Window aesthetics and functionality can make or break a home. When it's time for new windows, you want to make the right choice. Modern technology constantly evolves, providing ever-increasing options in design and efficiency. However, some structures weren't built with the 21st century in mind.
Installing new windows is a slippery slope when it comes to a house's appearance. A wooden frame may have worked 200 years ago, but that's not a good route to take in today's world. Therefore, finding ways to mix and match modern-day with yesteryear is an art form.
It's best to know what you're getting into before you make decisions that will affect your home for decades to come. Not all styles are universal, so you have to be informed when it comes to modern updates and how they'll work.
Pick the Right Windows for Your Home
If you need to select new windows for your house, a lot of factors come into play. You have to understand the home's design purpose to maximize natural efficiency while staying true to its form.
Yes, you're able to update historical structures in a modern way, hitting a balance of functionality, aesthetics, quality, and value.
Modernization can focus on standing out or blending in. It's all up to your tastes! Therefore, figuring out your preferences and working with experienced professionals like US Window & Door will help achieve your desired look while instantly enhancing resale value and curb appeal.
Contemporary Style
Contemporary architecture isn't a stand-alone category. A mix of dramatically varying designs, it encompasses pretty much whatever the client and architect want.
Shapes of the structures vary as well, from traditional to eye-catching. Tube-like and sprawling are equally common, as well as sharp angles, odd angles, or no angles. Curvilinear and rectilinear forms are both fair game, too.
Since contemporary architecture is a 21st-century global concept, it shouldn't be married to a particular window style or frame material. Windows should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Though, aluminum is a catch-all window material in this regard, especially for homes with a lightweight design.
Picture Windows
You can't go wrong with picture windows in contemporary architecture. Their clean aesthetics and unobtrusive rawness afford a straightforward link to the exterior. However, since they don't open, they need to be viewed as a natural light source and more of an artistic wall versus airflow supplementation.
Double Side-Sliding Windows
If you're more of a fan of cross-breezes, then these side-sliding windows are a better option. While you won't get an unobstructed link to the outdoors, they'll provide you with the ventilation you need for air circulation.
Farmhouse
For farmhouses, basic form follows function. Plain and simple, they serve a purpose, often designed to house a number of people with accommodating storage areas.
A traditional style, they're not reliant upon aesthetics as much as other homes. Often older structures, their large designs are livable and no-frills. They're homey and inviting but without fanfare.
Age is often a concern with farmhouses. Therefore, fiberglass windows offer strong frames that are geared toward longevity. They have a great resistance to rotting, swelling, and warping.
Garden Windows
A nice garden window spices up the common features of a farmhouse. A slight protrusion will enhance aesthetics while also staying true to the house's functional spirit by providing an area to grow plants.
Jalousie Windows
Another functional idea, jalousie windows allow vast amounts of airflow. But their shining feature is protection. When opened, their slats deflect the elements, making them perfect for continued ventilation during California storms.
Colonial Revival
If you live in a Colonial Revival structure, your home's age can vary greatly. Spanning almost 150 years, this style traces its roots to colonial times in America, paying homage to strict lines, sturdy rectangles, and a looming presence. However, this architecture allows for liberty in distinctive flair, borrowing ideas from eclectic influences.
Symmetry is king in Colonial Revival. Therefore, the public face of a structure is domineering and neat. With a focus on repetitious confidence, abundant windows are a key characteristic. Whereas traditional colonial structures have a meticulous window pattern, Colonial Revival affords unrestricted freedom while still remaining devoted to overall core values.
To keep your home true to its style but with a modern touch, window updates should be conventional. This will add worth to a classic look. While vinyl isn't the first material that comes to mind for a Colonial Revival structure, replacement windows should focus on the building material's natural retention of climates since window placement is based more on aesthetics versus functionality. Therefore, vinyl will help maintain desired temperatures.
Double-Hung Windows
Double-hung windows are great for bedrooms, bathrooms, and anywhere else where ceilings aren't exceptionally tall. Operating from both sashes allows for cross-ventilation and not just a one-way breeze. Plus, they keep the face of the structure looking clean whether they're opened or closed.
Single-Hung Windows
For rooms that have a higher ceiling, windows should still provide ventilation for adequate airflow. Single-hung windows are perfect for an accessible way to still allow air to enter without the hassle of dealing with hard-to-reach areas.
Victorian
A symbol of regal opulence, Victorian architecture hit its prime in the latter half of the 1800s. As style was often named after reigning monarchs, this popular architecture in both America and Britain carried through Queen Victoria's tenure and into other nations as well.
With industrialization, came modern construction methods and materials. Therefore, architectural concepts, for the first time, capitalized on a number of designs in a contemporary way. Victorian architecture, in essence, saw itself as a gentle Gothic Revival. While this revival had been going strong for a century, Victorian architecture added a softer, more inviting, and homely touch to it.
Windows for Victorian homes are a key feature, so it's best to stay true to the structure's original intent. However, adding modern efficiency is perfectly okay. Aluminum windows work well in these heavy and sturdy buildings, as this material is geared toward strength while also matching design elements.
Bay Windows
A bay window is a combination of three windows, at least one is a differing size. As they extend emphatically from the structure, they provide incredible lighting and views. Bay windows are all about opening up a structure. They're a classic feature of many California Victorian homes.
