All photos courtesy of Andersen Windows and Doors.
ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS THAT CAN ENHANCE YOUR HOME
Your eyes are said to be the windows to your soul. Windows can be just as meaningful to your home. From an architectural standpoint, they work with other exterior elements to establish the architectural style of your home and provide curb appeal. On the inside, they can offer welcoming sunlight while framing beautiful views, bringing the outside in. Functionally, they can bring your home a breath of fresh air or keep the chill of winter away. With so many roles, there is a lot to consider when choosing between the many options available.
Know Your Type
The most important consideration is the window type, which should be in keeping with the architectural style of your home. You may have a contemporary home that would need the clean lines of large windows, or a traditional Cape Cod that would best be paired with multi-paned windows. Choosing window styles that clash with, rather than enhance, your home’s existing architecture, lessens their value.
This is also the time to think about how the window would need to open, if at all. If you want to let natural light into a stairwell, but it’s not in a place where it will be accessible to be opened, you could opt for a picture window. Maybe you have a window in front of your sink that would be easiest to crank open. What if the window opens into a walkway or patio? You have a few options from which to choose:
Palladian window.
Double hung windows.
Double and Single Hung: Best for traditional architecture, this is the most common type of window in the United States. Double hung means that both the top and bottom sashes can move up or down. With single hung, only the lower sash moves.
Awning: With the hinge at the top and opening outward, this style allows for good ventilation without letting in the rain. While they can be installed on their own, they also
Awning style window.
work well above a picture window for a transom effect. Depending on the configuration, this window style works with traditional or contemporary architecture.
Casement: Like awning windows, they are hinged on one side. Casement windows however, open to the left or right. Because they open with a crank, this window is a great choice for over a sink, where reach is limited. This style window works best with contemporary-style homes.
Casement windows.
Slider or Glider: This operates like a horizontal double hung window. Since it slides to the left or right, it opens without lifting the weight of the sash, making it easier to operate — another window style that is best for contemporary-designed homes.
Picture: These windows that do not open. Perfect for highlighting outdoor views or enhancing natural light, these work well in places where access to opening is not needed or possible. With endless shapes from which to choose — traditional squares and rectangles, contemporary circles and octagons — these can be used individually or together to create a window wall that truly makes a design statement. These can work in all types of architecture.
Bay or Bow: Not a single window, but a combination of three or more windows that extend out from the wall. While they may look very similar, they have a couple of differences. Bay windows have a large center window with two smaller windows on either side; and bow windows are made up of four or more windows of equal size. This attention-getting feature gives you added views to the outdoors in addition to added space on the inside. If the space is large enough, the addition of a window seat can make the perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon. This style window is typically seen in traditional homes.
Palladian: Like bay or bow windows, this is actually a grouping of windows. This focal point features a large, arched center window flanked by two shorter, narrower windows. This style window works best with traditional architecture.
Know How to Accessorize
Just as windows can enhance your homes’ style, there are additional elements that will add to the architectural impact of your windows.
Grilles, grids or mullions: There are many names for these inserts which mimic the divided lights or separate panes of glass that were traditionally used to make up windows. Some windows have grilles inserted between the layers of glass, making them easier to clean, while others fasten onto the surface of the window. You’ve probably seen the traditional rectangles which fill both sashes of double-hung windows on Cape Cods or Colonials; the distinctive diamond pattern of Tudor homes; or the look of no grilles, just clear glass, in contemporary homes.
Casings: Interior mouldings that go around your windows to complete the look. The trim usually coordinates with the crown moulding and baseboard of the room. Because the trim is made up of individual pieces, it can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it.
Shutters: Shutters were originally designed to close over the window for privacy and protection. While some homes still have functional shutters, most shutters are merely decorative. The key to correctly choosing and installing decorative shutters is that they should look as if they could close over the window.
There are four basic types of shutters:
Raised Panel -- Similar to the panel look on kitchen cabinets. This traditional style works with most architectural styles.
Louvered -- The classic, vented style most are familiar with on traditional homes like Cape Cods, Victorians, and Ranches.
Board and Batten -- With their simple construction of vertical flat boards and horizontal bracing (batten), they have a more rustic look which would pair best with French Country or Cottage-style homes.
Bermuda -- Visually similar to louvered shutters, but they hinge at the top instead of the sides. These are a popular, functional shutter choice in warmer, sunnier climates because they offer shade while letting in breezes.
Make a Great First Impression
Don’t forget to include your front entrance when considering windows. Sidelights and transoms around your front door can transform the entryway and boost curb appeal. Just keep in mind the same rules regarding consistency in architectural style.
If chosen properly, windows can increase the energy efficiency and value of your home, as well as improve its beauty both inside and out. While windows can be pricey, they are also one of the smartest home improvement investments you can make. So, take the time to look for inspiration online and in magazines to see how others have used windows to improve or update the look of their home.