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Architect's Toolbox: 3 Window Details That Wow
Elicit oohs and ahs when you make over your windows with low sills, tall heads and deep reveals
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located... More »
Although there are many styles and sizes of windows, my favorites have low sills, tall heads and deep reveals.
Low sills (meaning the bottom of the window is closer to the floor line) create windows that tend to have the proportions of doors. As such, they provide stronger connections between indoors and outdoors. Using lower sills also can make a smaller room feel much larger.
Tall heads (meaning the top of the window is closer to the ceiling line) provide much the same visual impact as lower sills. In fact, a conservatory derives much of its visual impact from the lack of any substantial wall structure above the windows.
Deep reveals (shown in the first photo below) enliven a window by providing not only a place to put things but also by emphasizing the three-dimensional quality of the surrounding wall. The deep reveal gives us a sense of the weight and solidity of the wall and the security the wall provides.
Low sills (meaning the bottom of the window is closer to the floor line) create windows that tend to have the proportions of doors. As such, they provide stronger connections between indoors and outdoors. Using lower sills also can make a smaller room feel much larger.
Tall heads (meaning the top of the window is closer to the ceiling line) provide much the same visual impact as lower sills. In fact, a conservatory derives much of its visual impact from the lack of any substantial wall structure above the windows.
Deep reveals (shown in the first photo below) enliven a window by providing not only a place to put things but also by emphasizing the three-dimensional quality of the surrounding wall. The deep reveal gives us a sense of the weight and solidity of the wall and the security the wall provides.
Low and deep sills can be used for any type of style, from a contemporary design with a band of windows ...
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... to a traditional design of single, individually spaced, double-hung windows.
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You can place the sill within inches of the floor line. All that's needed is just a bit of space for trim and to make cleaning a little easier.
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| An accent wall with low sills and deep reveals can be a focal point and work of art on its own. The large windows keep the accent color from getting out of hand. |
by Vendome Press
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Low sills don't have to be near the floor. Some sills provide just the right height for furniture.
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| Deep sills can provide a resting spot for some of your favorite items. |
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| Deep reveals can be created with some built-ins. The walls, furniture and windows all become integrated to create a clean and tidy interior. |
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And extending the kitchen counter to create the window sill provides that out-of-the-way yet nearby space every kitchen needs ...
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... and every soaking tub can benefit from.
| Deep reveals in a bedroom can provide display and storage space. |
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Windows that stretch from floor to ceiling make the wall disappear and blur the distinction between outside and inside ...
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| ... even when these windows don't quite touch the ceiling. Just add substantial trim to group and unify these windows, giving the room structure. |
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| Add transoms above if the doors aren't tall enough. Just keep the transoms tight to the ceiling so the wall disappears. More: Shedding Light: The Revolutionary Nature of Windows Skinny Windows: Exclamation Points of Light |
Ideabook updated on March 6, 2012.
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