Vinyl windows come in all shapes and sizes, and they’ll all do the basic job you’d expect them to do: let in light, frame a view, and keep the elements out. Beyond that, you’ll want to choose a window that works with the architectural style of your home, whether it’s colonial clapboard, contemporary red cedar, or eclectic dresser. Looking aside, each type of window has its own personality. Knowing what works best where will help you choose the right windows for any construction or remodeling project.
Early builders chose windows according to the number of panes in each frame: six over six, for example, or nine over 12. Today, your options are much broader. Frames, sliding, tilt-and-turn, fixed glass and combinations of all these styles offer endless alternatives to the classic casement window.
The amount of light any type of window will admit largely depends on its size, but shape and placement make a difference. For example, a horizontal window placed high on a wall can provide more light than the same window placed vertically.
Ease of cleaning is also worth thinking about, especially if yours is a two-story home or if some windows are hard to reach. A hinged or removable sash that can be conveniently washed from the inside makes it much easier and safer to keep upstairs windows sparkling.
what colors suit you best?
In most cases, the colors that work best for you are the colors that you like best. You should be able to find your favorites represented not only among wallcoverings, fabrics and accessories, but also in a variety of styles and patterns to fit almost any décor style, from contemporary to country to traditional.
Window Design Principles
Think of the walls of your home as blank canvases waiting to be painted with sunlight and views of the outside world. As you consider this ever-changing image for your new or remodeled home, it’s helpful to keep a few principles in mind.
seeing the light.
Light, and the shadows created by it, play an important role in any interior space. As the sun changes, it subtly changes the shapes and patterns of a room.
Bigger is brighter when it comes to windows. This means not just bigger windows, but more of them. Operable sash and fixed glass arrangements can reach the ceiling, stretch, or even make an entire wall disappear. Ceilings dictate how high you can go, but dropping windows at or near ground level can bring in much more light than standard sill-height windows.
How is the view??
Just as the right frame enhances a prized painting, windows, now available in almost every conceivable shape, define our experience of the outside world. Of course, not all views are the same. A wooded ravine, for example, offers more visual interest than the side of a neighbor’s garage, so consider the best views in your home and orient your windows accordingly.
Leave.
Today’s patio doors are as attractive and energy efficient as windows and come in matching styles and finishes. Top one off with a transom or skylight or flank it with a couple of side windows, and you can make as strong a design statement as a well thought-out front entry.