Torn between Simonton's contemporary vs traditional picture window styles

"Honestly, the larger glass area was a big selling point for us since we wanted to maximize natural light."

Yeah, the extra light is awesome, but honestly, we went traditional because cleaning huge windows is a total pain...especially with kids and dogs leaving smudges everywhere. No regrets yet!

Totally get the cleaning hassle, but curious - did you notice any difference in heat or insulation with traditional vs contemporary? We're considering bigger windows too, but worried about energy bills creeping up...

"We're considering bigger windows too, but worried about energy bills creeping up..."

Yeah, totally valid concern. We swapped out our old traditional windows for Simonton's contemporary style last year, and honestly, insulation-wise, I haven't noticed a huge difference either way. The key factor seemed to be the glass itself rather than the style - going for double-pane, low-E glass made way more of an impact than contemporary vs traditional frames.

We did go bigger with the windows in our living room, and I was nervous about heating costs too. But surprisingly, our bills have stayed pretty steady. I think as long as you're careful about choosing energy-efficient glass options, you won't get hit too hard. Plus, the extra natural light has been awesome... makes the space feel bigger and brighter. Just my two cents!

We replaced ours with Simonton contemporary windows about two years back, and honestly, I can't say they've been a game-changer for insulation either. Agree completely that the glass itself matters way more - double-pane low-E is definitely the way to go.

"I think as long as you're careful about choosing energy-efficient glass options, you won't get hit too hard."

Yeah, this has been my experience too. Just don't expect miracles from frame style alone...but hey, bigger windows do make gloomy winter days less depressing, so there's that.

Definitely agree that glass choice trumps frame style for insulation. But I'd still lean toward contemporary frames if aesthetics matter at all...traditional styles can look a little outdated depending on your home's architecture. Also, consider sightlines - the contemporary Simontons usually have slimmer frames, which means more glass area and better views. We went contemporary in our living room and haven't regretted it yet...makes the space feel brighter and more open, especially on dreary days.

We went contemporary too, and I'd second the slimmer frames point. If you're on the fence, here's what we did: first, we taped out the frame widths on our existing window to visualize the difference. Then we compared how much extra glass we'd actually get with contemporary vs traditional. It was pretty clear contemporary gave us more view and natural light. Also, don't stress too much about matching your home's style exactly - sometimes a slight contrast can freshen things up nicely. Sounds like you're already leaning toward contemporary anyway...trust your gut on this one.

"don't stress too much about matching your home's style exactly - sometimes a slight contrast can freshen things up nicely."

Generally agree, but I'd caution against going too contemporary if your home's architecture is strongly traditional. I've seen a few places where the contrast felt awkward rather than fresh. Definitely do the tape visualization trick mentioned above - it's surprisingly helpful. And remember, slimmer frames mean less structural bulk; just make sure you're comfortable with how minimalistic it looks from outside before committing.

Good points all around. I've found that a bit of contrast can really make things pop, but yeah, there's definitely a tipping point where it starts looking out of place. One client I worked with had a very traditional brick colonial and went super sleek with their windows - thin black frames, very minimal - and at first glance it was striking, but after a while it felt like two different houses mashed together.

That tape visualization trick is gold, btw. Another thing you might wanna try is taking photos from the street and sketching or photoshopping the window styles onto them. It doesn't have to be perfect, just enough to get a feel for how it'll look from the curb.

Curious though, are you planning to update any other exterior elements (like doors or trim) down the line? Sometimes planning ahead helps keep things cohesive even if you're mixing styles now...

"One client I worked with had a very traditional brick colonial and went super sleek with their windows - thin black frames, very minimal - and at first glance it was striking, but after a while it felt like two different houses mashed together."

I get what you're saying, but honestly, I've seen some pretty bold contrasts work surprisingly well. A neighbor of mine did something similar - traditional home, ultra-modern windows - and at first I thought it was weird, but now it feels fresh and intentional. I think the key is consistency elsewhere (like landscaping or lighting) to tie it all together. Contrast can be risky, sure...but sometimes it pays off.

My brother-in-law did something similar with his old farmhouse - went super modern with the windows, thin frames, lots of glass. At first I thought he'd lost his mind, honestly. But after a while, it kinda grew on me. He balanced it out by keeping other elements pretty traditional, like rustic landscaping and classic porch lighting. Maybe that's the trick...finding just enough common ground elsewhere to make the contrast feel intentional rather than random. Curious if anyone's seen this done badly though?

