It may be obvious that windows make or break a room, but it's important to keep in mind as you browse house plans. Windows not only bring in daylight but also establish scale: whether a room feels dark and cramped or bright and airy. The shape, dimensions, and placement of windows are key in establishing the character and comfort of a home. If windows are too small they can make a house feel more like a prison; if they are too large and oriented the wrong the way they can ruin your sense of privacy or make a room too cold or hot at certain times of year. Here are some pointers for using tall windows, floor-to-ceiling windows, or window walls.
The French doors and screened openings in the porch of Plan 928-13 by Visbeen Architects, and shown at the top of this post, rise to the same height to establish the room's outdoor-oriented character.
In Plan 552-4 by Arch L. A. B., below, the window walls complement the contemporary design and reinforce the link between inside and outside, great room and terrace (higher wing) and master bedroom and terrace
(lower wing), even when they are closed, as shown in the rendering.
In Plan 924-1, below, the tall glass wall at one end of the great room creates a soaring feeling. But there is no need for all the openings in this room to be so high, as you can see in the rendering, where the doorway to the porch is of average height and the porch roof itself is lower than the roof of the great room.
The tall window wall helps express the height of the room and sets it off as the home's main gathering space. Such a window should be positioned to take advantage of a great view.
Tall windows work in every architectural style, as long as they are well proportioned and fit the
individual room. For example, take Country style Plan 901-8, above, where multiple windows are combined to make a tall window wall that brings high light into a space with a cathedral ceiling.
Or Plan 464-13, where the tall sidelights and high fanlight surrounding the front door turn the entry hall into a very welcoming space. In two- and three-story homes the stairwell often sports tall windows so that it can
become a major light source for the entire home, like a large lantern, as shown here in Plan 132-221.
Depending on the orientation, some tall windows should be sheltered in some way, to prevent glare, or excessive heat loss or gain. As with so many things, a little common sense is required as you think about how the siting of your house will affect window placement.
The French doors and screened openings in the porch of Plan 928-13 by Visbeen Architects, and shown at the top of this post, rise to the same height to establish the room's outdoor-oriented character.
In Plan 552-4 by Arch L. A. B., below, the window walls complement the contemporary design and reinforce the link between inside and outside, great room and terrace (higher wing) and master bedroom and terrace
(lower wing), even when they are closed, as shown in the rendering.
In Plan 924-1, below, the tall glass wall at one end of the great room creates a soaring feeling. But there is no need for all the openings in this room to be so high, as you can see in the rendering, where the doorway to the porch is of average height and the porch roof itself is lower than the roof of the great room.
The tall window wall helps express the height of the room and sets it off as the home's main gathering space. Such a window should be positioned to take advantage of a great view.
Tall windows work in every architectural style, as long as they are well proportioned and fit the
individual room. For example, take Country style Plan 901-8, above, where multiple windows are combined to make a tall window wall that brings high light into a space with a cathedral ceiling.
Or Plan 464-13, where the tall sidelights and high fanlight surrounding the front door turn the entry hall into a very welcoming space. In two- and three-story homes the stairwell often sports tall windows so that it can
become a major light source for the entire home, like a large lantern, as shown here in Plan 132-221.
Depending on the orientation, some tall windows should be sheltered in some way, to prevent glare, or excessive heat loss or gain. As with so many things, a little common sense is required as you think about how the siting of your house will affect window placement.
