The Great Debate! Window and Door Choice for 1978 Neo-Colonial Ranch

Clara

last month

Hello,

I am struggling with the exterior window and door choices for my 1978 ranch. My designer has suggested taking the house in either a colonial direction or a ranch (more modern) and the long term plan is to update the column size so that the columns have more visual weight. She suggested a double 36" door, but I haven't seen any double doors that look like they really fit on my home. Most colonial houses seem to have a single door with sidelites, (see inspiration photo above.) I prefer the idea of emphasizing the colonial details, although the shape of the house is definitely ranch.

I have several questions.

1. My designer prefers the four lite door as pictured above. (Glasscraft, TrueLite Mahogany, 6'8" door.) I think the elongated pane size looks too modern. It reads "modern farmhouse" to me. Any thoughts? It would have sidelites to match like the inspiration photo.

2. I think the 6 lite door (same manufactuer) will have a pane size more in keeping with a colonial style. It would also have sidelites to match like the inspiration photo. What do you all think?

3. My impression is that the pane size of the lites will need to patch with the panes on the central bay window. I plan to remove the bay and frame in a flat window with panes. The new window in that space will be taller (84" as opposed to the 77' existing. The width of the opening is 99".)

How do I design a window with similar pane sizes to the front door? I'd like to hire someone to do this for me, but the professionals I've hired seem very casual about whether or not they match. On the high-end homes I've seen the proportions are perfect. How do I get this right? I am using PGT windows because I live in Florida. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! I love design and I can do math but I am not a design professional.

Thank you!

Featured Answer

palimpsest

last month

I think for the large window replacement you have to find something that looks right and proportionate to the window opening you are dealing with. If you do muntins in the windows you just want to make sure the openings are not rectangles on the horizontal if you are keeping with a colonial style. They would be vertical rectangles. (The exception is doors with top panel replacement like the first one below.)

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Comments (12)

palimpsest
last month
last modified: last month
A colonial door with glass in it would be this:

or this

And a colonial sidelight would be this

or this:

The doors your designer is showing are neo Craftsman. Since this a ranch you could just go more contemporary, but personally I don't care much for Craftsman on houses like this; I think the details are too heavy
Clara thanked palimpsest
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millworkman
last month
Single door and sidelites as mentioned above, and run from anything Glascraft. Big NO to a double door at all costs.
Clara thanked millworkman
Clara
Original Author
last month
That’s helpful! Where should I look instead of GlassCraft?
PRO
PPF.
last month
I see all ranch, not colonial and suggest anything colonial will look out of place.

If you choose divided lite windows, it's helpful for many to see their house with various options. You could hire someone to create a computer model of the house where windows are easily changed.

How do I design a window with similar pane sizes to the front door?

Work with your window sales person. Explain the look you want.

Your existing window size will have an impact on the look. I try for similar pane size, or panes the scale up or down -- easier on new construction.
Clara thanked PPF.
Lyn Nielson
last month
as close to existing window style as possible, a full view glass or two.

the grids take away from the style of your home. for me, painting the entire door frame and sidelights white so it looks like a grand entrance.
Clara thanked Lyn Nielson
Clara
Original Author
last month
Thanks Lyn, I agree on painting the door and sidelights white! I will think about your comments on grid style.

Clara
millworkman
last month
Provia, HMI, or Homeguard would be my recs, Provia being my first choice.
Clara
Original Author
last month
Thanks, I'll check those out! I appreciate your suggestions!
palimpsest
last month
There are developments all over the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic that have ranch-style houses with colonial revival details in terms of windows, doors, and trim, built from post WWII to about 1980, so really it's not incorrect, especially since the house has neoclassical columns on the porch. Americans liked colonial revival, and the details were used a lot.

What does the Inside of the house look like? Is it contemporary on the inside or does it have colonial style millwork? That will give you some idea of what windows are most appropriate, and that may mean 6/6 divided lites to coordinate with the interior, if it's traditional on the interior.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last month
Waht is a neo colonial ranch , what you have is a MCM ranch where someone slapped in astupid bay window apparently a nod to colonial oh an added a pediment over the door . THose are the only colonial things about the house . Go back to its roots and embrace it. No darn grids in the windows either . No shutter either .
palimpsest
last month
last modified: last month
Colonial Revival Ranch is a recognized American house style. Many Americans did not and do not like mid-century modern style but they liked the floor plans. So they were Originally Built with colonial details. That's why I asked what the interior details were.

Nothing is designed in a cultural vacuum: many houses are composites of various styles of the time they were built. This bugs purists, but most houses were not built by purists.

Besides that, this isn't really an MCM house in form. It's Contemporary.

The house could skew either way. If the inside is contemporary in detail, then the exterior could be contemporary in details like windows. If the interior is Colonial-ish, which many houses of the era are, then it would really look better with divided light windows and a six panel door.

This is also a ranch. It's clearly not MCM. If anything it is designed with Neo-Eclectic details seen on McMansions. This includes some "colonial" elements. Not every ranch is MCM or contemporary in reality.