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A House Tour published by Apartment Therapy shows how renter and interior designer John Dittrick covered a boarded-up window in his Brooklyn apartment with a painting made to fit the opening. He painted the existing trim gold to give the installation the appearance of a framed artwork, without adding a separate frame.
Prop stylist and interior designer John Dittrick turned a boarded-up window in his 1920s Brooklyn rental into a large decorative feature by placing a painting made by his sister, Liz, over the opening and painting the existing trim gold. Apartment Therapy reported on the project in a House Tour, describing a renter’s approach to an unwanted architectural feature that did not require a separate picture frame.
Dittrick told Apartment Therapy that the unused window had looked like “a big random rectangle with a frame around it.” He asked his sister Liz, whom he described as a talented artist, to paint a work sized to cover the old window. The artwork was made to match the opening rather than selected from a standard print or canvas size.
The siblings also painted the window trim gold, making the existing border read visually like a picture frame. The report does not describe removing the window or making structural changes; the feature was disguised with artwork and paint. The piece sits in Dittrick’s dining room, where the apartment’s walls are painted Benjamin Moore’s Bedford Blue, lightened by 25%.
Apartment Therapy says Dittrick considered the project his favorite do-it-yourself effort in the apartment. The report presents the finished artwork as a distinctive part of the room, while the practical details it provides are limited to the painting’s custom size and the gold finish on the trim.
A Rental Eyesore Becomes a Focal Point
The project offers a specific example of how renters can respond to an awkward feature when changing or removing it may not be an option. Instead of treating the boarded-up opening as an unavoidable blank spot, Dittrick and his sister used its existing shape as the basis for a large piece of art. The gold trim helped make the solution appear deliberate and tied the window’s outline to the artwork.
For readers dealing with an unattractive or unappealing window view, the idea may be adaptable, but the source does not establish that it works in every apartment. A painted frame and custom artwork can alter how a wall looks, but they do not create a view, improve daylight, or change the window’s function. The report also does not say whether Dittrick had landlord approval, what the project cost, or how the artwork was attached.
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The Window Behind the Painting
Apartment Therapy’s report places the project in Dittrick’s 1920s Brooklyn rental, which he decorated with a cozy farmhouse aesthetic. The boarded-up window was a mismatch for that room, according to the account, and the custom painting allowed the siblings to work with the opening’s existing dimensions rather than conceal it with a generic wall decoration.
The House Tour links the artwork visually to the dining room’s blue walls. Beyond those details, the article does not provide a renovation history for the window or explain why it was boarded up. It also does not identify the type of paint used on the trim or describe whether the artwork is removable.
““a big random rectangle with a frame around it.””
— John Dittrick, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Project Details Not Reported
The Apartment Therapy account does not state how the painting was secured, whether it can be removed without damage, or whether Dittrick obtained permission from his landlord to paint the trim. It also does not explain why the window was boarded up or whether it remains sealed behind the artwork. Those details matter to renters considering a similar project, since lease terms and the condition of a window can differ from apartment to apartment.
The source gives no project budget, measurements, materials list, or step-by-step instructions. Its suggestion that the approach could be copied for windows with unappealing views is an editorial recommendation, not evidence that the same treatment is suitable for all windows or rental agreements.
No Further Project Plans Announced
The source reports the completed project as part of a House Tour and does not identify a next renovation, a planned update, or a response from Dittrick’s landlord. No additional developments are provided. For now, the reported outcome is limited to the artwork covering the unused window and the gold-painted trim giving it a framed appearance.
Key Questions
Who created the painting?
Liz, John Dittrick’s sister, painted it. Dittrick told Apartment Therapy that she made the artwork to the exact size of the old window.
How did the window look like it had a frame?
Dittrick painted the existing window trim gold, making the border around the covered opening resemble a picture frame. The report does not say that the siblings installed a separate frame.
Where is the artwork in the apartment?
The artwork covers the boarded-up window in the dining room of Dittrick’s 1920s Brooklyn rental.
Does Apartment Therapy give instructions for copying the project?
No detailed instructions, measurements, materials list, or budget are included in the report. It describes the custom-sized painting and gold-painted trim, but does not explain how the artwork was attached or whether the landlord approved the paint.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
