The most common window in American homes is the double-hung, with upper and lower sashes that slide up and down. But if you’re planning a project that includes replacing windows, consider a casement instead.
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Barn doors are notable for their distinctive use of space. Rather than hang on vertical hinges and swing open, they go on horizontal tracks and roll open, remaining relatively flat against adjoining walls.
Since the weight of a barn door is distributed over the width of its track, a heavier- or larger-than-usual door can be accommodated.
Using barn doors at home is a common practice of architects, designers, and homeowners whose aim is to create a better “flow” without sacrificing the ability to partition spaces for private use. Where floor space is limited, barn doors are an ideal solution.
Slideshow: 10 Chic New Ideas in Barn Doors
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I remember waking up as a kid on wintry mornings to find frost on my bedroom window obscuring the trees and yard.
Those were traditional six-over-six windows, with individual panes of glass secured between muntins. With newer construction and the advancement in double-paned window technology, window frost is not as commonplace as it used to be. But it still occurs in plenty of older homes, and while frost formations can be stunningly beautiful, they are not something a homeowner should welcome.
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Stained glass is not just for churches. If you walk through any of America’s older neighborhoods, anywhere Victorian or Craftsman-style homes are common, you will undoubtedly stumble upon beautiful works of art embedded right into the walls.
Designers Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Comfort Tiffany brought stained glass out of the churches and into homes. Wright’s stained glass pieces echoed his architecture, with geometric patterns of straight lines, rectangles, squares and circles dominating. Tiffany’s work was much more inspired by nature, with fluid lines and outstanding representations of trees, flowers, and other natural elements.
Related: 10 Stained Glass Windows We Love
Interior doors have important jobs. They provide sound insulation, privacy and character to your home.
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Almost no other part of your home gets as much exposure as the front door. It’s where you greet friends and family, serve (or scare) trick-or-treaters, and enjoy the songs 0f holiday carolers. A front door says a lot about who lives inside.
There is a dizzying variety of options to choose from in front doors, both in style (paneled, double, arched) and construction (wood, fiberglass, metal). Selecting an entryway can be completely overwhelming, but fortunately there are some practical matters to help guide the decision-making process.
Style
Your front door should fit in architecturally with the rest of your home. But you can take the opportunity to let this element say something about you, as well. Are you the traditional type? Maybe the classic six-panel door is right for you. More whimsical? Perhaps an arched door with stained glass. There is something out there for everyone, so feel free to express yourself.
Andersen 100 Series gliding window and picture window with SmartSun
Technological advancements have resulted in a new breed of ‘smart windows’ offering consumers enhanced security and maximum energy efficiency.
Leading window and door manufacturer Andersen and technology producer Honeywell have collaborated to develop a state-of-the-art system known as VeriLock, which places Honeywell’s 5800-series of wireless sensors within the locking mechanisms of a select group of Andersen products.
“Windows and doors are a home’s first layer of protection for both comfort and security,” says Holly Boehne, senior vice president of research, development, and innovation at Andersen. “It’s important to make that layer ‘smarter’ for added protection to give peace of mind to homeowners.”
Whether you choose a handle set, lever, or knob for your entry door, you also need a deadbolt for greatest security. Adding a deadbolt to your existing lock is a fairly easy job, but you’ll be using two keys unless you buy the lockset and the deadbolt together.
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While shutters are the traditional line of defense against storms, break-ins, and the hot sun, unfortunately you have to be home to put them to use. Impact-resistant glass is a great built-in option for protecting your home from storm damage, theft, or even just road noise!
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There are lots of ways to shade your windows from the sun, and if they seem a little old-fashioned, it’s because they worked even before there was air conditioning.
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