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POLL: Do you have floor-to-ceiling windows?

6 years ago


Puesta Del Sol - High Mountain Contemporary Home · More Info



VOTE and tell us about them in the comments!



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Comments (41)

  • 6 years ago

    Wish I did but when doing my renovation, having the window go to the ceiling would have required a lot of re-engineering I wasn't willing to pay for.

  • 6 years ago

    We do however have sliding glass doors in every room to better see the view and get outside!

  • 6 years ago

    Have them in my current house and love the light from them. However, not for the faint of heart or limb when cleaning time comes around. Will not have any in future home now that I am old enough not to do tall ladders.

  • 6 years ago

    I have floor to ceiling windows in my master bedroom, living room and dining area. I live in Sedona, AZ, and this obviously takes advantage of the views. the only downside is not being able to covert he upper windows to darken the bedroom a bit. The bedroom windows are just like the ones below. I’d appreciate ideas ! Thx.


  • 6 years ago

    We had them in one house that the lot was wooded. Absolutely loved it

  • 6 years ago

    We designed our forever lake house to have floor to ceiling windows across the back to encompass the sunset views from every room and allow indoor/outdoor living on both levels. It required extra steel beams in the structure, but it has proven to be worth every penny. Definitely a comfortable space to be confined in during these stay at home orders.



  • 6 years ago

    For Susan in Arizona: Have the same problem and never found a satisfactory solution.

  • 6 years ago

    We live in a cold climate and the windows face mostly west. We had to install pull down shades to keep the room warmer in winter and cooler in summer. We, and our plants, really enjoy all the light and the view is very nice when the shades are open. We have power shades in the upper windows and manual ones in the lowers to save on costs. Power shades were totally worth it. Once a year I have to hire a window cleaner because of the height of these windows and the other windows on the second floor. This picture is before we had the upper shades installed. The real problem was the quarter round windows. I had to make the shades for those windows.


  • 6 years ago

    I love being able to see the garden outside, even in winter. I don't need to have flowers on the dining room table because it faces the flowers in the garden. Proper insulation takes care of drafts.

  • 6 years ago

    They face due south. In the winter months it is so hot from the sun we cannot light a fire, even when it’s -20* outside.

  • 6 years ago

    I have these on both ends of my living/dining/kitchen area, and absolutely love them.


  • 6 years ago

    I do in my dining room. Love them. I only have glass doors in rest of house but with 20 foot ceilings.

  • 6 years ago

    Susan we have the same window wall in our master. I looked for a solution for a long time and finally just bought two eye masks! I also saved these two pics to an idea book but decided against the curtain solution.

  • 6 years ago

    Got myself an eye mask too !!


  • 6 years ago

    I have big window envy! But since the question only specifies ceiling to floor sized windows our house qualifies. Our house is a mid century design called an Eichler. The windows are 96” tall and the ceiling is same. Eichlers (mostly single story) were designed with 4 ft over hangs so the interiors came be rather shadowy. We put in some skylights to get more light into the house.

  • 6 years ago

    Can you make a small curtain n use a spring rod on top n bottom to hold in place. I did that to some windows that were square but very high up. It was very annoying with the sun coming in.

  • 6 years ago

    The windows are triangular, so the spring rod idea won’t work. Thanks anyway !

  • 6 years ago



    Lindal Cedar 2 stories of windows. I don't wash them so as to decrease bird strikes. 5 years in and it's still my dream house.

  • 6 years ago

    I also have almost floor to ceiling windows on two walls in my sunroom. Love the look, but as this room faces due west, it's very difficult to regulate the temperature. Much of the time, I keep the blinds and drapes closed to avoid the afternoon sun even in winter, which pretty much defeats the purpose of having all those windows. Still, it's our favorite room.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    They look great in the first photo above!

  • 6 years ago



  • 6 years ago

    I don’t have them but wish I did

  • 6 years ago

    I also wish I had them. Love a lot of natural light in the house.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I have them- I live in Sedona and absolutely would not change them for anything. Well I did not choose the paint color. I will need to change that. lol




  • 6 years ago

    Floor to ceiling windows in my bedroom looking thru the 24’ foot living room windows with views to Zuma Beach CA.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    A carefully crafted Zen view is my favored method. Except for the solar addition of course - which is not conditioned - that way I can use 1/4" plate glass - inexpensive and strong.




