same problem with one of my windows, except it’s huge and I had to put curtains. But I love your idea and how you solved this problem in such an easy way. Easy is my middle name, lol. It has that farmhouse touch to it as well, really pretty! I’m glad you won’t run the risk of going blind no longer 😉

    1. Yeah, I can just see me with sunglasses in the house. The kids will call me “snob” because they’ll say I act like a big shot blogger. lol. They tease me all the time anyway, it doesn’t take much.
      But the solution is perfect, not too refined, I wanted a deconstructed look. Thanks Katrin!

      1. I think that Grand kids teasing you is a real compliment! That they notice what you have done, means they and they probably like. If they do not like you would know that too! You inspire and surprise them.

  2. Sometimes I am baffled at the placement of things. What was the architect thinking, putting a glass-cube Window in that position, wouldn’t a normal window in the centre of the wall have made more sense? It would have looked pretty with a curtain. But I applaud your creative solution with this awkward window.

    1. You are so right Dalia. What were those architects thinking. And I had to assemble the wall unit to work around that hole in the wall. At least I have pretty glass doors to let the light in when I choose to . Thanks for dropping in.

  3. It made a huge difference and it looks good. You certainly have a knack for re-purposing. I like the light and have quite a few windows in my living room and dining room. But like you the morning sun in the summer can be brutal or blinding. I think you figured out an awesome solution.
    p.s. I am glad you included the complete picture of your living room. I can see many of the projects you have done over this past year and how it all fits together.

    1. Thanks Krista. Gotta save that eye sight. As for the living room, when I look at it in a photo it looks so busy. Maybe it’s time to start removing some things, at least for now. But I’ll tell you since I pared down the colors it looks so much better. I used to have lots of bordeaux in there and it was too much.

  4. That is so cute Mary! I love the torn strips look & have always wanted to try it on something. It does the trick on your window! And lucky was that that you just happened to have that piece of wood?

  5. Mary, I love your solution to the blinding light. I like that you didn’t have to go out and buy anything but just used what you had; those are the best projects! I think these curtains are very pretty!!

  6. Very smart idea, Mary. That looks great and is very in with the shabby chic look. Love it!
    Happy TOHOT. 🙂

  8. Leave it to you, Mary, to come up with quick, easy and inexpensive ideas. It looks awesome and I love it!

    1. Carol, I was racking my brain on that one for a while till I saw that pliable wood and then the light bulb went on..

  9. What a clever solution Mary! I lived on the island of Crete for a year and very well remember the blazing sun. Thank you for so faithfully joining us at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. You are a treasured friend.

    1. Laura how cool is that! Yes the sun is a killer my poor eyes can only take so much.

  10. love the deconstructed non-curtain! so shabby 🙂 so perfect to knock off the glare. Love your bottles. This room is similar in size to our living room – mine might be a bit wider but long and narrow – such a pain to decorate or furnish!

    1. Millie, yes, such a pain to decorate and that giant window/door opposite the couch is also a pain.

  12. That’s such a beautiful and practical solution, Mary. It was a great idea! Even better that it was an easy and fast project. Now you can enjoy your living room without wearing sunglasses. 🙂

    1. That’s right Julie I don’t want anyone to think something is wrong with me, or that I’m a sunglass snob.

  13. Great job Mary! Once again! I love your idea! Glass blocks can be great when there is no option for making a window! Sometimes at least!

    1. Zografia it’s these laws that say you can have a window but not a real one. I think we get enough light from the big sliding door but in the winter we can always use the extra light.

  14. We have the same blinding sunlight in South Africa but need that sunlight in winter to feel cozy so I’m can totally in awe with how you solved the problem – love what you did!! The “deconstructed, non-curtain” works beautifully.

    1. I had to do something, I can’t believe I put up with it for so many years. Last year I had stuck a cardboard up there to block the light, that’s how desparate I was. Michelle you feel my pain.

