In terms of home design, the open floor plan was the darling of designers in the early 1970s. And until recently, it has remained very popular. Living spaces became multi-functional, and the lack of walls made it easier to heat and cool homes. Family togetherness was emphasized, and the ‘great room’ became an almost must-have in the real estate world. Homes with this type of design were perceived as having greater value than a comparable traditional home.
But there is a drawback to the open, and perhaps with the stay-at-home trend over the past two years, homeowners are finding the lack of privacy or separate spaces to find refuge in less than desirable. As more and more people work from home or distance learn, having a quiet office or school space is now essential. Another facet is that with the open floor plan, decorating options are reduced.
Enter the resurgence of interior walls.
One major benefit of the open floor plan is that natural light flooded the interior spaces since there were few interior walls to block the light. As sectioned-off areas are returning to homes, that makes choosing the right replacement windows extremely important, especially in rooms where natural light is almost an essential – such as home offices, kitchens, spaces used for schooling, etc. And it’s doubly important for any small spaces.
There are multiple ways you can bring the most daylight into a room. One of the best is to choose window styles such as casements and sliders that have no middle sash to break up the glass, like double hung windows do. Also avoid grilles or the divided light look. Another way is to choose slimmer window frames. Fiberglass replacement windows – such as the ones we install from Marvin – generally have thinner window frames than comparable wood or vinyl windows.
Another option is to consider replacing an existing window with a door, such as a full glass French or in-swing door. Sometimes the best window is in fact a door.
Or consider larger windows, such as floor-to-ceiling or a window combination that extends the glass area. Note the look shown here (windows from ProVia), where transom windows top the double-hungs and bring in light almost to the ceiling.
Regardless of what kind of layout your home has, we have the right window solutions to bring in more daylight throughout. We are THE replacement window company for the Minneapolis area, and we install quality energy-efficient windows from companies like Marvin, ProVia, and more. We’d be happy to schedule a private appointment for you at our showroom in Savage. There’s no obligation, and you might be surprised at all the options we offer to create a home you love. Reach out to us today!
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