  • 6 years ago

    Flying Kessler, my heart skipped a beat looking at your pics! What a spectacular view! My husband and I are hoping to move to Sedona one day and have that kind of a view!

  • 6 years ago

    You are so kind! Thank you. My heart still skips every time I walk in that room. 💛

  • 6 years ago

    Yes, sorta. We have a nice double window in the switchback stairway to our upper floor master suite. Our dogs love their birdseye view of the street.


    I can't decide if I want side panel curtains or leave it open.



  • 6 years ago

    I consider myself fortunate to have floor to ceiling windows in a tiny vacation house overlooking the Mt. Hope Bridge, bay and a lagoon filled w. water fowl in RI. The windows bing in the most beautiful view of borrowed landscape and makes the house feel boundless and like heaven on earth.

  • 6 years ago

    Šusan Milller , May I ask what color are your walls? I have a Lindal home with the same windows and floors and an a bit stumped. Thanks!

  • 6 years ago

    I hadn't really thought about it, but I must really love them. 4 of the 5 houses I have lived in as an adult have had floor to ceiling windows. They can sometimes present a challenge for arranging furniture, but they are such a great way to merge the outdoor spaces with indoor spaces. In most of these houses I have designed garden areas meant to be enjoyed from either side of the glass. They are so cheerful, bringing in so much natural light. They must, however, have appropriate draperies or shades for energy efficiency and light control. In various rooms with the tall windows I have used draperies and blinds, both formal and informal. One thing I have always done, though, is to be sure the draperies or blinds do not interfere with the view. Draperies always stack back on the wall, covering only the trim; my favorite blind for a floor to ceiling window is either cordless (for a lower ceiling) or electrically controlled so there are no strings or wands cluttering up the window.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Save energy and go outside. Window glass does not recycle. Relative to building envelope performance windows are thermal holes. Please use them judiciously. Walls of glass are the sign of lazy designers and non-design savvy clients (like including a Jacuzzi tub in the old days) - my not so humble opinion. They are not comfortable to be near in winter. They kill more birds than cats - design to limit this. Floor to ceiling window - sure - one - very carefully placed and designed - framing a particularity spectacular view.


    I wish I knew more about this when I designed my solar addition (twenty five years ago) - as it were I have never seen a dead bird near them and the plate glass can be reused. - no seals to fail or frames to rot. and it is not tempered so it can be re-cut. Better to not put a bird feeder near large windows.


    Your design actions have profound consequences.

  • 6 years ago

    our mid 70s mod lodge is a classic contemporary, meaning it’s symmetrical with center nave like great room: street side entry with wall of windows, original hand carved doors and light fixture (we respect the era and don’t believe in gut n new, late retro design era as yet rather unsung therefore subject to erasure); back side to the woods with also a corresponding massive window

  • 6 years ago

    This 80s contemporary ranch designed by architect Robert Clothier, has five sliding glass doors and a solarium. All other windows are oversized 3x6‘; then there are skylights and a large central glassed in cupola. The house is flooded with light and a wonderful luxury; most days, six or so free degrees are added, courtesy of the sun. The downside, is the need to insulate all for those dark, northeast winter periods and some of the window seals have broken so moisture collects between the glass panes, marring the view.

  • 6 years ago

    Love the view all year round. We haven’t had a problem with the temperature of the room any time of year.

  • 6 years ago

    I had a wall with floor to ceiling windows flanking french doors before the folding window walls became a thing. I loved it because the patio it faced was covered so the light was filtered and it wouldn't have brightened the room enough without them. However, when my home was on a tour those doors were used as the exit from the house. A docent had to stand in front of the first window to keep people from walking into it instead of heading out the open door. We again had this problem at a large party. A kindly older man from church was seated near that window on the patio. I remarked at how great a service he was being letting people know to walk thru the open door (which I intentionally left open so to discourage people from trying to enter thru the window) and he responded that he wasn't doing that because he enjoyed watching people bump into it haha So just a bit of a warning about that. My husband said I just shouldn't clean them haha

  • 6 years ago

    When we designed our home we wanted to blur the transition between the indoor and outdoor living space so we extended the floor and ceiling finishes outside and installed floor to ceiling windows. We just love the expansive views that we were able to achieve and the sense of a larger space without a wall.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    djsmodern - it helps act as a transition - most modern homes/buildings lack this. Kudos.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    If only!! Floor to ceiling windows are an incredible way to bring in natural light. Plus it's an added bonus when you live in a scenic place!