apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

- Buy a vintage one (not too hard to find) and have it installed (maybe recut beforehand). Probably the best solution.

-Have one custom made (=$$$ of course)

-If you want to make it yourself, you could try to find a hobby workshop (I know here in Europe you can inscribe yourself for this kind of workshop for a Weekend or a few days, I guess that exists in the US as well) but it's not that easy to do (I know for having tried, with an, umm, *unusual* result).

-Make a fake one on clear glass with glass paint and putty (but the result can rapidly look cheap)

if you have separate panes, just replace the clear glass with coulored glass (shouldn't be to expensive if the panes are small) and make a pattern (like a checkerboard for example) in color. Easy and cheap.

-Find a roll of that old stained-glass printed adhesive plastic they made in the 1970's... but I don't recommend this solution!

another precision : traditionnal stained-glass is made of panes of glass held together by lead. This of course requires some skill. The Tiffany technique (well known because of all the ubiquitous lamps) is a bit simpler to do, since the glass panes are surrounded by an adhesive metallic band and are welded directly together. If you have the occasion to try this could be an easier solution, that you could simply place in front of an actual window (so you can remove it if ever you leave the house).

Window film still comes in stained glass designs. It looks OK from a distance, but kind of cheesy up close.

Perhaps you could buy a stained glass window panellike these for your window? That way you could just hang the panel and not mess with the actual window itself.

It's not actually hard to make a stained glass window yourself if you make a geometric (as opposed to curvy) design. There's probably a workshop someplace near you. (I managed to make a small stained glass window in a six hour workshop, and I had no previous experience.) But a home-made window would be something to hang it in front of your existing window.

Having a stained glass window installed (to replace your existing window) would require a custom window and professional installation -- big $$$, as others have noted.

There's no way to turn a regular window into a proper stained glass window -- you can't put the leading on top of the window.

What several friends of mine have done is to either make or purchase a piece of stained glass and mount it in a sturdy wooden frame. Then either hang it in front of the window (on the indoor side), or if the window is not one that opens, actually screw the framed decorative window to the plain windowframe (also, on the indoor side)

This way, you get the beauty of the decorative glasswork, without needing to re-construct exterior windows, which can be tricky.

We have a plain glass window between the toilet area and the shower area of our bathroom, presumably to let in light from the shower's skylight. One of our house's previous owners had a custom piece of stained glass made just a little smaller than the window and hung it with chains welded onto the frame of the stained glass that attach to hooks screwed into the window frame. It's seems very sturdy, despite the weight of the glass piece. And it's easy to remove and clean as needed. It is, unfortunately, a hideous piece of stained glass. But the engineering of it seems like it might work in your situation.

My dad - when he built his home, created a stainedglass window for the front door by using a leadlighting technique (where you stick on the lead - an adhesive type) and then use glass paint for the colours. Sounds tacky but looks great. Very effective both aesthetically and cost-wise.

Least expensive route:
http://www.artscape-inc.com/index.php

If the window is overhead, it has more of the stained glass look.

Home Decorators has a good selection of stained glass:
http://www.homedecorators.com/newThumbPage.php?classification=5&typeDefId=5152

there are a ton of antique/resale shops that routinely have stained glass windows for sale. I was in Lincoln Square last week and one of the stores there (sorry the name eludes me) was having a sale on their windows (with similar designs). If it's a 20's era house you can probably find one that size for under $200, though you may have to get it re-framed (still cheaper than a custom design).

It is certainly doable - but you need to take a few things into consideration. Naturally it will not be as well insulated as standard double-paned windows but since you mentioned you have original windows I'm guessing that's a moot point. Stained glass is also easier to break so I'd suggest not placing it in a location where it would give thieves easy access to your home.

I'd look up a stained glass studio and ask what they would charge for a custom job. Of course it would be highly dependent on size and even colors of glass - cobalt glass, for example, can get pricey. If you have the means for this - why not? I think it would be pretty fun to be able to work with an artisan and have a custom piece created.

