"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 But I'd still lean toward contemporary frames if aesthetics matter at all...traditional styles can look a little outdated depending on your home's architecture.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?