Adding Charm With Decorative Windows

Decorative windows are a great way to add a little old world charm to your home.

We recently replaced a worn octagon shaped window in our family room. It's a cottage style accent that we adore and it was an easy DIY.


When it comes to cottage style design, the small things really make a difference.

It's the attention to detail that defines a room, the charming nooks, the built-ins, the unexpected cabinets, tiny doors.

And the windows.

Unusual shapes and sizes are a hallmark of cottage design.

And in this house, we're lucky enough to have one.

It wasn't our idea to add it, it came with the house.

Although, when we viewed this cottage, our octagon shaped porthole, an ode to the beach where we live, housed a stained glass window depicting a lighthouse. 

It was a sentimental piece that the former owner took when she moved out.

And we ended up with this less than stellar stand in.


An unappealing substitute that we lived with for just under 20 years.

We'd discussed replacing it, many times, in fact, but it wasn't a priority. Plus it was a dirty job that I was never in the mood to tackle with my allergies.

Then in the spring of 2022, when we decided to update the family room, my husband suggested we do it right.

I can't say I was thrilled, since it was another task that would take his attention away from finishing the floor, or hanging the floral wallpaper, you know, the pretty stuff.

But it was definitely a case of if not now, when?

So we replaced that shallow, rusted, leaky, and frankly boring, octagon window with a more attractive model for our sweet cottage style home.

How To Replace An Octagon Shaped Window

The process wasn't terribly difficult, mainly because it was a replacement and not a fresh install where we would've had to cut the octagon shape out and worry about headers, etc. 

And other than the shape, it was just like any other window replacement. We did have to add some extra insulation, since the original window was kind of a mess.

Step one involved removing the vinyl siding and trim on the exterior of the house.


Once that was complete, the trim was removed from the inside as well and the window was removed.

Then the new one was fitted, furred with wood strips and screwed into place. We opted for one that didn't open, so we had more glass and we also chose one with window grilles.


Foam board was cut to fit around the window and installed over the existing tar paper.


Lastly, the siding pieces were replaced and new siding trim pieces were cut to size and added around the window. 

From the outside it looked like this...wonderful. So much better already. Go back and peek if you don't believe me.


Unfortunately, after a long day of working outside, the inside still looked like this.


The finish work, just always seems to take longer, doesn't it? 

This project was even more involved, since the old window sill wasn't as deep.

Instead of cutting the window sill down, like we did in the kitchen, my husband had to create new wider trim inside the window from pine boards.


He also needed to install the trim around the window. For that he used a thinner moulding.

He drilled pilot holes in the wood to prevent splitting and then hammered small nails to hold the wood in place.


Finally, he caulked around the window to seal it up and fill gaps, then used wood filler to cover up any nail holes before he painted the entire frame.


When he was done, the inside looked as lovely as the outside. The deeper sill, the addition of the muntin bars and thicker trim made such a difference.

Now the window is a real showstopper.


And our view of the outdoor patio improved, as well.


Before, I never looked out that window. It was a mess and everything looked cloudy and gray.

Now, even the cloudy and gray days have a pleasant glow through that octagon shaped glass.


Although, trust me, I'm in no rush to see snow again anytime soon.

But it's nice to know that when it does start to fall from the sky, it'll be framed inside a whole lot of cottage style quaintness.

How cozy.


Do you have any interesting windows?

Happy DIYing, Folks!