I dunno. Maybe. My first inclination was to say no, but it doesn't look bad in your inspiration pic. It's unconventional, but so what. And if you don't like it once the art is hung or grow tired of the look, it's an easy fix. I know I wouldn't do it in my own home, but there's no window here where it would make sense. It's worth a try in your space though.

This one from your link is so cute!

I would worry about damage to the piece, particularly on a S or W facing window. In the image you posted I think the console table with the stools underneath and the plant and lamps a top add more interest that the art on the windows.

Absolutely, I have a window with hanging sculpture, art against a wall and also in windows. I love the look.

Absolutely - I think in the right space (as depicted in the first image) it is a great look.

I forgot to mention that the art in question would be prints of no significant value. And the windows face east IIRC. There are 4 sets of these windows. Under one of them, there is a "console" now. Its actually an old workbench. It has plants on it. I'm on the hunt for a lamp for there.

What's outside the window? Should the print bring your eye up and should you move from art to exterior seamlessly. I love this image from your link. I feel like the art is almost a closeup of something I would find if i stepped outside.

All factors considered in your situation, I definitely would! We cover windows with wreaths, stained glass accessories, and such, why not a pretty piece of art? I think it’ll look great.

Like Ida said, it wouldn’t work in my current house, but your windows sound perfect for it.

I love the look, and would for sure do it on a fixed window, if the windows in your room open and you do open them, I’d worry about wind and rain damaging the art.

Lake, they do open, casement style. We very rarely open them but it would seem to me if we did we could just take the piece down for the time being. What's more we wouldn't want them open if it were bad weather anyway.

Local, the prints i have are b/w, more like the first image rather than florals. One is a print of whirling dervishes I got in Istanbul, the other two are prints I got in Amsterdam that TBH I have no idea what they are but they are neoclassical i think. Not sure if I will use a 4th one because the 4th set up is very plant heavy and visually busy already.

I'm surprised, i expected a round of boo's!

Here’s a boo for you. I would never do it. To each their own, though.

I like the look in the photo you posted. My only concern would be how it looks from the outside...is there a special covering for the backside of the art to protect it and also look ok?

Maria Killam just did a post on layering - Can you layer lamps in front of artwork?

Yes, I would. I love that look.

I like it and could definitely see it in your house. Go for it!

Arapaho, The windows are to the back of my house and the room is off to one side, so it's not like it'd make an odd exterior view. Even so I will take a look and see.

Yes, it looks nice in the picture you posted. I wouldn’t want to block the light in a room that doesn’t have many windows, but sounds like you have plenty.

i have seen old stained glass windows hung in front of regular windows, but I have to admit I am not a fan of that look. However, if it’s a look you enjoy, it’s appearance is equally nice from inside and out.

I hung a painting in front of a window at the end of a hallway because it is the view you see walking into that area and the window has rain glass in it for privacy, so it was sort of boring.

I like the look in the photo you posted. Are there windows on other walls in your room, or is the natural light coming from just one direction? My concern would be that if the art has "its back" to the primary light source, it might appear dark relative to the bright light behind it. Does that make any sense?

Curious about what is used to hang securely? I have wooden mullions in my windows just not sure a nail in them would be enough or could split the wood. Maybe Command hook if it protrudes enough?

10 years ago, I would have said, "No way!"

Now? Sure, I would. I think, though, what works about your example above is, for me, the symmetry of the art with the lamps, settees, etc., and the thin frames that don't add bulk to the window. I, personally, would not use a heavy frame, and I would not use "heavy" art. Something light and not... overwhelming or too introspective.

I have hung art on a bookcase but not a window. But then I've never had a situation with windows I don't open regularly and/or a view I don't worry about highlighting. It's always been one or the other or both for me. But in the right situation - why not?

A piece of stained glass or a mobile - yes. Anything else - no. For one thing, I wouldn't like how it looked from outside. I can't think of many instances where outside light is the right illumination for anything other than glass or a mobile.

I don't like art hanging on the outside of bookcases either. I'm a bookworm who thinks bookcases are for books. In my ideal world - floor to ceiling and wall to wall in every room except bathrooms and kitchens. Well maybe not every wall. Gotta have some place for the antique armoires and small, useless writing desks that I love. :-)

We have 7 pieces of stained glass hanging in windows. I don't think I'd care for a framed piece of art, but something like Ida shared would work.

I wouldn't do it on any windows facing my back yard and the woods beyond because I love the view. My landscaping in the front blocks most views of our neighbors, so I probably wouldn't do it there either. I just love having as much light as possible and seeing nature out side is also a must for me.

