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Windows Remodeling Design Dilemma

I need advice on box bay window.

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

We have a small ranch home with a large picture window. 9'×5' I am looking at having the window built out to a box bay. This would be a flat front window (no angled windows) with three sections. My question is, would this look good? The projection would be 8" from the brick. The inside would gain a window seat 12" deep. I'm also not sure if a plain window or window with grills would look better. It's hard to spend so much money with no idea of how it will look.

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Comments (9)

oberon476
3 years ago
I am no expert on such things, but as I look at the close up of your home and at the existing window, I just don’t think it would fit very well.

As you said, that’s a lot of money for an improvement that you aren’t sure about.
Tara
3 years ago
It might add some interest to the exterior. But, of course, you'd have to groom those plants.
My Own House · More Info

Bay Windows · More Info

Bay Windows · More Info

View of Box Bay Window from Front Entry Walk · More Info

But then, it might look like a greenhouse slapped onto the side of your house.
BAY BOW WINDOW · More Info
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1)That could be a problem, or it could not. It would definitely need a more in-depth analysis. 2)Yes, that is correct--- although I have had to fight local inspectors on more than one occasion about the 9sf. 3) I do not know of any, this sounds like a custom carpentry job to me. 4) Are you trying to cut down on heat gain or take advantage of it for the colder months? That would dictate the type of glass package that would be best for you. A professional would be able to assess what would be most beneficial in this regard based on the unique circumstances of your home. 5) In my opinion a window specialist that also is knowledgeable and experienced in custom carpentry would be the best bet. Windows on Washington is a tremendous company, I would definitely consult with them to see if they would be a good fit.
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Sophie - I disagree. I did not design this. I have no pretensions to being a designer and for many other aspects of the renovation we have indeed had formal plans drawn up. [I also know from experience that having an architect involved is far from a panacea .... but that's another story or stories]. For this room we knew we needed to replace the large leaky picture window and instead of replacing in kind we asked whether it would be possible and reasonable to build a window seat and what would be involved. We showed the contractor many pictures of window seats and shared the required dimension ranges (not exact dimensions) from various articles. He said a bay window would take care of it and no separate plans were required. I include the manufacturer's literature excerpt that says their Bay and Bow windows can be used as window seats. It seemed (and actually still seems) a reasonable solution. Projection Window Bay and Bow windows are like a piece of fine furniture for the façade of your home. These unique windows project from your home, creating additional space that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as a window seat or displaying meaningful trinkets. Our vinyl windows (typically double-hung or casement windows) are inserted into a solid frame to create this unique look that adds style to any home. Bay windows typically have three lites (one central fixed lite and two flanking operational lites) at 20-25-degree angles. Bow windows most commonly consist of four lites, all of which can be fixed or operational, set at 10-15 degree angles. The contractor asked us to describe what we wanted to the window vendor as well and we did. We never used the term bay window. We only talked in terms of window seat. The window vendor also did not dissuade us or suggest we needed an addition instead of a window. The window vendor spec'd the window we needed. Given that we have 8 foot ceilings - this would have been a really good place to catch that a 52" bay window wouldn't be long enough to provide a seat at a reasonable height off the floor. I think that's the key flaw here - plus someone's telling us that (unless I'm wrong) we weren't going to get the wood backing. Tomorrow should be interesting ...
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It’s a beautiful house and the window boxes will look great!! Can’t wait to see how they look!! Please keep in mind black window boxes are a strong statement that will create a u shape around each window when combined with the shutters. The other thing is that all of your black elements are oriented vertically right now which is a very cohesive look. Do you want the focus to be on the boxes themselves or the plants in the boxes? The white would read as an extension of the window trim.
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Peter Samarin Construction
3 years ago
In my opinion the look gained on the exterior would not be very different than what you have currently. The value in the change would mainly be determined by the interior window seat space and light gained from the side windows. Best of luck.
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BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
IMO it's not worth it just to get a window seat that likely is not deep enough for anyone to use. a 12" window seat is simply a deep ledge and not really a seat anyone can sit upon.

The construction issue is how to address closing the box at the top and supporting the box at the bottom because this becomes a heavy element. I'm assuming you have no additional brick to create the support

Though this square bay is floating, it's not very deep for a window seat.
ptreckel
3 years ago
What is driving your desire to do this? A need to change the window or a desire to break up the right facade a bit? If that is the case, you could consider the idea of breaking up the large expanse of one window with a three window unit. A fixed, larger pane in the window, flanked by two casements that are narrower.
decoenthusiaste
3 years ago
How deep are your dining chairs? Any thing less than that is not useful for most butts. If just trying to change the look or increase curb appeal, you need to focus on landscaping, removing the overgrown evergreens and dividing/transplanting the hydrangeas and clearing out the visual clutter at the front door..
Anne Duke
3 years ago
It’s a situation in which landscape is the issue not the house. The windows are blocked, the entrance obscured and it’s all much too dense. More value to hire a designer to redo the yard.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
I agree the landscaping is over powering the house and IMO you gain nothing from adding a bay window and this house really does not suit one any way. I would need to see how a window seat is worth this expense since they are used rarely in most cases.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
3 years ago
Sounds like a 12” window ledge, designed especially for the household kitties to take a nap on.

I have to agree with the others about the landscaping. Those hydrangeas are lovely but poorly placed and too big for the front of the house. The evergreens, too. Overgrown and past their prime.

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