One of the features I always notice in houses and buildings are the windows. As silly as it sounds, I have always felt that as eyes are the windows to the soul, windows tell us about the soul of a house.
Stunning steel windows were used in this restoration - how warm and inviting!
Single hung wooden windows - simple but classic - cool NYC
My dream house for up north - the windows make it almost disappear
Windows can completely change the way a building reads – style, material, colour, and quality. Sometimes while I am out walking the dog I like to look at houses and think about what I would do as a designer to improve the look of their fronts – and 99% of the time it involves either changing the windows or bringing the rest of the house in line with the windows.
The house being overhauled - nice windows - not!!!!
Up close example of the cheap vinyl windows found all over the house
One of my projects right now is a full scale redesign and renovation on a house that is the ugly duckling on the street. Sadly, the previous owners replaced the leaded glass windows with plain, inexpensive vinyl ones. While the house is a brick house built in 1911 it currently lacks any true style. As we are creating a much more clean lined, modern home – this has had us really thinking in regards to window style. Due to the lack of any real architectural features on the home, we can really go in any direction. We are at the point that the windows will need to be ordered this week and so after considering and drafting more than a few options we have a winner!
A style we were considering
Another style option...
The style winner - a photo from one of my many dog walks : )
The front of the house will be a very clean and simple take off of a classic window design in the late 1800’s early 1900’s. This will give a nod to the period homes on the rest of the street while giving a more modern sensibility on the inside. They will be manufactured by a company who makes European style tilt turn vinyl windows here in Toronto with German hardware. The company is called Euro Vinyl Windows and Doors Inc and I was thrilled to stumble upon them.
An interior shot of their vinyl windows - the German hardware allows for both tilting and casement swing - fantastic!
Exterior example of their sliding doors baked black
The back of the house will have full size windows and doors (8 feet!) to let in as much light as possible. I can’t wait to see them once they are installed! As I mentioned earlier – windows really do make a huge difference in the look and feel of a house – both on the inside and the outside. The windows will really help transform this ugly duckling into a swan.
A stunning steel window from the inside - steel is my personal favourite : )
Another example of steel done in a more modern way - love the height!
An example of traditional windows at full height
A simple hung window in a new farmhouse
When the window complements the style of the house the effect is seamless - it feels like it is just meant to be. This is certainly true for the interior as much as the exterior. Do you ever notice windows?
