Good Questions: Window Gate Decor?

"Hello AT,

I'm trying to come up with a creative solution to treat my fire escape window gate. mine is the accordian sliding type. prison gray. dutifully ugly. any ideas?? i'm ready for a prison break out!

Thanks!
Nanette"

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.)
Link To All Good Questions

Dear Nanette, we try to remove these grates whenever possible as they are not only ugly, they feel like an imposition on our domestic life. Security is important, however, so if you can't remove, carefully store and replace with a lock or an alarm, we recommend at least a new coat of semi-gloss off white paint to take the edge off of the visual weight. Also, adding curtains that drape at the side of your window will help soften the whole thing. While we haven't done it, we would also try taking advantage of the gate and weave small holiday lights around it to bring light into the darkening situation. Anyone else?

(Photo: JaySmith at Flickr)

Comments (3)

Hi,

I have four windows in my tenement walkup in NYC and am on the second floor. Three of the windows have the outer security bars and one has the inner security bars (for access to the fire escape).

I'd like to remove the three bars that are on the outside of the window because I feel too clausterphobic. Any tips on how to remove them? Is it easy to do-could I do it myself-how? Or, if I hire someone to do it, any idea of costs?

Also - thanks for the tip about painting the bars white - sounds great!

Thanks.

During the warm weather I need to leave a window open for my cat but there is a fire escape right outside. Does anyone know of an attractive creative security solution which will allow the window to be opened but not wide enough to allow someone if crawl in? Is there a bar that can be put into place that will prevent the lower sash to rise past a certain level?

Thank you

Look at this company's custom security window gates:

www.BrooklynSecurityWindowGates.com

They have been protecting Brooklyn since 1983....

Thanks!!!