Seen a few houses where the modern windows just stick out like a sore thumb - like someone dropped a spaceship on a colonial. If you go contemporary, I’d say: 1) match the lines of the house, 2) keep trim simple, 3) don’t overdo it. Otherwise, it can look like two different buildings glued together.

Had the same debate when we redid our front windows last spring. I went with Simonton’s more traditional style because the clean lines just felt less jarring on our old brick house. Tried a modern sample and, honestly, it looked like it belonged on a dentist’s office. Matching the house’s vibe made all the difference.

Interesting take - I get where you’re coming from on the traditional lines. But I’ve actually seen a few older homes where the contemporary Simonton style kind of worked, especially with updated trim and landscaping. Sometimes a bit of contrast can add character, if done carefully.

That’s actually a good point - I used to be totally anti-modern when it came to old houses, but after helping my brother swap out his 1930s windows with some Simonton ones (yep, the sleek kind), I gotta admit it didn’t look half bad. His wife went nuts with chunky trim and some bold landscaping, and somehow it just… worked? Still not sure I’d risk it on my own place, but sometimes mixing things up surprises you.

“His wife went nuts with chunky trim and some bold landscaping, and somehow it just… worked?”

Funny how the right trim can tie things together. I’ve swapped out a bunch of old windows for clients, some sticking with Simonton’s contemporary look, others going more traditional. It really comes down to what’s happening around the window - trim, paint, even what kind of glass you use. Did you guys have any trouble with the fit when you put those new ones in? Sometimes those older frames are a real pain to square up.

Those old frames really can be a headache - especially if you’re dealing with anything pre-’50s. I’ve had it where nothing is square, and you end up shimming so much you feel like you’re building the window from scratch. Even with Simonton, which I actually like for their fit, sometimes you get surprises once the old trim comes off.

Totally agree about the trim making or breaking it. I was hesitant about chunky trim on my own place, thought it’d overwhelm the room, but honestly it just made everything look intentional. Landscaping helps too, though my “landscaping” is still mostly mulch and wishful thinking.

Did you run into any issues matching the new window depth to your old wall thickness? Sometimes that’s where things get weird, especially if someone’s mucked around with the framing over the years. But hey, when it all comes together - even if it’s bold or a bit out there - it just feels right.

Even with Simonton, which I actually like for their fit, sometimes you get surprises once the old trim comes off.

That’s the truth - Simonton’s fit is solid, but those old walls always have a surprise or two. I’ve had to fur out jambs more than once to get everything flush. Chunky trim can really save the day when things aren’t perfect behind the scenes. It’s funny how what felt “too much” at first ends up pulling the whole look together.

Interesting point about chunky trim - my first instinct was to go minimal, but now I’m wondering if that’s just not realistic in an older house. If you’ve done both styles, did you notice one hides imperfections better? I keep second-guessing whether contemporary would look too stark if the walls aren’t perfect.

I get the appeal of minimal trim, but honestly, in my 1920s place, every attempt at “sleek” just made the wonky plaster stand out more. The chunky, traditional trim actually camouflaged uneven lines and gaps way better than I expected. I know contemporary looks clean in magazines, but if your walls have character (aka flaws), sometimes that bold framing is more forgiving. Minimal can end up highlighting things you wish you could ignore... at least that’s how it played out for me.

- Totally get where you’re coming from on the trim. We tried going minimal in our 1937 place, thinking it’d feel fresh - ended up doing the opposite. The skinny stuff just made every uneven corner and lump way more obvious.
- The chunkier, old-school trim we put back in actually hides all those weird lines and cracks. It kind of frames out the “quirks” so they look intentional, or at least less noticeable.
- I will say, I love looking at those modern window setups in design mags... but real life is messier. If your walls have settled over decades (ours definitely have), the traditional look is just more forgiving.
- One thing I noticed: paint touch-ups are easier with bigger trim too. Less chance of getting paint on the wall, and if you do, it’s not as obvious because the border is wider.
- Only downside for us was cost - thicker trim adds up fast, both material and labor-wise. But honestly, worth it for how much cleaner everything looks once it’s up.
- If you ever decide to go contemporary anyway, maybe try a slightly wider minimal style? Not as chunky as classic, but not razor-thin either. Sometimes a little extra width does the trick without feeling too traditional.
- At the end of the day, I think these old houses just want to be what they are... fighting their character usually backfires (at least for me).