TL;DR
Get furniture and decor delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
A renter in a 1920s Brooklyn apartment turned a boarded-up window into a dining-room focal point using a painting made to fit the opening. His sister created the artwork, and he painted the existing trim gold to give it the appearance of a frame. The Apartment Therapy report does not say how the painting was mounted or whether the landlord approved the changes.
A renter in a 1920s Brooklyn apartment concealed a boarded-up window with a painting made to the opening’s exact size, turning an unwanted feature in his dining room into a focal point, Apartment Therapy reported. The renter, prop stylist and interior designer John Dittrick, worked with his sister, artist Liz, and painted the window trim gold to make the artwork look framed without adding a separate frame.
Dittrick said the unusable window had looked like “a big random rectangle” in the room, which he had decorated with a cozy, farmhouse-inspired style. Rather than leave the opening exposed as a visual distraction, he asked his sister to create a painting sized to cover it. Apartment Therapy described the project as Dittrick’s favorite do-it-yourself effort in the apartment.
The siblings treated the existing trim as part of the design. Dittrick painted it gold, creating the impression of a frame around Liz’s work without attaching a conventional frame to the painting. The artwork sits against walls painted Benjamin Moore’s Bedford Blue, lightened by 25%, and the report says the color and sentimental piece complement the dining room.
The article presents the project as a renter’s decorating solution, but it does not give technical details about the painting’s material, how it was secured, or whether the window can still be accessed. It also does not say whether the landlord was consulted. Those details matter if readers are considering a similar project, since a covered opening may have practical or lease-related implications.
A Workaround for an Unwanted Window
The project shows how a feature that cannot easily be removed or renovated can be treated as part of a room’s design. For renters, an unusable window, an awkward opening, or a view into a neighboring building can be difficult to address with permanent construction. Here, art sized to the opening gave the area a deliberate purpose, while paint on the existing trim helped connect it visually to the room.
Its appeal is also personal: the painting was made by Dittrick’s sister, rather than selected as generic décor. Apartment Therapy says the finished piece became a standout element in the dining room. The report does not establish that the approach works in every apartment or that it improves privacy, insulation, or light; it documents a specific design choice in one home.
Products Worth Considering
Levoit Core 400S-P Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms (Up to 1,718 sq ft)
Philips Hue Play Screen Sync and 65-Inch Play Gradient Smart TV Light Strip
Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 4K with 65-Inch Play Gradient Light Strip
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Dining Room Took Shape
Dittrick’s home is a 1920s rental in Brooklyn. Apartment Therapy’s account describes the boarded-up window as a feature he could not simply change, reflecting a common constraint of renting: alterations may be limited by the building, the lease, or a landlord’s approval. The story does not identify the reason the window was unusable or explain whether it had been sealed by the property owner.
The room’s existing palette informed the solution. Its walls were painted Bedford Blue, lightened by 25%, and the gold trim gave the custom painting a finished appearance within that setting. The report is based on an Apartment Therapy home tour and offers the project as an example readers might adapt; it does not provide a full installation guide or a cost estimate.
““a big random rectangle with a frame around it””
— John Dittrick, as quoted in Apartment Therapy
Mounting and Permission Details Missing
Apartment Therapy does not say how Liz’s painting was attached, what it is made of, or whether it can be removed without affecting the window or trim. The report also does not clarify whether the opening is permanently sealed, whether it provides any ventilation or access, or whether the landlord approved painting the trim. The suggestion that a similar approach could suit a bedroom window facing another building is the article’s decorating idea, not evidence that covering such a window is suitable in every home.
No Further Project Plans Reported
The source describes a completed feature in Dittrick’s dining room and does not report a planned renovation, additional work, or follow-up from the renter or his sister. Readers considering a similar treatment would need to check their lease and ask their landlord about changes to window trim or other fixed features. They should also confirm that covering the opening will not obstruct a required function or access point; the article does not provide installation or safety instructions.
Key Questions
What did John Dittrick do with the boarded-up window?
He covered it with a custom painting made by his sister, Liz, to match the opening’s dimensions.
How did the painting look framed without a frame?
Dittrick painted the existing window trim gold, making it resemble a frame around the artwork.
Where is the apartment?
The Apartment Therapy report identifies it as a 1920s rental apartment in Brooklyn.
Did the report explain how the artwork was installed?
No. It does not describe the mounting method, the painting’s materials, or whether the landlord approved the changes.
What colors are in the dining room?
The walls are painted Benjamin Moore’s Bedford Blue, lightened by 25%. The gold-painted trim surrounds the custom artwork.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
