Dear AT,
Help!
We have this combination of radiator and A/C in both our bedroom and our living room. We have no idea why the radiator is an "accent" color. Does anyone have any ideas to disguise these ugly things? It is a rental and we are not permitted to paint.
Thanks,
Luke & Jenny
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How about getting a great handmade paper or vintage wall paper and attaching it to the units my magnets, right below the vets. This way they are still functional.
Could you build maybe a low fabric panel screen, and then backlight it from the floor up?
Initially I'd think about 6-8 inches taller than the highest part of the radiator, hinged in a few sections so you could move it in or out and adjust it depending on how it affects circulation.
That would give you the light in the corner that you're looking for with the standing lamp, you could put a piece of art or shelving on the two facing walls, and you maintain the circulation and space that you need for the two units.
It's not ideal but it might beat what you have, and it'd be relatively cheap.
Wow this is a tough one. I think camouflaging the radiator and the a/c unit will be tough because it is likely to impede the function of both. How about hanging some sort of curtain thing in that corner? I'm thinking of one of those that are made of something that air will pass through, such as open circles or even some "Greg Brady" beads.
I'm thinking of a bamboo bar, but thinner, sleeker and just to display framed art or something light weight on top of it... What if you built 2 fairly shallow wooden box frames that were sized such to cover the radiator, and then used the same size to cover the air conditioner, just to keep some symmetry. Build a shelf surface at the top to be able to hold art or knickknacks that aren't heavy. Then cover the sides and fronts of the frames in some flexible bamboo screen (IKEA) or willow fencing (Smith & Hawken) or cut strips of wood veneer and weave them together... I'm trying to think of an opaque material that will still vent well into the room. Wrapping raffia or some textured yarn or ribbon top to bottom and finishing the edges with wood molding? Okay, I sound like a crafting lunaticjust email me and I can sketch it better than I can write it! It's a challenge, but you'll find a solution and I can't wait to see it.
What about making a corner screen out of aluminum screen mesh like what is used in a screen door? Metal would be safer than cloth or paper. The corner screen could be an equal size on both walls to balance the corner. You might be able to decorate the screen to opaque out the units making sure not block the air flow from either unit.
You could have a shallow shelf just above the radiator and the same height shelf above the AC.
Attach the screen to the shelf and put distracting decor on the shelves.
You could still reach behind the screen to turn on the AC, or make the whole thing free standing.
Wow, Cloverstar, great minds thing alike. Your post wasn't there when I posted. I like your dual frame idea.
Thanks for all the comments, these are really great ideas. I'm ashamed I didn't think of them myself.
TK! yes! Quick what am I drinking right now?
Luke no shame!
Pardon my French, but just paint the fricking thing to match the wall color. Unless you live in Texas or some other such backward place, you're not going to get evicted for painting over a radiator from salmon to neutral white.
Those no painting clauses in most residential leases are just there to provide the landlord with the ability to whack your security deposit in the event you do paint your apartment and the landlord wants to repaint it back - usually from whatever color the tenant used back to Landlord White.
in your case, i'd even go so far as to ask your landlord if it would be ok if you painted that hideous radiator to match the wall.
I am in entire agreement with the previous comment. Paint it. Paint it. Paint it now! Okay there is the security deposit issue but what is the chance of the landlord walking in and saying 'Oh my god - who painted the beautiful salmon radiator'. Chances are it will go unnoticed or you will be thanked for actually doing it and actually improving the property! Did I say, paint it!
Hmmmmm...
Make a (L-shaped) shelf above it with a shelf board, and sliding panels (or curtains) around it... as one idea.
I think there are lots of ways to hide those darntootin things!
Here are some ideas from the very talented Peter Fallico...
http://www.hgtv.ca/hometostay/proj_1009.aspx
http://www.hgtv.ca/hometostay/proj_1008.aspx
Or try to find a console table(s) high enough to cover it and use a pretty cloth or curtains to act as a skirt to hide what is underneath. Or keep your eye out for a piece of furniture with cabinet doors, to make it look like a small cupboard (or diy by building frame around it).
A radiator cover is basically a three-sided box. You can paint that to match your walls...
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_furniture_screens/article/0,1793,HGTV_3449_3811810,00.html
Good luck!
Luke and I would love to paint it! We are about to renew our lease, so I might just do it! I loathe the salmon color! Thanks so much for everyone's great ideas!