Maybe you should be like Dr. Barnes (the Barnes Foundation) who hung art floor to ceiling in his home which I was able to see in the 1960s before lawsuits opened it to the public (not that that is an optimal way to enjoy one's art imho, but could solve wall space issues. ha).

On the right windows yes! You have the right windows.

I really like the look in your example and think it would work aesthetically with your style of home. You might want to hang a piece of cardboard first before committing and be sure that the size of your art works. Anything too big and you'll be doing the duck and peek like when cabs are hung low above a peninsula.

Why not? If you like it, go for it.

Daisy, im thinking of small, light pieces. Under 5lb.

Ahh, yes Cyn, the Barnes Foundation. As a native Philadelphian, I should have thought of that. Of course, when you have his collection, you can do what you want!

Moxie, the outside it not really a concern. Our house is very long and meandering (from end to end it spans 150 feet) and this is all the way at one end, facing the backyard where my DH has a tee box to hit balls across the pond. If we were dining outside, it would be more toward the center of the house. I would not do this, say in the street-facing living room of the brick georgian we lived in.

Moxie, you can hinge the art to allow bookcase access.

Jojoco, love it, esp the history.

Arapaho,yes, I am trying command hooks. : )

Ajuju. The room is octagonal. # adjoining sides are windows with windowseats. One side across the room also has windows but a console in front. One side is taken up entirely by a fpl, one side by french doors. One side is half wall and half doorway to a small hall/study and powder room, both of which are windowed. Only one side is a solid wall. And the ceiling is topped with a windowed cupola. Plenty of light no matter what we do!

I have a stained glass picture hanging in the middle of the family room picture window and that would be the only time I would consider it.--stain glass. But many of the examples shown are very pleasing.

Absolutely I would try it....I think it looks great. You have a good eye, and if you try it aNd it looks off...very easy to change back with no harm done!

Would you consider a sculptural mobile?

Not really, bec 1) i don't own one and I am not looking to buy more stuff given our horizon is probably 2-3 years? and 2) i actually want something to interfere with the windows visually, odd as that sounds. Visual mass.

Go for it! It's a few picture hooks. Please update us with a before/after.

Okay, ladies and ladies.

I'm posting a pic, and warning you; I like it. I have three contiguous sets of windows/windowseats like this and I will do this in all 3. I think the reason it occurred to me is that, as you see, there is a spotlight centered on each windowseat, and it illuminates the art so well. It is hard to capture that on my iphone, but the light is so pretty.

I have a second print very similar to the one i hung, but its up in DD1s room. Good sign I guess that my teen absconded with it. I will also hang my whirling dervishes.

On to some other tweaks I need to make in this room - the niches and the fpl. As far as the fpl. The "mantle" is 8 feet wide and 34" deep. It's very hard to figure out something to go there. The scale makes it tricky. I rather like the demijohns. I liked the books when I put them there 10 years ago, a little less now that they are all faded. : (

The OTT candlesticks are leftover from the holidays. For several years running I've recreated this look for the holidays (below) and now I just leave them up there even after the garland is gone.

Here is my non-holiday fpl mantle.

any ideas?

That's wonderful. The lighting looks very intentional - as if you had planned it for the art. It does seem a smidgen high, but that might just be the angle of the photo.

Hmm, you may be right. The middle of the print is eye level if I have on heels I'd say. : )

I was going for eye level but then also noticed that I could center it on the window muntin. Would you shift it down and make it entirely between the muntins? I also didn't want anyone to feel as though they could hit their head on it when they got up from the window seat.

If it's at eye level, I'd leave it - must be the camera angle. I think if it is between the muntins, it's going to look "off". Too much long rectangle - it needs to be broken up. Love the art you've chosen.

jococo, when I first glanced at your stained glass piece, I wanted to turn it upside down. Lol.

Mtn, in your room I could see your choices working. I like those pieces and they'd complement each other. I like that they're over the glass framing rather than the glass itself.

I think in most cases stain glass would work best. I think in my home while this place has enough windows, I don't see it fitting in. (Oh I do like the one Ida Claire likes for the "unusal yet intriguing" factor... )

I may at some time put small stained glass pieces on the double doors that open to the deck from the dining area - already had one bird try to commit suicide on the glass - fortunately he was just stunned and flew away. But if this becomes an issue, although I won't want to, I'll do it.

Last night DH found one of my prints (i'd hung all 3) face down on the windowseat cushion. So now I will have to commit one way or the other! Oh and, #$#@! Command strips.

Well, at least there was something soft to catch it. I love your whirling dervishes!

Depends on how many windows were in the room, the importance of the light coming in, and what the item was. No question that light can alter and even destroy art, fabrics, etc. So not something I was immensely fond of. I've put all kinds of things in front of windows though.