Coffee Table with Antique Windows

My mother wanted a unique, traditional and modern coffee table. I found some old antique wooden windows at a flea market, and designed this coffee table around them.

Step 1 Windows

I found windows, like the one pictured, at a flea market for $3 a piece. I bought three. These are what the table was designed around.

Comments

[cogni]

Looks very sharp! I think it would be hard to find antique double-paned windows in the U.S.; old windows with the glass still in probably would not have strong enough glass. But another possibility is to use EMPTY frames (I have some from some antique window screens that I pulled the screening out of--they look very much like your window frame) and sandwich the frame between sheets of table glass, with small objects mounted on the lower surface.

[TimBTodd]

Indeed, that sounds like a nice idea.
I built the table nearly a year ago, and it's still in good shape though.

[jestrada9]

This is pretty cool!  first thing I thought of was to put a board maybe 6" below the windows and then you could put flowers, knickknacks, etc in between.

[heathbar64]

Great Idea!! How is the glass? it would seem to me that old timey window glass would be too fragile for a table. Also, is it secure enough in the frame? most old windows are just held in with a few tiny glaziers points and putty.

[TimBTodd]

Now that it's been nearly 6 months since I built it, I am even more confident int he design and structural integrity. It's still as strong and solid as when I first built it.

[got2bskilled]

Wonderful piece! I am certainly inspired to try and make one!

[Ivriniel]

It's lovely.

However, CBC Marketplace recently did a story about injuries from tables made from non-tempered glass. They said that 20 000 people in the US every year are injured falling through glass tables.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/06/26/f-johnson-glass-tables.html

Just something to consider if you're going to do this project.

[dindanpacman]

You could even put some plywood under the glass, which should stop the glass from breaking. In between the glass and plywood you can put pictures.

[and7barton]

Personally, I would put a sheet of glass right over the top, but removable. Then one could place objects in between that and the smaller panes, like rocks & crystals, or any collection of objects that you'd like to display.

[thebriguy]

I'd use real glass not plexiglass. Plexi scratches and you need to be more careful cleaning it. Regular glass table glass or the type you put on top of a dresser would be best.

[omnibot]

Very nice. Did you keep the original glass in them? I know ordinary windowglass is prone to break when weight is applied.

[TimBTodd]

It is the original glass, but it is double paned and seems pretty strong. I plan to eventually buy a single piece of glass to put over the entire thing though.

[Tubehacker01]

I see the same problem, for optimal result, you should use some type of acrylic glass.

[jaysbob]

another easy solution would be to put a sheet of acrylic or glass over the entire top of the coffee table. this would also give a more level and easy to clean surface for the whole thing without significantly changing the aesthetics.

[artquilter]

The instructable is very nice and did a fab job with the windows, and I really like the idea. Each window could be a different color to match decor, lots of ideas could come of this. I think I would make the sides 1/4" above the windows and lay a piece of plexiglas over the whole thing...then no difficult cleaning each pane, no worrying about breakage, etc.

[artquilter]

Forgot to add: Good for old stain glass windows too

[achollowell]

very good job I like the idea

[G.O. Bluth]

Looks Great. I would just makes sure the glazing and points (Small, metal pieces that secure glass to frame) are in good shape, as the window is mounted with the glazing down.

[Mr. Rig It]

I like this a lot! Great job!

[MeganTManey]

The table is beautiful.

[Pkranger88]

Very nice

[arte.sano]

neat, great stuff, I've contemplating this idea but with an old door with boards to make a dinning table. very well done!