You are probably referring to the snap in, which do look cheap, IMO. However, it makes interior window cleaning easier (assuming you don't break the grilles removing and replacing.)

A Farmhouse window grille allows for clean and sleek lines. There doesn’t need to be a lot of window trim or hype. Think simple! This features two panes of glass separated by a muntin on both top and bottom sashes of double-hung windows. This results in a four-pane glass window when closed. That said, some farmhouse windows do a 2 over 1 design. That means there are two panes of glass on the top and one large pane of glass on the bottom of the double hung window. Both styles are beautiful and completely appropriate for a farmhouse.

True divided lite (sometimes referred to as divided light) windows consist of multiple panes of glass separated by muntins. This traditional approach to achieving a divided window.

Full divided light grilles provide a visual replication of true divided glass. The option consists of a permanently applied exterior ; an aluminum spacer between the glass, and a removable or permanently applied interior grille.

You want full divided, because the insulation is better.

Thanks for the info. Yes - the true divided lights are beautiful windows. The option I am wondering about for grills, grids muntins..... are Grills (grids) between the glass (GBG) The most common grill option, these grid dividing systems sections are sandwiched between glass panes in dual and triple-glazed windows. They are easy to clean and can be colour matched to the colour of the window frame.

From afar, they give the impression of divided lights but up close, you see they are 'fake'. However I guess it's the 'look' I'm going for. Clear glass is a cleaner look. On to more hours of scouring photos! :)

I hate the sandwiched in between look. It looks cheap because it is cheap.

I didn't build my current home. It has the snap in interior grills. They are wood and can be painted to match the interior trim. My experience is they shrink a little bit and after a while some of them don't fit as snugly into the window frame. They become easy to knock out. But, they are easy to take out and clean the dog noses.

I prefer the divided light windows and that is what I put in when I built my custom home. You pay a premium and you can tell the difference from the street.

Looking at your elevation, you won't be wrong with your choice. It will come down to personal preference. I'd advise you to either get the entirely smooth window or the fully divided light. Don't go halfway with the other two options.

Wouldn't do grids if I could avoid them as a general rule.

Thanks for the input - when I look up houses with a "modern farmhouse", most of them have the black windows with grids so thought I might be missing the mark not doing them- but I think I'll do more 'coastal' look with white windows. I'll save some money too :)

The grids always look cheap and prevent you from ever changing your trim color. Simulated divided light or nothing.

You seem to have a lot of window sizes and placement as if you are trying for a modern or mid century look, but the finishes chosen are all more traditional. There seem to be a disconnect in those two things currently.

Have all four correct exterior elevations drawn without grills and have all four correct exterior elevations drawn with grills and see which one you like best.

@Hallett & Co Yes I’m struggling with the “style” & was concerned about that. If I want farmhouse, then I should be doing black windows, cream exterior, cream or wood posts. I’m trying to work with more “coastal” look and I like the cool & warm combo colours of driftwood washed shakes and hardy board, white windows, white posts, dark grey shingles on roof & light grey metal roof on porch.
Window treatments like California shutters inside would give lines to the windows too. It’s the windows high in the foyer, that are causing the most problems for me. I’ve already made them smaller. I’m hoping it will all come together with landscaping, lights& furnishings!

Love this Conversation… i am thinking about having this at a vet clinic… should i worry about dogs breaking the grill in a SDL?

The absense of muntins gives houses the "blank stare" look that is very disconcertng in all but the most modernistic designs. For looks, TDL is ideal because the individual panes will sit in slightly different planes and reflect light slightly differently, breaking up the big uniform panel of glass. Unfortunately TDL is expensive and a lot less energy efficient. SDL gives you a reasonable compromise with cost and efficiency vs looks. The internal grids on the inside do little for the external appearance of the house; the snap in ones are just nasty and cheap.

The effect of TDLs is subtle, but is one of the reasons old houses look much more interesting than houses with modern windows. Once you learn to notice the effect you'll see it everywhere.

I so agree @rwiegand - a large and expensive home near me just got renovated and has a weird cold look now (I walk my dog by it every day lol) - I could not put my finger on what the difference was and realized last week it's the new windows. For me, an owner has one chance to do windows right as they are a tremendous investment. (We renovated after living in our house 7 years and part of the delay was saving for high-quality $$$ SDL windows with internal and external grids - SO worth the wait)