Frame
the view of a lifetime with these 10 window design ideas
Ask any homeowner what the top amenity that they love about
their home and their response is usually the views and the location. In fact,
many homeowners can stand to live in a smaller home if it means they will have
a great view, and the windows that deliver this view is essential. Every room
in your home can benefit from beautiful windows and there is countless number
of design styles to choose from. If you have been looking for ways to brighten
your interiors, look to your windows. Here are 10 ways your home’s window
design can influence your interiors.
1. Natural light is a source of healthy living:
Humans are no different than green plants. When placed in a
natural lit room they grow beautifully and when kept in the dark they wilt and
will eventually die. Natural light is the source for our body, mind, spirit and
connectivity to the outdoors and is a primary source for healthy living.
Regardless of how your window looks, ensure your home has a source of natural
light in every room, when possible.
Choose
a window that compliments your room
2. Choosing windows that complement the room:
If you are fortunate enough to plan out the design of your
home with an architect or contractor, consider the space the window will be
placed in. Tall ceilings and voluminous rooms could benefit from clearstory
windows high above the ground or multi-storey windows that are typical in
atriums and multi-storey foyers. Smaller rooms can still take advantage of
plentiful sunlight and views with windows that have a lower sill height to the
floor. Choose a style that takes into account your room’s best features.
3. Framing the perfect view outside your home:
There is nothing quite like waking up to a picturesque
view of the ocean through floor to ceiling glass windows or enjoying the city
lights below through your curtain wall windows of your urban loft. Windows are
more than just openings in the wall, they help you capture the outdoors and
bring them into your home. If designing your home from the beginning, determine
what perfect views you want to capture first and then choose a window that will
enhance it.
Skylights offer
your room another source for beautiful lighting
4. Opening your ceiling view with skylights:
Another wonderful way to take advantage of natural light is
through skylights. Your ceiling or “5th wall” has always been a surface that
many homeowners forget about when designing their interiors. Skylights offer
privacy and a source of natural light to rooms that normally couldn’t because
of lack of space for windows on exterior walls. Skylights also serve as a design
feature and come in fixed and operable varieties and you can install window
treatments over them for light control.
5. Consider a variety of opacities for your privacy needs:
Do you have that room in your home where you would love to
have natural light pour in but you need privacy too? Bathrooms are a prime
example of where privacy is priority but bringing in light is as well. Consider
a variety of opacity levels for your window style. Transparent glass you can
see straight through, while translucent glass is common in glass block windows
in bathrooms. The view is obscured but natural light can still enter. There are
many window manufacturers that offer a variety of windows for your privacy and
design specifications. Speak to your contractor Sentric Design about all options.
Clerestory
framed windows in this bathroom enable a mirror to be placed
6. Clerestory windows let in light but leave valuable wall
space free:
In many homes wall space is at a premium. Whether you are an
art collector and like to display wall artwork or you prefer privacy on certain
exteriors walls, clerestory windows are the perfect solution. Clerestory
windows are located high off the finish floor level, usually close to the
roofline to still enable natural light to pour in but frees up valuable wall
space. They also are used as a design feature by architects to give the
appearance of the roofline as floating above the structure and can be used in a
variety of applications.
Clerestory windows
free up valuable wall space
7. Design your windows around the orientation of your
property
If you are in the planning stages of your home consider
the geographic location of your home and how your house will be situated on
your property in accordance with the sun. Architects and contractors alike will tell you
to “walk the property” when choosing design features of your home. You may not
want to put a window wall of glass in a bedroom where the early sun wakes you
if you’re a late riser! Similarly look at climatic changes and seasonal changes
for your area to maximize hot and cold temperature changes when choosing the
right window.
8. Use a variety of shapes and sizes of windows for
visual interest
There are no specific design rules when it comes to
choosing window shapes and sizes and therefore let your design side come out
when choosing the perfect ones! At Sentric Design we’re like to play with voids
and solid space on walls and place windows in interesting configurations that
are appealing to the eye as well as takes advantages of gorgeous views. From
rectilinear and curvilinear varieties to custom shaped windows look to window
manufacturers to see all of the options available to you.
9. Look to solar glazing to save energy and your furnishings
Another consideration when choosing windows is how much heat
gain and loss through your glazing or windows is transmitted. Several window
manufacturers sell solar glazing or windows that keep more harmful Ultraviolet
or UV light from penetrating into your home. We already know the potential
harmful effects of UV light when outdoors but the light can also fade your
furniture and finishes as well.
Create
an artwork window wall with the view
10. Use your window wall as the “artwork” for your interiors
There isn’t any better piece of wall art than nature. When
choosing colours and finishes for your rooms look outside to the view to get
inspiration. A kitchen that overlooks a gorgeous garden through picture frame
windows may not need a lot of colour to compete with the beautiful view.
Windows can help you reinvent your interiors by using the view as inspiration!
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