Great question! I love those windows. I was just looking at the casement style in the Marvin book tonight. I wonder how "classic" that window style is or if it's trendy. I like it because it doesn't obscure the view.

Hello ILoveRed,

I've seen it listed as craftsman and cottage by window manufacturers.

I decided to go this route, not just because I like it, but I've seen its used on bungalow style homes which is what the front entrance emulates.

Are you in the process of spec'ing windows?

The intent of this traditional window mullion style (Craftsman/Prairie) is to add a repeating decorative element to the windows so they normally consist of the same pane sizes regardless of the window size.

However, the earliest Craftsman houses in California used one horizontal mullion in the upper quarter of the window or several horizontal mullions without the vertical mullions.

JDS...I love the second one. So that answers the question of trendiness. Apparently that style is not trendy. Is that second house shingled? And do you think those are casement windows?

whaas...just starting my homework. When we built 11 yrs ago, we wanted Marvin Windows which weren't in the budget. We got Andersen with between the glass grills. I'm determined to get Marvin with SDL this time ;-) . The between the glass grids are a dream to wash. Are you just starting out too?

Having differing proportions in the different size windows is just weird, and I would guess it has to do with the economy of manufacture rather than design. The Greene and Greene house above would be a good counterexample though, where carrying the same line of muntins across the facade works because it is a strong line among other strong horizontals. In the furniture I build I find it works pretty well to stick to classical proportions, I'm more a fan of Fibonacci ratios than "Golden" rectangles though.

This is an interesting discussion. We're using casement windows in our house and we were thinking of using that grid pattern.

JDS,

Just to confirm are you saying you should maintain the same grid height no matter the window size?

rweigand,

Are you saying equal grid height no matter the window size is weird or that equal proportions between the windows is weird?

This first example has the same grid size but then you end up with different proportions.

This second example does NOT have the grids at equal height but proportionate to the window size.

Which example is correct or do they both work?

My first reaction was to say that the proportion should be maintained across windows (larger windows having larger upper sections for example in a 4:1 (or whatever) ratio, but the G&G example shows that other considerations can trump that.

At the extremes, I think you'd have to treat a 20" square window differently from a 72"x 24" rectangular window, so it depends.

In your original example the upper windows look right to me, the bigger lower ones look like the upper section is too small.

Hi JDS,

With the Colonial revival I wanted to use an example that showed the grids proportionate to window size vs. same grid height.

The window mullions where already designed but I changed window manufacturers and now specifying the exact heights, which was 1/3 of glass opening. Now that we're getting into the details wanted to get feedback if there was a standard height for casement mullions for a craftsman style home.

Is it just me or do the lower windows with the same grid heights as the smaller windows look odd?

In a Craftsman design the mullions are usually only decorative. In a Colonial Revival design they are either omitted or designed to look as if they had a traditional function which is to limit the size of glass panes in the upper sash.

Whaas...I don't think they look odd at all. I think they should be the same size. Look at this pic of a house under construction with similar Windows. look at the tiny window on the far right. The mullions look the same size as the mullions on the other Windows.

The answer to your question depends greatly on the design of the house. Without that information the advice you get will be of little value.

Do you want the effect of a valance (all the same height) or the effect of a hung sash (proportional to window height)?

Personally I think the valances are easier to get wrong, but done well can look very nice.