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Choosing Windows for a Fresh Farmhouse Look

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Posts: 29
(@jjones18)
Eminent Member
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Yeah, laminated glass definitely helps. But have you also looked into sealing around the frames properly? We noticed a lot of noise sneaking in through tiny gaps... fixing those made almost as big a difference as upgrading the glass itself.

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vr741
Posts: 17
(@vr741)
Eminent Member
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Good point about sealing—it's often overlooked. I'd also suggest checking the window's STC rating when choosing new ones. Higher STC ratings mean better sound insulation, and combining that with proper sealing around frames can significantly reduce noise infiltration. We upgraded ours last year, and the difference was noticeable, especially during heavy traffic hours... worth considering if noise is a major concern.

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sammoore310
Posts: 8
(@sammoore310)
Active Member
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STC ratings are definitely helpful, but don't get too carried away chasing numbers—unless you're next to a freeway or hosting rock concerts in your farmhouse, mid-range ratings usually do the trick. Proper sealing and installation often matter more anyway... learned that the hard way myself.

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vr_lucky
Posts: 12
(@vr_lucky)
Active Member
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Good points there. A few things I'd add from experience:

- Mid-range STC ratings have been totally fine for me, even with occasional tractors rumbling by.
- Agree 100% on sealing—had one window installed poorly and it was draft city, noise included.
- Don't underestimate curtains or blinds either... they soften noise more than you'd think.
- And honestly, farmhouse charm isn't about having the quietest windows ever—it's about comfort, style, and maybe a creaky floorboard or two.

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ahiker20
Posts: 11
(@ahiker20)
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Totally agree about curtains and blinds—they've saved me more times than I can count, especially when neighbors decide to mow at sunrise. One thing I'd add is considering double-pane windows with low-E coatings. They're not just energy-efficient (which my electric bill loves), but they also soften outdoor noise noticeably. And honestly, farmhouse charm doesn't mean you can't sneak in a bit of modern comfort... even if you keep that squeaky floorboard around for nostalgia.

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kathyr27
Posts: 20
(@kathyr27)
Eminent Member
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"And honestly, farmhouse charm doesn't mean you can't sneak in a bit of modern comfort... even if you keep that squeaky floorboard around for nostalgia."

Haha, couldn't have said it better myself. Speaking of those squeaky floorboards, I've got one right outside the guest room door—it's my built-in security system. Nobody sneaks around unnoticed at night in my house.

But seriously, about windows, I second the double-pane recommendation. We swapped out our old single-pane ones a few years back (honestly they were practically antiques), and the difference was night and day. Not just energy-wise, but quieter too. We live near a gravel road, and before the upgrade, every pickup truck barreling past sounded like it was coming through the living room wall. Now it's more of a gentle rumble—still country enough to remind us we're not in suburbia, but without rattling the dishes.

One thing I'd add from experience: make sure to think about window placement and size carefully. When we renovated our kitchen area, we went bigger on windows than originally planned because we wanted more natural light (and let's be real, I need all the help I can get finding stuff in cabinets). But we didn't fully consider how much direct sunlight we'd get in late afternoon—it gets pretty intense in summer months. Ended up adding some sheer curtains later to soften that glare.

Also, don't underestimate good screens if you're out in rural areas like us... unless you enjoy chasing random bugs around your house at 2am with a rolled-up magazine (been there way too many times).

Farmhouse style is great because it's forgiving—you can blend old and new pretty easily without losing that cozy feel. I mean, we've got original reclaimed barn wood shelves right next to our shiny stainless-steel fridge. Somehow it works.

Anyway, just my two cents from someone who's learned most of this stuff by trial and error (emphasis on error).

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medicine618
Posts: 7
(@medicine618)
Active Member
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Totally agree on the double-pane windows being a game changer, but honestly, I think sometimes people go a bit overboard with window size. Sure, natural light is awesome, but too many big windows can make furniture placement tricky and privacy harder to manage. We ended up downsizing a couple of ours slightly and haven't regretted it—still plenty bright, but way easier to arrange the room comfortably. Just something else to consider...

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Posts: 8
(@math231)
Active Member
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"Sure, natural light is awesome, but too many big windows can make furniture placement tricky and privacy harder to manage."

Yeah, I ran into the exact same issue when we moved into our first place. We were initially drawn to those big farmhouse-style windows—so bright and airy—but quickly realized it limited how we could arrange our living room furniture. Ended up adding some sheer curtains for privacy, which helped a bit, but downsizing a window or two definitely sounds like the smarter move in hindsight. Good call on balancing aesthetics with practicality.

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Posts: 3
(@aviation840)
New Member
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We had a similar issue, but instead of downsizing windows, we ended up tweaking the window placement slightly. When we renovated, we shifted a couple of the larger windows higher up on the wall—still plenty of natural light, but privacy improved significantly. Furniture placement became way easier too, since we weren't stuck avoiding windows at sofa-height.

"Ended up adding some sheer curtains for privacy, which helped a bit..."

We tried sheer curtains at first too, but honestly, they didn't do much once the lights were on at night...neighbors could still see way more than we'd like, lol.

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mochal94
Posts: 10
(@mochal94)
Active Member
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We actually found sheer curtains pretty effective, but only after layering them. A single sheer panel was definitely useless at night—might as well have had nothing there. But doubling them up or pairing a sheer curtain with a slightly thicker linen one behind it made a huge difference. Still got that airy farmhouse vibe during the day, but at night we weren't putting on a show for the neighbors anymore...

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