I have them in my whole house and absolutely love them. My house windows and atrium doors are Pella with the blinds between the glass, but in the garage and workshop they are another brand (something we ordered from Home Depot or Lowe's I believe.) They are wonderful, mine can be raised all the way for an open glass look or just left down and tilted open or closed as you like. No blinds or cords for the dogs and cats to mess with, and they stay clean. Much easier to clean a glass door or window than to keep blinds or other window coverings clean and in perfect shape with busy "critters" around (whether they have two or four legs.) LOL

Enclosed would be a great idea. I know I've seen them on many houses I've worked on, they're magnetic. They're not sealed in the argon sense of the world, in essence they're triple glazing with the argon part to the outside. You'll just have to google or go to the big hardware stores and look and ask, I know I've seen them on french doors, so windows might be a custom order. It's actually a great idea for a kitchen window (as long as you don't want an opener I guess) much cleaner.

OT for ILoveRed: Actually, I have an Ideabook with renders In Progress you can look at Here. Cabinetry style is just a fast mock-up, not what we'll use. We have made some changes I've not udpated in the Ideabook. Our kitchen was U shaped, and now it will be an open plan. We moved one wall back 3 feet, doing away with formal dining in favor of a small TV Room/Man Cave where we'll have a mini fridge, snack cab's, and coffee station for DH. Overhead view is different in that the island is a wee bit larger to accommodate added onion/potato/bread bins. We aren't going with side drawers in the corner but rather a super susan for more storage space. The DW will be a double drawer Fisher Paykel (also with panel fronts) since we wish to run 1/2 loads nightly (wash fewer dishes/pots/pans! LOL!). The inset above the range (outdated for some, but useful to me) will be wider, and not arched. Tile goes all the way to ceiling at the 'cabineted' vent. Vent cabinetry look still in progress, but it won't be stainless steel as that would clash with our home's style and is not our aesthetic. The fridge is a 'built in' 48" sub zero side by side (needed something large) that will be flush mounted to be integrated... 27" deep lower cabs allow our cabinet maker to do that. Medium tone painted peripheral cabinetry, stained island, pantry will be stained also. Large herb cabinet on one side of the pantry cabinet (I grow/dry herbs, make a ton of my own seasonings also). Pantry has a tall drawer at bottom for heavy tall items. Will have ROTS for every shelf in pantry. 30" cleanup sink away from my prep island which will have a 24" sink to both prep and wash. Induction slide in (didn't want wall ovens, not enough room and need only one. Our style is what I call a mutt mixture of Traditional, Old World, and French (we are lightening up the Old World and French as it was getting too dark and heavy). Paneled is not a popular look for some, but as it's open concept now, I wanted more of a cabinetry look and it's popular where we are located. The passthrough 'window' is to allow more light. The transom above the pocket door and the passthrough window also glass, as well as the pocket door itself for natural light. Pocket door and windowed passthrough so I don't have to hear DH's sports/car races while I cook! The most important aspects to me are flow, ease as we grow older, and usefulness. Style comes after. The Layout was designed by buehl - she is amazing! Further layout help and advice from cpartist, also amazing. Plugmolds under all cabinets, one outlet in wall in one corner for toaster/steam oven. Under cabinet lighting, pucks in seeded glass uppers I think (uppers used for storage/display). Plugmolds on 2 sides of island. Toe Kick drawer on one side of island (where we won't have a rug). The wine fridge at 24" W is too big for our needs, but wanted to go with a standard size in case we need to replace it. MW also replaceable, located in a hidden cabinet with flip up/push in door. Are using a pot filler, deck mounted, for sous vide, pastas, etc. Not a feature many would use, but one I'll use daily. Glass passthrough window needs to be tempered glass (cleanup sink is offset, we don't mind). Adding a panel (in closet) behind fridge wall so we can have fast access to water shut off. Extras not seen will be a small folding ladder hanging on the cleanup sink cab door to pull out and reach storage cabs. Under ca water filter at cleanup sink. Compost bin in prep sink cabinet. Knife holder in drawer at cutting block. Back on topic: Since you are inquiring about butcher blocks, we'll use either Boos or Armani Fine Woodworking, custom size. End grain. Both highly rated here on GW (and Armani has a 'how to' for installing but still be removable). I use both end and edge cutting boards and far prefer end grain on my knives. If you do an integrated cutting board, keep in mind not to let it be too tall as that will hinder natural chopping, cutting height. : ) I'm 5'5" and ours will be 1" above countertop (leathered so it won't glare in lights, won't show accidents as easily as polished).

We've had Pella sliders with built in blinds for 9 years. I raise and lower them almost daily. I slant them depending on amount of light I want in the room. Live in the upper midwest with hot summers and cold winters. No insulation problems and they do block road noise. I've even gotten used to the slight blue color of the low e glass. Never have to dust the blinds. The dog and grandchildren can't put their respective noses, paws, fingers through the blinds to damage them. The interior pane opens with a hinge? effect if we ever have to have the blinds changed. I would have a Pella person do this if it ever becomes necessary, I would not want to do this myself. I almost want to "knock on wood" that these have worked out so well for us when I see the negative responses to them.