Modern Picture Window Design

Want an amazing view? Too bad the builder of your home put in windows that need glazing bars every few feet. Or worse yet, he only installed a small window or no window at all on that wall. If you are designing a home or remodeling one you own, and the wall in question isn't right up against your neighbor's home, your reno is a prime candidate for picture windows. Picture windows are a must have for any home that looks onto a beautiful environment, be it cityscape or country. Let the light in!

What is a Picture Window?

A picture window is a single-paned window that is reminiscent of a picture frame. The window has no glazing bars, or one glazing bar that is toward the edge of the window. This allows you to view a larger area of the outdoors in one unimpeded view.

You wouldn't frame a picture of your family in a frame with bars running through the middle of it, would you? Yet for years, that's how windows have been designed. However, your view no longer has to be ruined by a window divided into several sections. Treat your view like the picture it should be, and frame it.

What Makes a Picture Window Right For Me?

There are several reasons picture windows are perfect for your home.

One reason to choose a picture window is to fully display a view that has been either obstructed with traditional windows or hidden by a wall. Some views deserve to be marveled at. Now you can marvel at yours from the comfort of your home.

Another reason for choosing a picture window is the natural light they provide. People need sunlight. There is a calming feel to watching a sunset. There is joy to be had from lying in the sun and reading a book, or sitting under soft moonlight while you eat dinner. Those who spend more time in natural light than artificial light are happier people. Windows allow you to enjoy all the benefits of natural light from inside.

Sun and moon light are not the only parts of nature you can benefit from with a picture window - a full window gives you the opportunity to be more in tune with all aspects of your surrounding environment. You have a front row seat to the changing of the seasons. The first snow of winter lands just on the other side of your glass. Dine next to a pile of fall leaves, or curl up and tell ghost stories with your kids on a dark stormy night. Watch flowers bloom as spring arrives right outside your door.

Finally, windows expand your home. While the window is technically the wall, it will never feel like that again. When you can look out your window and see for miles, it really brings the outdoors into your home. Even a small room feels almost endless with picture windows.

What Options Are Available?

After you've decided a window is right for you, you'll have to narrow it down to type. So what options do you have? In short, almost anything you can imagine. It can curve to follow the unique shape of your home. They can be square or have rounded tops for a more dramatic look. You can choose windows that open by sliding, open upwards and outwards like traditional windows, or even have the locking hardware hidden to make it look even more like a picture frame. Endless designs are available, so whatever the structure of your dream home is, picture windows can fit right in. Explore all your options and choose which windows work best in your home.

Depending on your age and stage in life, you might associate spring with "fever", "break" or "cleaning". But the one constant is that it signifies the end of winter, and that alone is reason to celebrate with some custom designed picture windows. With a versatility that makes them a popular choice for many types of homes, picture windows are large fixed windows featuring a wide expanse of glass. Their name derives from the clear view they provide, essentially acting as a picture frame for outdoor scenery.