If you live in a Colonial style home or are building one and need new windows, you may be wondering which window styles are best. Double and single hung are the most popular choice for Colonials, thanks to their architectural appeal and ventilation abilities. However, awning, bay and bow windows are also good choices. When it comes to grid styles, standard grids are best for emphasizing symmetry and geometric proportion.
About Colonials
One of the most popular styles in the country, Colonial homes have been around since the 1600s when colonists came over from Europe with their own tastes, preferences and styles. They originated in the New England area but are now found all across the nation.
They have these notable features:
- Two stories
- Entry door centered on the front façade
- Stairway to second floor directly located behind front entrance
- Central or symmetrically-paired chimneys
- Square, symmetrical architecture
- Medium-pitch gable roof
- Brick or white clapboard siding
Best Window Shapes
Some shapes complement Colonials over others.
Rectangular: To stay on point with the classic style, you need to incorporate a classic rectangular window shape. Colonial homes are reliant on symmetry and simplicity, so it’s not a good idea to mix different shapes of accent windows.
Bay: Classic Colonial style homes did not originally feature bay windows but Colonial manors did. The addition of bay windows that extended beyond the exterior added beautiful visual appeal and therefore stuck.
Best Window Styles
Double-hung: These windows feature panes that slide up and down for ventilation and ease of cleaning. They are the most common in Colonial style homes.
Multi-pane: Early American settlers did not possess the technology to produce large panes of glass, so they incorporated muntins instead to hold smaller panes together within a much larger window. This divided look is mimicked today with the use of grilles between double-pane windows.
Thin molding: This unobtrusive, thin exterior trim leaves more room for traditional window shutters to take center stage.
Best Window Materials
Vinyl: The window frames of yore weren’t made with vinyl, but today’s advancements allows you to resemble the look of wood with a durable, rot-resistant material that’s easy to clean.
Aluminum-clad: Featuring excellent design flexibility, this material is durable and requires little maintenance. They are comprised of a wood core encased in aluminum.
Primed wood: This is the material that the Colonials originally constructed their homes in because it was readily available and easy to work with. Wood is still a popular choice for windows when complementing the traditional style.
Best Window Finishes and Colors
White: Traditional Colonial style homes are either made of brick with white windows and shutters or white cladding with white windows complemented by dark-colored shutters. White window frames offer the classic look that many homeowners like.
Earth tone: For a more modern approach, frames in the earth tone color palette would still work well.
Contact Rescom Exteriors
Still not sure which replacement window style to go with? We can help. To schedule your consultation on window replacement for your Colonial home, contact us today toll free at 774-321-6750.