  15. Brilliant solution Mary! It is a funny little window and did present a few ‘challenges’, but you solved them perfectly. And it’s a subtle solution that doesn’t fight with your bookshelf and all the great stuff on it.
    Enjoy a wonderful weekend friend.
    Hugs, Lynn

    1. Lynn I couldn’t have said it any better. Anything else up there would have looked out of place. Now we barely notice it. But it is effective which is what matters to me.

  16. Is there any problem that you don’t have a creative solution for, Mary? This is probably one of the most unique window coverings I’ve ever seen, and it looks so neat with the light coming through! Perfect for keeping cool during those hot summer days!

    1. Thanks Celeste. I am really happy with how it turned out and it is so effective at doing what it’s meant to do while being unobtrusive.

  17. I love these Mary! They serve their purpose and look great. Last week I make a shabby Valiance like this for my guest bathroom. I loved them so much I plan on making some for the kitchen. I also have a window that the light comes in and makes it hard to see the TV (not blinding like yours) but bothersome. After seeing your shabby curtains I may just have to make a long curtain for that window as well.

    1. Linda that would look so beautiful if it was done full length. Ohh, I can’t wait to see it. And make it nice and thick so it looks elegant.

  18. That’s a clever idea for hiding the blocks Mary!! Very practical as you can chage the frabric any time you want! We can see the difference on the photo! I realy like your bookcase!! Have a nice weekend!

    1. Thank you Eleana. You know what I mean about that sun. So I had to find a solution instead of just a plain curtain. And thanks for the bookcase compliment. We bought it when we first moved here and have it wedged in side the column, so it doesn’t move when we have earthquakes.

  19. Mary, This is a wonderfully creative solution to your problem and it really looks nice! Great job! Thanks for sharing your awesome posts with us this week at Snickerdoodle Sunday! Pinned to share!

    1. It was such a problem Laurie and I had not thought to do something about it sooner. Oh well, better late than never.

  21. I think you came up with an excellent solution so you aren’t “blinded by the light”. Wasn’t there a song in the 80’s by that name? I’m singing it in my head now😀

    1. Haha, Debra I rememeber that song. It was by Mansfield Mann. Now you’ve got me singing it too. It was quite a big hit.

    1. And banishes the bad sun. I love the beach but hate that sun in the middle of the day.

    1. Thank you so much Kayla. I try the best I can. I hate to see something get thrown out.

  25. Looks great Mary and what a difference it makes. You just need to use your imagination don’t you? Thanks for sharing with us at Over the Moon.

  26. Mary, that shot with the morning sun filtered through the streamers is magazine worthy! Thanks for sharing at Five Star Frou-Frou this week. Love, Mimi

    1. Thank you for visiting. And I was able to do it while not hurting the environment .

  29. What an odd place to have a glass window, but your solution is smart. I really like how it looks, much better than a plain curtain, it has a rustic look and it allows the light to go through but not too much to leave you blind.

  30. I love this Mary! What a great solution and the torn fabric strips are just so pretty… they not only block the light but soften up the space beautifully! Thanks so much for linking it up to our Bewitcin’ Projects Block Party last week. You are one of my Features tomorrow over at Recreated Designs. Have a great day! Hugs, Lisa

    1. Thank you for the feature Lisa. You always have so many great projects at your party.

  31. Hi Mary, that glare would have given me a headache. I love the solution you came up with, so quick and simple. And again something I would never have thought of…. I really am not the craft sort!
    xx

    1. Debbbie, it’s not about being crafty. I was not so crafty before, but it has to do with exposure. I visit diy blogs all day so I would be an imbecile if something did not manage to sink in. haha

  32. It’s amazing to me that you hardly notice the new curtain. Before that’s all you could see was the window. I have no idea how you could see the TV with all that light. Sun light is great, but too much is too much. The filtered light makes the room much more user friendly. You came up with a great solution and I bet the room seems cooler now too!

    1. Much better Nikki. It cuts down on the glare. Actually there is no glare at all and no rays in your face. The fabric is thick enough to really be effective.

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