Bow Windows
Bow windows are rather similar to bay windows. What makes them different is that they're comprised of three or more symmetrical panes. Applying the same concept as bay windows, bow windows break apart the view, painting the exterior in a portrait-style light for a more artistic presentation of the outdoors.
Mediterranean
Mediterranean architecture is a revival style that encompasses several regions. Centered on the Mediterranean styles of Europe, Africa, and Asia, its hybrid designs are eclectic and reminiscent of seaside villas.
This architecture hit its height during the Art Deco decades and is most often associated with Florida and California in regards to the United States. Characterized by stucco, tile, and wrought iron, it provides a smooth look that hinges on overall symmetry but also allows for tasteful and unassuming deviation.
Windows for Mediterranean architecture should fit naturally into the structure's neutral shades. Fiberglass frames work well for such structures, as you can paint them to blend in with the entire color scheme.
Arch Windows
Rounded windows contrast beautifully with the common Mediterranean floor plan, adding a sense of harmony. Prominent arching views breach the comfort of traditional shapes, adding a touch of dramatic and lively sensation.
Single Horizontal Side-Sliding Windows
Side-sliding windows are a bit of a curveball thrown at Mediterranean architecture. However, the unobtrusive nature of opening them will stay true to the original symmetrical intent of the structure's overall facade. With the openness of this type of structural design, horizontal windows won't look out of place if they're done with creative respect to historical artistry.
Mid-Century Modern
The epitome of class, style, and sophistication in the 20th century's zenith, Mid-Century Modern (MCM) is the definitive American architectural catalyst. Stemming from the ideals of Taliesin and Bauhaus, this next generation of architects applied both industrial and organic principles to focus on nature's efficiency while keeping structures lightweight, open, and stylish.
No doubt about it, MCM is in a league of its own. It's both friendly to its owners and the senses, yet often private to the public. There's curb appeal, but much remains hidden.
MCM walks a fine line. Window treatments are frowned upon, yet privacy is a chief concern. Therefore, a creative and resourceful balance of "seeing out but not seeing in" comes into play when selecting window styles. Aluminum works well for frames, as this is an original building material that's also unassuming.
Casement Windows
Casement windows operate by a crank. Opening like a door, they create somewhat of an obstruction for those outside, while still providing a full exterior view for people indoors. They also offer tremendous airflow.
Awning Windows
Awning windows are crank-less casement windows on their sides. Their aesthetics are similar in regards to privacy, too. Their primary benefit is that they can remain open during inclement weather.
Add a Modern Touch to Old Houses
Modernized materials don't have to detract from the original aesthetics of your structure. In fact, they do the opposite by adding value to your house, instantly upgrading its quality.
Modern Updates to Classic Designs
Dealing exclusively with Milgard windows, US Window & Door is a certified installer, providing the ultimate experience in customer satisfaction. Milgard windows are insulated, energy-efficient, and engineered to fit the unique climate of Southern California. Made to withstand heat, wind, and water, they come with a limited lifetime warranty.
The Motivation Behind Modernization
Aside from the hardware, colors, and accessories, US Window & Door offers a number of window options. Thermal breaks, for example, add a barrier between panes for extra insulation and efficiency. And SunCoat Low-E is a UV protectant made to increase the life of your interior structure and furnishings.
A variety of materials are also available. They include vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum. Currently, aluminum is a popular choice in window replacements.
Aluminum Improvements
Aluminum windows in San Diego are great for Southern California climates if you're not near the beach. Adaptable to most styles of architecture, they are lightweight but hold up exceptionally well. Their durability is unmatched by other materials. Plus, they will not crack, break, or split due to the elements.
Customizing aluminum windows is easy, as they can be formed into many shapes. Their textures and colors are made to fit, providing a tidy and sleek appearance. Sustainable with a minimal carbon footprint, they're the environmentally-friendly way to go!
Cost is another reason why aluminum windows are sought after. With thermo-regulation and UV protection, this higher energy performance rating cuts down on utilities. But the savings don't end with reduced electric bills. Aluminum windows are more affordable than most other window types.
Upgrade to Stylish New Windows Today
No matter the style of your home, US Window & Door will provide you with a seamless transition into the 21st century. There's no better time than now to look into replacing your old windows with something new and state-of-the-art. Add a unique appearance to your home, or go for a traditional style. Either way, we'll take care of everything. You can be sure that you're getting unparalleled service with a quality and value you can trust.
For a free estimate* on your replacements, contact US Window & Door. Here, you'll get the answers and assistance you need for a quality job that'll last you decades. With over 30 years of experience, we specialize in a number of areas. Serving San Diego County and Southern Orange County, we're a trusted mainstay in home improvements. Employing skilled experts, we offer the services you need with a dependable reputation you can count on.
Closing it Up
With everything that US Window & Door has to offer, you can be sure that there's something to match your structure. No matter its age, we'll fit you with the windows that work best for your architecture, personal taste, lifestyle, and budget. Whether you're going for aluminum windows or another material, don't delay! Stop putting off till tomorrow what you should have done yesterday. Call or message us to begin your journey to a more efficient future for your home!
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