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Apartment Therapy reported that prop stylist and interior designer John Dittrick covered a boarded-up window in his 1920s Brooklyn rental with a painting made by his sister, Liz. Gold paint on the existing trim helped the artwork read as a large framed piece; the report does not describe changes to the window itself.
Prop stylist and interior designer John Dittrick disguised a boarded-up window in his 1920s Brooklyn rental by covering it with a painting made to fit the opening, according to a House Tour report from Apartment Therapy. He and his sister, artist Liz, used the existing trim as part of the look, painting it gold so the artwork resembles a large framed piece without adding a separate frame.
Dittrick told Apartment Therapy that the unused window had looked like “a big random rectangle with a frame around it.” Rather than leave the feature as a visual distraction in his dining room, he asked Liz to create a painting to the same dimensions as the old window. The report identifies Liz as a talented artist but does not give further details about the painting’s materials or how it was attached.
The siblings also painted the window trim gold, making the existing border appear more like part of a finished artwork. The project did not involve installing a conventional outer frame, according to the report. Apartment Therapy describes the painting as a prominent element in the dining room, alongside walls painted Benjamin Moore’s Bedford Blue, lightened by 25%.
The source presents the work as a decorative solution for a rental, not as a repair or alteration to the window. It does not say whether the window is permanently sealed, why it was boarded up, or what permission Dittrick may have needed to paint the trim. The account focuses on the visual result and the siblings’ approach to making an awkward architectural feature feel intentional.
A Rental Eyesore Becomes a Focal Point
The project shows one way renters can respond to an architectural feature they cannot readily remove: work with the shape that is already there. Here, the window’s outline became a natural boundary for a painting, while the gold-painted trim strengthened the impression of a frame. That approach turned attention toward the artwork instead of the boarded-up opening.
Apartment Therapy also suggests the idea could suit some windows with unappealing views, such as a bedroom window facing another building. That is a design suggestion, not a claim that the same treatment will work in every home. Renters considering a similar project would need to account for their lease and the condition of the window and trim; the report does not provide guidance on permissions or installation.
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The Window and the Room’s Palette
Apartment Therapy’s report is based on a House Tour of Dittrick’s Brooklyn apartment. The home is described as a rental in a building dating to the 1920s, and its overall style is characterized in the source as cozy and farmhouse-inspired. The unusable window stood out against that look before the siblings treated it as a place for art.
The painting was made to the dimensions of the old window, rather than chosen as a standard print and hung elsewhere. Its placement links the artwork directly to the apartment’s architecture. The report also notes the dining room’s Bedford Blue walls, lightened by 25%, and says the art complements the color. It gives no measurements, cost, timeline or instructions for reproducing the project.
““a big random rectangle with a frame around it.””
— John Dittrick, as quoted in Apartment Therapy’s House Tour
Installation and Permission Details Are Missing
The report does not explain how the painting is secured, whether it can be removed without damage, or whether the window remains accessible behind it. It also does not establish why the window was boarded up or whether covering it affects light, ventilation or any other function.
Dittrick’s rental status makes permission relevant, but the source does not say whether he sought approval before painting the trim or whether the trim could be restored later. No costs, materials list, step-by-step instructions or safety assessment are included. Readers should treat the project as a reported design example rather than a complete how-to guide.
No Follow-Up Project Is Announced
Apartment Therapy’s account describes the finished dining-room feature but does not announce additional work, a planned restoration or a follow-up from Dittrick or Liz. The next step for anyone interested in copying the look would be to assess their own window and rental terms before making changes, rather than assume that the same method is suitable for every opening.
For Dittrick’s project, the reported outcome is the artwork and gold-painted trim; what lies behind the painting and whether the treatment is reversible remain unreported. The source provides no further timeline or planned update.
Key Questions
Who made the painting that covers the window?
Liz, John Dittrick’s sister, made the painting, according to Apartment Therapy. The report describes her as an artist.
How did the project make the window look framed?
The painting was made to the same dimensions as the old window, and the siblings painted the existing trim gold to create the appearance of a frame. The report says they did not add a separate frame.
Was the window repaired or replaced?
The source does not report a repair or replacement. It describes the painting as covering the boarded-up, unusable window; the reason it was unusable is not given.
Did Dittrick get permission to paint the trim?
Apartment Therapy does not say whether Dittrick received permission from his landlord. The report does not discuss lease terms or whether the trim can be returned to its previous condition.
What else is known about the dining room?
The room’s walls are described as Benjamin Moore’s Bedford Blue, lightened by 25%. Apartment Therapy says the painting complements the wall color and became a standout feature in the room.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
