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Let There Be (Natural) Light - Fabulous Windows
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Ah windows. We hear real estate agents talking them up with whichever direction they happen to be facing on television shows - "Southern Exposure!" "The great light from the East!" "The perfect studio light from the North!" What really matters is capturing the best natural light that you can, and framing your views. We can deal with privacy and the sunrise with shades and window treatments, which is an ideabook for another day (NOTED LATER - Isabella_Max just took care of that today - see "Dramatic Drapes" - Hooray!).
If you are lucky enough to be building from scratch, keep visiting the job site to make sure you are getting all of the views you want from your future windows. If you are apartment shopping and you can afford it, snap up that place that has good windows and lots of natural light. If you are renovating, one area you should prioritize is windows. While you can scrimp in other areas, you will never regret paying more for good quality, beautiful, energy-efficient windows (energy efficiency will pay for itself in heating and cooling costs in no time). Here are some images that help me plead my case for installing great windows.
If you are lucky enough to be building from scratch, keep visiting the job site to make sure you are getting all of the views you want from your future windows. If you are apartment shopping and you can afford it, snap up that place that has good windows and lots of natural light. If you are renovating, one area you should prioritize is windows. While you can scrimp in other areas, you will never regret paying more for good quality, beautiful, energy-efficient windows (energy efficiency will pay for itself in heating and cooling costs in no time). Here are some images that help me plead my case for installing great windows.
by Global Living
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These are the ultimate loft windows - they remind us that the space had a former life as an industrial space.
I love the simplicity of this large 2 over 2 window in this industrial-inspired kitchen.
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Take advantage of high ceilings with upper level windows.
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This is such a fantastic bathtub view - the hedges outside take the place of a painting.
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| Another photographic view - it's framed so perfectly in this square window that it looks like a work of art. |
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Stained glass is a good way to diffuse the light and add color to a room.
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The lines created by these steel-reinforced windows give this a wonderful glass house feel, while insuring that no one will walk right into the wall ;)
I cannot for the life of me think of the term for those little box windows above the main window - can someone please help me out?
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| The windows and doors in this room give it a treehouse feel. note how the doors match the windows with the lines of the panes lining up perfectly. |
Comments
ljmacneil Is "transom" what you're thinking of? Love them, and all of these photos! :)
3 years ago · Like
Becky Harris "Transome" I think that's it! Thank you jmacneil; the only word in my head was "copse" and I knew that was way wrong!
3 years ago · Like
Becky Harris OOPs, sorry, I mis-spelled "transom" - I truly am not meant to know this word!
3 years ago · Like
wendyrama Transoms were used when larger panes of glass were either difficult to produce or unavailable. The use of transoms now is either to preserve the historic look or to keep costs down. Windows filling the entire frame are 'ouch' expensive.
3 years ago · Like
dawnwinds58 Being a southern girl accustomed to heat and humidity, transoms also had another purpose. They adorned the floor to ceiling windows at both ends of tall rooms, but not for cheaper expanses of glass, for ventilation in a hot climate. The cool sides were opened lower, and the hot side opened upper for natural passive ventilation. How else could they wear all those silks, satins, lace, and hoop skirts with only a delicate lace hanky to pat the "glow"? Aye, there is method to the madness after all. We still use the process now to cool our more modern home and reduce energy use, and bills.
3 years ago · Like
Global Living Becky, keep the great ideabooks coming! And thank you for featuring Global Living designs!
3 years ago · Like
andrea_of_ffft I love learning something new... so basic and yet so brilliant. We almost always end up going back to the "way it was" for the best way to do things. High tech is not always the answer. Cheers, Dawnwinds!
3 years ago · Like
picabelle Thank you for this and for the many ideas you offer each week. I'm in the process of designing our remodel and pretty much everything I see on this site is relevant and helpful! Keep the ideas coming!
3 years ago · Like
Melinda Faranetta Love this ideabook. Natural light is the most wonderful decoarting element.
3 years ago · Like
Becky Harris Thank you guys so much for teaching me about transoms! It reminded me of one of my favorite window ideas - the triple-sash (oh lord I hope that's right) very tall windows at Monticello. It's interesting that part of their reason for existing was because it was cheaper at the time, as now they are a more expensive detail to include!
3 years ago · Like
Sonja Hilliard, DVM Any ideas for how to address these windows with the high ceilings, smaller upper windows, and lower picture windows? I am at a loss and sadly after being in this house for almost 2 years my living room still looks the way it does in these photos because I'm stumped. Any ideas would be appreciated! 
3 years ago · Like
scarbowcow sunnyvm2b, I'd be so tempted to build a loft going round three sides of the lower room (assuming the staircase is on one side) and put in a library all around the upper story. It looks like this is just a two-story room acting like a one-story room. Why not make use of all that height by creating a sort of gallery to use as a library, home office, 'futon' guest-room, etc.? A spiral staircase up or access from the existing stairs, if possible, and you gain so much more real living space - not to mention access to those upper windows so you can actually clean them! In the pictures, the room looks devoid of personality - like an unfinished office in an industrial park. A gallery going around the upper story would allow you to give it charm and personality in your own style.
3 years ago · Like
Ideabook updated on July 17, 2010.
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