Window Style Primer

Pick a window that has the look you want inside and outside the house.

Double-hung windows are appropriate for almost every style of home.

• Double-hung and single-hung windows can be found on traditional Cape Cods and colonials, multistory Victorians, early-20th-century bungalows, and other "period" architectural styles. Muntin and grille designs provide strong stylistic cues, but the basic design remains versatile. They are appropriate for all but the most cutting-edge contemporary home designs.
• Casement shapes tend toward the tall and narrow, so wide wall openings usually feature multiples, sometimes with a fixed picture window in the center. Ranch-style, Prairie-style, and other 20th-century home designs often feature this type of window. Grilles will help create a more traditional look, while an unbroken expanse of glass provides a contemporary flavor.
• Awning windows take on a more traditional flavor when fitted with muntins, but look contemporary when unadorned.
• Sliders typically have a strong horizontal orientation, so they often work best with home designs such as ranches or Prairie-style buildings that have strong horizontal lines.
• Fixed-glass windows impart a decidedly modern feel when they're large and uninterrupted by muntins or grilles. Smaller sizes with grilles and appropriate trim can mimic most traditional looks.
• Specialty windows can complement a traditionally styled larger home. On smaller residences, which historically have featured simpler window shapes, specialty windows are more appropriate to contemporary designs.