Windows - An Important Impact on Home Design

Think about the windows of a home in two different ways - how do they make the house look from the outside?

AND - What do you see when you look out of them from the inside?

Are there a lot of windows? Are they really large? This impacts the energy efficiency of a home. Even with double pane windows, large area's of glass will make a room cold in the winter and hot in the summer if the sun shines into that room directly for several hours a day.

West facing windows will cause that room to be very warm in the afternoon as the sun shines in. It may cause higher electric bills unless you spend the extra money to add blinds, drapes or shutters. East facing windows will let the morning sun light shine in.

If you have the opportunity to build a home and select the lot location, consider carefully where the windows are in the floor plan, how the house will be positioned on the lot, and where the sun will rise and set.

We had one home where the major living areas were at the back of the house this side faced west. It was so warm in the evenings while cooking and eating dinner that we had to have all the windows covered and could not see the great view of the setting sun - which was one of the reasons we bought that particular house in the first place!

Window coverings are expensive also - the more windows, the more you need to budget for in your initial move in expenses.

In my next home I am interested in trying some new windows for the bathroom that turn from see through to opaque with the flip of a light switch. I have found that window coverings in a bathroom are hard to maintain depending on the material they are made of due to the constant humidity generated from a shower or tub.

What do you want to see when you look out the windows in your next home? This is the view in the morning from my kitchen. A spectacular sunrise is always a great start to the day!