Quick update - contacted Solar Glass. Marvin will be more than Kolbe. I guess we will just suck up the difference and go with Kolbe. First major item and already $36K over budget unless we go with Pella.

I too am looking at integrity... actually have a meeting with them tomorrow. i got quote from my builder for jeldwin SDL builder series windows but the quote i got on my own from interity was good bit less. So I'm interested and will post more as I get info.

We are just finishing our kitchen remodel so haven't really used our new doors/windows. We went with Pella for the windows, specifically because we wanted the mini-blinds between the panes. The only reason we did not go with Pella for the patio door is that the screen is on the inside. There have been previous posts regarding that issue. At least several people have commented that, during a warm night with the door open, bugs congregate on the screen which has to be opened in order to close the door. Personally, I did not want to look at the screen from the inside. BTW, we have now had Pella service out here three times and have another call scheduled. Two windows arrived scratched, one mini-blind chord was broken upon delivery, and the mini blinds in one window are out of alignment. Also, one screen frame is out of square. We are about to replace windows in another part of the house and I will not go with Pella again.

Architect series is double glazed (insulating glass with Low E and argon gas). Designer series is usually triple glazed (insulating glass Low E argon plus gas a 3rd pane) but they do have a double glazed (single glazed plus a removable 2nd layer - stick with triple in Designer). Designer series costs more than Architect series in part because it is three layers of glass instead of two. It's been my observation that Designer series triple glazed costs about $50-$100 more than Architect series double glazed. That price does not include between-glass blinds. Blinds probably add another $175-$225. Blinds, shades, grilles, are optional. As for which is the higher end product, it depends on what you're looking for. In casements, they use the same frame, hardware, weatherstrip, etc., and only the sashes are different. So they essentially perform the same (for air/water infiltration resistence) except for insulating propertirs of double glazed vs. triple glazed. In double hungs, both are vey good, but Architect series is the higher rated of the two for air/water and Designer is higher rated for insulation because of the three panes. Frankmol, if you're paying $425 for Architect but $1,100 for Designer there is something definately wrong there. I've put in a LOT of windows from various brands over the last 30 years, and I like Pella, but there is NO WAY the difference should be that much. You should expect to pay maybe $100 each more at most, plus the cost of blinds if you get those. It sounds like your dealer or contractor is artificially jacking the price way up on one series but not the other.