We loved the security gates featured here a few days ago. It got us thinking about any possible way to spruce up the ones that aren't so artistically designed.
It's always a challenge when you're dealing with security gates or window bars to not conjure up images of prison, but we think these painted versions do a good job in dispelling those thoughts. What we'd really like to see are some powder-coated gates in a great orange-y red, high pigment yellow or deep cerulean blue; all way too happy for hard-time.
Blue window image from Flickr's Holly Wallace, yellow windows from ultraclay!
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Comments (5)
Gorgeous. Makes me want to paint mine on the basement windows!
these (security bars) are so common in tucson, painting them makes an impact! if i buy a house with them, that's the first thing i'll do! brillz
From <A HREF="http://www.samuelyellin.com/history/">http://www.samuelyellin.com/history/</A>:
Samuel Yellin, the 20th Century’s foremost artisan in iron, started his business, Samuel Yellin Metalworkers, in 1909. He called himself a blacksmith, but others called him a genius, a devil with a hammer in his hand. His business set high standards in design and craftsmanship that continue today.
Check out their portfolio at <A HREF="http://www.samuelyellin.com/portfolio.html">http://www.samuelyellin.com/portfolio.html</A>.
Thing is, professional Artist-Blacksmiths can be found all over the country. They may not quite measure up to Samuel Yellin (although Brad Silberberg in the DC area is the former President of the <A HREF="http://www.bgop.org/">Blacksmith's Guild on the Potomac</A> and he has pieces on permanent display inside the Smithsonian), but then they're not necessarily all that expensive, either.
Do yourself a favour and go over to the <A HREF="http://www.abana.org/">Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America (ABANA)</A> website today. If you like cool metalwork for doors, windows (including security models), or most any other form of decorative or functional use in the home or business, you'll be glad you did.
Hint: I'm a lifetime member of BGOP, and I've recently taken up blacksmithing again down here in Austin, TX. I'm going to be working as a volunteer Blacksmith's Apprentice at <A HREF="http://www.pioneerfarms.org/">Pioneer Farms</A> a few hours each month.
And I've made my first knife already!
Here in NYC, the ones that are the most common are accordian-style open-able diamond-patterned ones, and to me they look a little bit like trellises.
So, what I'd do if I had those again, is to stencil the walls with that same pattern, so that it would seem like I just had a lattice trellis everywhere including in front of the window. maybe the whole pattern would be green, since white would definitely show the rust against it.