Keep arched/half circle windows or pay more for different shape
I am in the early process of remodeling my 1987 home. I need to replace my windows and front and garage doors. Then select paint colors for the house, and decide whether to paint or get new roof tiles, buy a new garage door, etc. Then I need to redo the landscaping, but will start in the front yard. I am having a company comIng by today to remove my dead trees and trim the healthy ones.
I am trying to get away from the current “fan” design on my LARGE front and 2 smaller garage windows. I was thinking about changing them to a grid design. I have gotten quotes and ideas from some window companies. But I just found out that one of my neighbors, who had an arched bay window design, found a company to change the shape of the window to a square/rectangle windows. Of course, it will cost more money, but I think it might be worth it to change my window shape. But my house facade is different than hers because I only have one LARGE arched window. So I’m not sure if one large rectangle window will look good on my house.
I am in desperate need of advice, because these windows will have a large influence in my choosing the style of my front door, garage door, the color of my exterior house paint, landscaping, or roof tile choices, etc.
Should I keep my arched windows and just change them to a grid design? Or should I change the window shape and what shape to select? I would love any design advice in general including the house paint color, the landscaping design, and what color to paint or to change the tiles to.
The windows on the side of my house:
My neighbor’s arched bay windows before:
My neighbor’s square windows after:
Regular and very common fan window design:
Arched windows without any grids:
As of right now the windows will be in bronze. The options include just a picture window or a picture window over sliders.
i don't think my window would look good with just an open picture window like below:
This is the window shape that I think might look good, but I want it without the thick trim/border.:
These are the exterior house paint colors that I keep gravitating towards.
i would like to add outside decorative window shutters too,
Inspiration:
i would like to make my door taller by removing the half circle window above my door and put in a metal or wrought iron door.
I know it’s a lot, and some of my “wants” may not go together and/or won’t look good, so I appreciate any feedback in advance. Even though I can‘t do everything at once, I will have a plan.
Thank you!
Comments (18)
PROPatricia Colwell Consulting
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoGigi Rosa thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Maureen
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoA detailed plan is the most important by far and I don’t think the windows should be driving decisions (even if being done first). Budget is always the biggest factor and what is structurally possible. I think your inspiration pictures indicate you aren’t clear about your direction. Traditional vs more modern will dictate decisions (roof, landscaping, windows, colors, etc ) and will be so much easier to make. I’d be soliciting professional input at this point around feasibility, both visually and financially.
Consider enlarging windows, no matter what look you decide on, as additional light is a bonus in a home and the exterior will also benefit.
You could even add door/small patio off the living room and create a little courtyard. There are many decisions ahead in creating a good plan; good luck.
Gigi Rosa thanked MaureenRelated Discussions
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PROHomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoGigi Rosa thanked HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
Therese N
2 years agoGigi Rosa
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoSuch great advice. Thank you! I am pretty sure my house style is suppose to be Spanish Revival (aka Spanish Eclectic and Spanish Colonial). I love that style and would love to keep it. There are so many variations in my neighborhood. From large arched windows, wood accents and beams, wrought iron decorative accents on the windows, house shutters, etc, but I am not sure about the front window because it's more a half circle than a true arch. Especially when compared to the beautiful true arched windows in Maureen's pictures above.
Most of the other houses in my neigborhood were custom homes built in the late 1980's with the same Spanish Revival style. HOWEVER, instead of keeping some of the basic and classic features of Spanish Revival, the original owners added "modern" style and features as upgrades to their homes. Of course modern back then in 1987 is dated for us. For example, where most of the homes have red terracotta tile roofs, my house has blue and grey ombre colored tiles. My house also has a Curved Four Season Enclosed Sunroom in my family room, that was built in 1987, and it has to go. I live in Arizona and these windows allow cold in during the winters and heat during the summmer. Thankfully, I have a large tree providing shade so that's its bearable until I remodel.
The front arched window faces the west and the room is suppose to be a formal living room. There isn't a lot of light in the morning and afternoon, because there is a tree that provides some shade until the sun is setting. So the window currently has black out curtains which are closed during sunset because it is the hottest part of the day. I feel the same way about the windows from the inside too. I would like grids. In my head I imagine my window lookng like the pictures below, but then I look at my windows and realize that the half circle design is not the same. I'm not confident if these style of windows even really go with Spanish Revival. But I do like the idea of enlarging the window. The other 2 are only garage windows so I will have to keep it to scale and I hope it itsn't too expensive. Hence hiring a professional, right? :-)
So in keeping with the Spanish Revival style, I thought that I should paint the house either a whitish, grayish, tan variation,, or creamy yellow (like I included in the above pictures). I want to keep bronze windows, and thought I should paint the roof tiles to a black or change it to a red terracotta. I was hoping that a metal wrought door and square window grids will be within the Spanish Revival style.I really like everyone's ideas. Thank you so much! I really love those examples Maureen. I would love my house to look like those pictures. I just have no idea how to get there. It is a great idea to consult with a professional. I think it will prevent me from making some errors which may cost me more at the end. Any advice on how to find someone? I would like to find someone reputable, but I don't know anyone who has remodeled their home. I only know people who have done small individual projects, such as painting their house, replacing windows, and doing landscaping. So again, any advice on finding a professional would be appreciated.
Gigi Rosa
2 years ago
PROHALLETT & Co.
2 years ago
PROBeth H. :
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoArched can work if they're done right. while not bronze, I do like this black window, with the grids and this type of arch. I also like the bright white stucco w/dark trim
tried to photoshop it on to yours so you can see.
I would definitely remove those pop-outs that cut the home in half, and that go around the window. keep it all flush like in the pic.
If doing the bronze windows, maybe this color sceme? can't tell if your roof tiles are like mine. (see further down)
another before and after. I like these windows, but they still kept some of the arches.
I have a similar type of home from 1980. I changed my tiles to charcoal, and went w/this color scheme
I didn't have the arched windows (and none are seen from the front anyway, since I have the enclosed courtyard)I would not do the shutters on your type of home.
here is one w/the bronze windows/doors. stucco is more of a creamy tone, and maybe something like Urbane Bronze (SW)
since you're in AZ, I'd look at pictures of Xeriscape front yards for Mediterranean style homes.Gigi Rosa thanked Beth H. :Gigi Rosa
last yearlast modified: last year@Beth H. :@mimimomy @Tara @Maureen @lisaam
It has been a looong time, but my windows were finally installed. Construction on removing old 4 season garden windows in the back of the house, will start next month and are being replaced with a 4 panel sliding glass door next month. Then I can paint, figure out my door, and fix my landscaping. I am still trylng to figure out my house paint color scheme and am I leaning towards the color scheme that Beth H. suggested above, but it depends on what i can do with the hideous original blue/gray concrete roof tiles I currently have now. Once I figure that out I can move on to window treatments.
But I LOVE my new arched windows!! i am glad I didn’t square them off. I aiso love the grid pattern. I don’t think I would have liked them without any grids. Thank you for all your help and advice!!
Before:
I need to take pictures in the daytime and post those.mimimomy
last yearGigi Rosa
last yearThank you! Here are daytime pics of the windows. Please disregard the house’s current need of painting. i will be painting the house once construction is completed.
The before of the bay window:
houssaon