Software
Houzz Logo Print
claudette_pilger

New build window help also needed…

I’d appreciate some design help from one of you talented people… We are building our dream house and realized we ordered all casement - non opening - windows for the kitchen seating area. (This seems like an obvious mistake.) We are going to change two of the windows (see photo) to windows that open but the size will be 72” (they don’t make the 96” open). Should we get a transom (a window on top of the shorter window) to keep the same profile? Or should we just line the two windows that are across from each other up at the top and let them be shorter windows that open with the 4 longer dramatic casements in the back? Or just keep them all casement…

Comments (11)

  • 3 years ago

    Your plan shows them as "fixed doors" which would have a very different profile than fixed and or operable windows as well.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Has construction started?

  • 3 years ago

    If you want to open them to allow breezes, where does the prevailing wind come from? The nice thing about casements is that you can open them just a skosh to allow air, but not necessarily the wind. I like casements, but am appreciating the double-hungs in my current house, where I can open the top and have the breeze but it doesn’t blow the papers off the table.

    Would you open the window on to the deck? If is open and you use the deck much, will it be in your way?

    Claudette Pilger, Psy.D., Inc. thanked bpath
  • 3 years ago

    I like having the tops of all windows aligned.  I would add a transom.  I assume they are calling it a fixed door because the bottom of the window goes all the way down to the floor.

    Claudette Pilger, Psy.D., Inc. thanked T T
  • PRO
    3 years ago




  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Thank you for your comments. The question was whether to change the design on the left and right side kitchen eating area windows so they open. I apologize for the length of this response but I'm answering questions that came up. I'm also including pics of the rear and side elevation. Construction has not started but ground has been broken and decisions must be made asap. The house sits on a hill on Belmont Bay with a view of the water with the windows in the kitchen/dining area that would open being east and west windows and the 4 fixed windows face south. I don't know what direction the wind blows, lol. I've already purchased all these Anderson 44 x 96 400 series windows so if I make changes it costs more and I will have a couple extra windows (anyone need a couple nice Anderson 400 series fixed windows, lol?). Since the windows that open are not made as large, the problem of how to deal with the aesthetic break in window continuity results. To fix this aesthetic issue should I add a transom on top of those two shorter left and right windows in order to get the same top and bottom height as the 4 windows facing south? Are the aesthetics not really a thing and should I just align the new windows with the tops of the others and not worry about making them align at the bottom? Or, just leave everything as is to not open? (Which seems like it would be annoying, but there will be one window over a counter nearby that would open). I appreciate any thoughts...

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    IMO leave the windows as planned and you will eeed solar shades for those you have enogh windows that open for a breazee the S. facing ones will create heat with the breeze . And no those are non opening casements just windows.

  • 3 years ago

    I would leave it. I love all the windows.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Knowing information is limited, I would make all the windows in the "Eating Area" the same size, whether they open or not and regardless of what wall they are on. I would revisit the number of windows, because the previous design was based on doors of a different size, and substituting a different size window for a door may make the space less than dreamy.

    My understanding is that Andersen makes 400 Series Casement windows a maximum of 35 15/16" wide and 71 7/8" tall regardless of whether they open or not.

    Laying out furniture to scale in the space may aid in window design for the space and give a feel for how big the space is.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Have you considered seeking input on your kitchen design?