What are the current replacement window design trends in Tampa Bay?

Great topic! I’m in St. Pete and I actually updated my windows last year. For the exterior, I decided to go with a dark frame (a bronze finish) instead of the usual white. It made a huge difference in curb appeal. My house is a light beige color, and the darker frames give it a nice contrast without looking too stark (bronze is a bit softer than black).
I also chose windows with a simple grille pattern on the top half only (kind of a Craftsman 4-lite pattern on the upper pane, and no grilles on the bottom pane). This way, from the outside the windows still have some character that fits the slightly traditional style of my home, but from the inside I have a clear view out the bottom half. It feels like a good balance between modern and traditional.

One thing to note for Tampa Bay: I made sure to get impact-rated windows because of hurricane season. The ones I got have pretty beefy frames (impact windows are built tougher), but the bronze color and style still make them look sleek. So you can definitely have stylish windows that meet the strict building codes here.

I’ll chime in with an interior perspective. We recently remodeled our 1970s home in Tampa and changed out a few windows to newer styles. Inside the house, the difference in light flow is incredible. We enlarged a small kitchen window into a wide picture window, and now the morning sun just pours in – it totally transformed our kitchen, making it feel open and cheerful (and my plants on the sill are loving it!).
From an aesthetic standpoint, we chose a white frame interior because it blends with our existing trim and doesn’t draw attention. I thought about doing a wood interior finish to match our cabinets, but for maintenance reasons we stuck with white vinyl inside. It still looks clean and bright.

One cool thing we did: in our living room, we replaced a flat picture window with a 3-panel bay window. It not only improved the exterior look (adds a bit of classic charm), but inside we got a window seat area that’s now my favorite reading nook. The extra light and the panoramic view of our yard make the room feel larger. So, don’t underestimate how the shape and configuration of a window can impact your interior space!

From what I’ve seen around the Tampa Bay area, there are a couple of big trends in window design right now. First is frame color – as User2 mentioned, dark frames (especially black or deep bronze) are really popular for a modern upscale look. I’ve noticed newer homes and even some remodels in my neighborhood opting for black window frames, which give a nice outline to the windows and can make them pop against light-colored exteriors. It’s a sleek look, though I know some folks worry it might be a trend that could date the house later.
Another thing is the move towards larger glass areas and fewer muntins (grilles). Many people are ditching the grids to have an unobstructed view and a more contemporary feel. For example, my neighbor removed the colonial-style grilles from their windows during a recent upgrade, and the house now looks more modern and the rooms feel brighter from inside. On the other hand, on more traditional or historic homes around here (like in older Tampa neighborhoods), I still see grids being kept or even added back in, because they suit the architecture.

Also, arched windows and unique shapes are still around. We have a lot of Mediterranean-style architecture here, and those often have half-round transom windows or decorative shapes. It adds character, especially on front facades. But if the house design is modern, then clean rectangular floor-to-ceiling windows or horizontal sliders are more the trend. So I’d say, the trend is either go modern (clean lines, bold frames, big glass) or if your home has character, embrace a stylish version of that (like grids or arches that match the style, but with a fresh twist).

We did a full window replacement on our 90s-era home in Clearwater last year, and it was the best decision ever. We actually used a local company, Karoly Windows, for the install and they were fantastic in helping us with design choices. We ended up selecting a two-tone frame: white on the inside to match our interior trim, and a sandy beige on the outside to blend with our exterior paint. It’s a subtle change from white, but it made the house look more custom.
Our home has a pretty traditional look, so we kept grid patterns on the front-facing windows (a simple 3 over 3 grid pattern) to maintain that classic appearance from the street. But on the back of the house, we went with no grilles to maximize our view of the backyard pool and let in more light. Karoly’s team even managed to get us grids that snap out from the inside for easy cleaning – really convenient.

One lesson I learned: don’t be afraid to mix and match styles on different sides of the house if needed. We worried it might look inconsistent, but since people rarely see front and back at the same time, it hasn’t been an issue. The front has that polished, traditional vibe, while the back feels open and modern. We’re really happy with it.

There’s also the question of window type which influences both look and function. Here in Florida, a lot of older homes had single-hung or horizontal slider windows (mine did), but when I replaced mine, I considered casement windows for a cleaner look. Casements (hinged windows that crank open) don’t have a bar across the middle like single/double-hungs do, so when they’re closed it’s just one pane of glass per sash – very sleek and uninterrupted, which looks great especially if you’re going for a modern style or if you have a nice view.
I ended up doing a mix: casement windows in the areas where I really wanted the clear glass and modern look (like the dining area facing our garden), and kept double-hung style in bedrooms for the more traditional appearance (and because I like being able to open the top or bottom sash for airflow). From the outside, you can’t tell a huge difference, except that the casements we chose have one large pane with no grids, whereas the double-hungs have grids on the upper sash. It kind of looks intentional, like those rooms are a feature.

