Windows for Rustic and Traditional Architecture

by Joan Riley, Home Product Writer for The House Designers®

In a world where everything gets sleeker and more streamlined, it can seem difficult to find products with good, old-fashioned style for architecture made popular in the past. If you have a home like this, you’ll be happy to know that, even as technologies and materials advance, aesthetically correct windows can still be found. Here are some tips to help you select windows that stay true to your home’s look inside and out!

Select the Right Type

Windows come in a variety of types thanks to a long history of innovation. Early operational glass windows were often of the sash variety, with panels that could move within their frames to open for ventilation. Double hung windows are the most popular example of this type, and they have enjoyed prominence from Georgian times to present. They are the most historically accurate choice for homes with Cape Cod and traditional farmhouse architecture.

Hinged casement windows, which swing open from one side, have also been around for hundreds of years, but they are usually found on grander homes. French country and Tudor houses typically use these. Original Craftsman designs can be found with casement as well as double hung windows, owing to their adaptability and diversity in style. Casement windows come in a wide range of sizes, so they are often favored for homes with particularly high ceilings.

While sash and hinged windows cater to different genres, they can overlap. Consider the intricacies of your home and the slew of design and functional features offered by each window model before purchasing.

Choose Wood Interiors

Wood frames are traditional, of course, but they aren’t the best at enduring weather conditions. Luckily, you can select beautiful real wood for the interior side of the window and leave the elements to another material. Aluminum cladding is a tough and long-lasting option. These windows have a wide palette of prefinished colors available, and you can also paint them in custom hues. While a wood exterior is undeniably beautiful and authentic, you must be willing to regularly maintain the frames, sashes, and muntins to keep the unit looking and functioning as well as you expect. The majority of homeowners opt for a low-maintenance, rot- and corrosion-resistant material like aluminum instead.

When protected in the home’s interior, wood frames become an irreplaceable part of the décor. Pine, the most commonly used species, can be delivered factory finished or primed, to be stained or painted to your liking. Consider your home’s location and the history of its style before making your final selection; while stained frames that show woodgrain may complement a cottage in the woods, a formal colonial might look better dressed up with something richer, like a darker stain or paint that provides a more uniform look.

Invest in Lites

Large uninterrupted panes are a relatively new innovation. Glassmakers of the past pieced multiple smaller panes together with wooden muntins to hold them in place; it was impossible to produce large clear panes and this was the only way to create full-sized windows. As a result, we still associate divided lites with older homes, and many homeowners insist on the style originally used on the house.

In general, the more lites a window has, the older its appearance. The six over six arrangement—which has six lites per sash—is a good standard for double hung windows, but homeowners who want a more transitional look often choose two over two. If clear sightlines are a priority, the lower sash can be a single pane while the top sash holds the traditional divided lite charm. Casement windows also come with a number of simple rectangular lites and special patterns like Prairie, which leaves the center of the window clear while using small lites around the edges to add interest. There are so many options, you should definitely ask a professional for assistance if you aren’t quite sure which lite pattern is right for your home and design goals.

If you’re searching for the perfect windows for your home, let the experts at Pella® lend a hand. With a huge collection of beautiful products, a focus on architectural design, and tons of custom capabilities, you’re sure to find windows that answer your needs. Schedule a free consultation to discuss the practically endless possibilities!