Drywall returns or a paint grade wood so the trim blends into the walls.

It depends on the style of the house.

The window on the left has drywall returns, the one on the right is cased with a stool and apron, and has full depth jambs (or jamb extensions).

Overall our house has contemporary farmhouse aspects.

What will the house look like inside and out?

Whatever you choose there should be a stool. Drywall at that location will be impossible to maintain. IMO this kind of detailing deserves a more durable wall surface like veneer or other kinds of plaster.

Drywall eventually gets dinged and dirty.

Your drywall crew would need to be VERY talented to do those returns. Most are not and where you want good crisp detail - you don't get it.

frame them out simply.

I'm working on a home right now with drywall returns and a wood sill. This is a modern home. For a Farmhouse look, I generally recommend a flat-stock casing with a backband detail.

@Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.

Nice modern sill detail. I need that.

@just_janni With square drywall returns, don't rely on drywall crew to clean up this framing. Carpenters need to go back and detail framing after window install refining the opening with plywood backing shimmed & squared up with the window, leaving a good edge to back the corner. If windows have extension jambs to the edge of framing, they can be kerfed instead.

Thank you @Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor. We were debating whether or not to dog-ear the sill, but ultimately decided a straight cut looked cleaner.

One thing I noticed in my market is that drywall returns are used in cheaper spec homes vs complimenting a home‘s design

I think because of the jamb extensions I would do casing as generally when you do drywall the jambs is drywall as well. Having part drywall and part trim will look more unfinished. To be honest having trim is just longer lasting and looks nicer for longer than drywall. Drywall isn't that durable.

Just using flat stock for trim would still allow a clean look, however the jamb extensions in the picture look a little fancier so adding a simple back band would make it look more cohesive and intentional and tie in the jambs to the simpler trim.

I realize window and trim suppliers and some contractors call the interior trim at the bottom of a window a "sill" but that name has already been taken by the bottom part of the window frame, therefore, if you want others to understand you, call the bottom interior trim a "stool".

If there is no jamb trim, there would be no reason for the stool to extend beyond the window opening.

If your window and trim suppliers and your contractors refer to that part as a sill, shouldn't you also call it a sill if you want others to understand you?

If you want modern, go with the appropriate casing. Drywall returns were/are used for cost savings.

Regarding stool vs sill: it comes down to whether you are a professional or an amateur designer. The suppliers know what a a stool is; they just don't think you know what it is. You can be sure a millwork supplier doesn't misuse these terms in their catalog. If you call a stool a sill, what would you call a sill?

If you allow yourself to use imprecise specification terms thinking others know what you mean you will eventually pay a price for it. I used the wrong term for a type of window mullion and I became the owner of $5,000 worth of windows..

I checked 3 millwork suppliers. 2 out of 3 refer to the stool as "sill". The term "stool" is pretty antiquated in residential construction, just like the plancher board....

https://southshoremillwork.com/wp-content/uploads/15000-Window-Sills-and-Edges.pdf

https://www.ndmoulding.com/products-stock-moulding/sill

I've been a professional designer for fifteen years and I have never heard it referred to as a stool by any of the suppliers and contractors I have worked with. My husband has been a carpenter for thirty years and said that the term stool is "old school" and has not been commonly used for years, at least in our region. So please check your questioning of a professional's status based on a single out-dated millwork label.

lol.... this is not a crisis.

I'm more concerned a trimless window drywall returns being called "tract" with an otherwise high end window in the OPs photo.

We've been offering kerfed details for awhile, usually cost more than standard trim. More recently I'm seeing thickened jambs, flush baseboards using reveals. Very labor intensive and not for standard budgets.

Love the "stool/sill" @Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc. question what type of window is that we are trying to get deep sill like that. We are framing 2x6 with ZIPR1.5" so wall thickness is about 7" we are looking at Marvin Elevate. Just not sure how deep the sill will be.

Hi Kenzie, I'm curious what you ended up choosing for your project -- would you be open to sharing, potentially with a photo? We are currently working with similar Sierra Pacific windows, and our contractor is insisting on casement versus drywall returns (although our preference is drywall returns). It would be amazing to see your decision and how it turned out.

Hi Todd, I am also using Zip R-3 which changes my wall thickness and using Marvin and tyring to figure out how to trim my windows. Have you reached a verdict?

@LB, we're doing WIndsor Pinnacles with drywall return (and a wood stool/sill, whatever one wants to call it these days). I'm excited to see how they turn out - I grew up back east where we always added the trim and jamb extensions. But, we live in the (dry) west and are building a modern farmhouse so I know this will fit. One of my favorite interior designers always has the drywall return in many of her projects too!

Casement windows like in your case not intended to have stools unless you want to add one... your windows have the grove specifically made for window extensions all around and you wrap casing around it for a nice clean and finished look.

If vinyl casements are used you can do anything you like they don't have that option unless you order windows with vinyl extensions already attached by a manufacturer... If not you can do stool and sheetrock return or sheetrock return all around. Some do sheetrock return and still add casing surrounding on top of the drywall, usually, it's done after the fact if the house is purchased and windows have sheetrock returns and a homeowner wants to add some trim detail to it.