Just something to consider: casements open outward, so you need to think about any landscaping or walkway outside that window. And in terms of trends, I have noticed more people considering casements or awning windows in their designs now, probably because they do look more contemporary and can provide better seals against rain (useful in our Tampa thunderstorms!).

I have a question for those who went with dark frames like black or bronze. I’m really drawn to the look of black windows – they look so sharp and modern from the outside. But I’m on the fence because I’m not sure how they’ll look from the inside. Does having black frames inside make the room feel darker or the window look smaller? Or maybe it looks like a picture frame around the view?
Also, for those who chose black, did you do black on both interior and exterior, or just outside? I’ve heard you can do one color outside and white inside (as User5 mentioned they did two-tone). I’m considering black exterior for style but maybe white interior to keep things bright inside. If anyone has done this or has thoughts, I’d appreciate it! I'm worried about it being too bold indoors or possibly a pain if I ever want to change my interior color scheme.

@sewist85 – we went with black frames on our windows, both inside and out, in our home in South Tampa. Exterior-wise, it looks fantastic. Our house is a white painted brick, and the black window frames really give it that modern, crisp outline. From the street it definitely stands out (in a good way – we’ve gotten a few compliments).
Inside, the black frames do create a strong contrast against our light grey walls. It was a bit startling at first because previously we had white frames that just blended in. But now we actually love it – it’s like each window became its own picture frame showcasing the outside view. It gives a kind of gallery effect. One thing to note: you do notice dust on black more easily, so I wipe the window sills a bit more often, but not a big deal.

If you’re unsure about black inside, the two-tone option might be perfect for you. We discovered a local place (ProTech Windoors) that offered frames with different colors on each side. A friend of mine got bronze exterior frames with white interior from them. That way, her house had the trendy dark look outside, but inside all her window trim is white and classic. So that is definitely possible – ask your window supplier or installer about dual-color frames. It might cost a little extra, but if it gives you peace of mind on the interior look, it could be worth it.

Lots of great ideas here. We went through a full remodel two years ago in Largo and changed almost every window in the house, so I can share a few lessons from that experience, especially on design:
Match the window style to your home’s architecture: Our house is a mid-century ranch, so we chose windows with a horizontal emphasis (wider than they are tall) to keep that mid-century feel. If you have a Mediterranean or bungalow style, you might incorporate arches or grids that suit that style. A modern home might go for floor-to-ceiling glass. Staying in line with the architecture makes the result look “right.”

Consider adding special windows for character: We added a small transom window above our front door and a rectangular accent window in our bathroom. These little additions brought in extra light and became cool design features. The bathroom window is high enough to maintain privacy but still lets sunshine in – a nice touch we enjoy every day.

Think about alignment and symmetry: When we added or enlarged windows, we tried to line them up with existing ones or center them where it made sense. For example, we centered a new living room picture window on a wall, so it aligns with the roof peak – it’s subtle but pleasing to the eye. Misaligned windows can make a facade look “off,” so if you’re adding new ones, plan carefully.

Don’t oversize without considering the sun: We have one big west-facing window that we made as large as possible for the view – it looks stunning at sunset, but boy does that room get warm. We ended up adding a UV film later to cut the heat. So bigger isn’t always better unless you have a way to handle the extra sun (like overhangs, tint or good window treatments).

Mixing styles can be okay: Like User5 said, you can mix grid patterns or even colors on different sides of the house. We have no grids on the back (for the view) and some grids on the front (for style). It actually works fine. Just be consistent on each face of the house.

We’re super happy with how it all turned out. The key takeaway: a little planning on the design front goes a long way to making your windows both beautiful and functional.

I'm coming at this as someone who really geeks out on interior design. The windows are such a huge part of a room’s look and feel. When we renovated our Tampa home, I actually chose window styles thinking about how they’d frame our interior spaces. For instance, in our living room I have a big art piece on one wall and a big window on the adjacent wall – I opted for a window with no grilles and a slim frame so it wouldn’t compete with the artwork. It almost acts like another piece of art, showcasing our oak tree outside.
We also did something a little different with the interior window trim: instead of the standard white trim around the windows, we painted the trim a soft charcoal grey in one room to make the white walls and the outside view pop a bit more. It’s a subtle design choice but it made the windows feel intentionally integrated into the decor, like part of the design rather than just a 'hole in the wall'.

Another interior consideration: the finish of the window hardware. We chose hardware (locks, cranks) in a brushed nickel to match other fixtures in the room. It’s minor, but if you have oil-rubbed bronze doorknobs everywhere and then shiny white plastic window locks, it can look off. Many window suppliers let you pick hardware finishes these days, so it’s worth thinking about to get that cohesive look inside. So yes, windows aren’t just an exterior thing – how they look inside matters just as much for the overall aesthetic!