Or, if you're a crafty type, take a stained glass class and create a panel that would simply hang in the window. I have seen pieces that are designed to hang from eye bolts drilled into the window frames. In my opinion that would be the least expensive way to achieve the look you're going for, and you'd have a new skill to bot.

I spent five minutes typing out a comment and it got eaten. Ugh.

Anyhow, I see a ton of people have already suggested taking a stained glass class and creating your own panel to hang in the window. I've seen panels that were designed to hang from eye bolts drilled in the window frame. That would probably be the most economical solution. Stained glass working really isn't terribly difficult. Cutting sharp curves is the hardest part. I like the geometric Frank Lloyd Wright-style designs - lots of clean lines and easy cutting.

You could, of course, commission a custom window which would be expensive - but if you have the money, why not go for it?

My husband's grandfather created a pair of custom stained glass windows for his parents' first home. The panels are about 4 feet tall and absolutely exquisite. They have since moved and still have the panels, but no windows to put them in. I am concocting an elaborate plan to mooch them from my mother in law when we build our "dream home."

I echo the "buy an old panel" idea. There are loads of antique stained glass panels for sale. eBay is actually a very good place to buy, and you can really pick and choose the panel. Here's a guy who specializes:
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/English-Stained-Glass

Around here (Boston) almost all the antique stores have them lying around, for around $50 to $150, depending on the fanciness. They look great with eyebolts drilled in, hung from hooks.

use this paint to create a design on a piece of clear acrylic, peal it off then stick it to your window.

easy peasy

http://www.plaidonline.com/apGG.asp

Thank you all for the suggestions! Very informative. I'm looking into each of your ideas - they're all much appreciated!

If your house is a rental, I would really think about the cost involved for the result you are looking for. While it has been suggested that you take some stained glass classes to do you own (good idea) do you really want to spend your time to do so AND the $$$ for all the materials?
When we moved in to our current home (we own) I saw the Artscapes line at Home Depot. After a few more trips back for other supplies, I decided I would use the "Amber Glass" one for a short while until I decided what exactly I wanted to do for the window treatments. That was almost 4 years ago and they are still attached. I have never had any problem with them peeling or coming off the window...and they look as great today as they did the day I applied them.
I really LOVE the look of the windows now and so do all my guests. Only one person knew it was a film and not real stained glass. We have received so many compliments on them, so I have decided to keep them up.
The thing I like the best about this very strong film (well other than the affordable price of $19.99 for a 36 X 24 piece) is that it allows me to go 'curtainless' and to show off the original-to-the-house (1920's Craftsman Bungalow) perfect condition wood window frames. Also, no one cannot see in, but you retain the light from outside. At night, the effect is spectacular when the lights are on. VERY COOL effect!!

fjorlief's idea is a good one. Salvage yards will generally have a lot of rescued leadlight windows.

Just be aware of the difference between stained glass and leadlighting. Stained glass is made up of panels of painted glass (like you'd see in a church window, showing detail like faces) while plain leadlighting is just panels of coloured glass (like you'd see in the front door of a 1920s bungalow). Stained glass is considerably more expensive than leadlighting as it requires a fine artist's contribution.

I second the Gallery Glass option. It's cheap, easy to DIY, removable if you don't like it, get tired of it or move. Find a design you like (simpler is better looking than ornate and harder to mess up, geometric is much easier than trying to do flowers or something). Practice first on a cheap picture frame, then have at your window. If you don't like it when you are done, peel it off and try again or pitch it and go another route without much lost money or time.

I third the Gallery Glass paint. I used it on the front door window of my last rental and it looked really awesome. The "lead" strips and the paint both have dimension so it looks real. And you can easily peel it off glass when you're sick of it. On plexi, it's a little more difficult to remove (use tons of glass cleaner to soften it).