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

@apolloparker907 – Your plan sounds solid. My house is late-70s ranch and I did just what you’re describing. I kept the general layout of windows the same (didn’t move openings around, except I turned one small bathroom window horizontal for privacy). I chose an almond/tan frame color instead of white, which goes nicely with my brown brick. And I skipped grids entirely for a cleaner look, since the original windows had none.
The result: the house still looks like its original self, just refreshed. Neighbors said it looked 'cleaner' and more 'updated' but couldn’t even pinpoint why at first until I told them about the windows. That’s how you know it blends well – it doesn’t scream “I’m a new addition,” it just looks right.

One thing I did add for a bit of modern flair: in our foyer, we had a narrow floor-to-ceiling sidelight window next to the door. I replaced it with fluted privacy glass (no grids, just a textured glass). It glows nicely and adds a modern touch but since it’s just one element, it doesn’t throw off the whole style. So you can do a small creative thing here or there like that.

So yeah, go for the small tweaks (color, maybe slightly larger sizes if you can without big construction, minimal grids). It’ll likely give you that subtle modernized look without losing the character of your 80s ranch. Good luck!

@pauls51 – I did similar on my mid-century (1960s) ranch. We kept the changes subtle on the front – just new windows, same size, white frames to match original trim, no grids like originally. But on the back of the house, we got a little adventurous: we replaced a trio of jalousie windows with a long horizontal sliding window (about 8 feet wide by 3 feet tall) in the den. That isn’t visible from the street but from inside it gave a very mid-century-modern vibe, like a clerestory band of glass, and from the backyard it looks cool and intentional.
The key was exactly what you’re saying: maintaining consistency where it counts (front/street view in our case) and playing around a bit elsewhere. Also, mid-century homes often had different types of windows on different sides (for function), so it doesn’t feel weird that the back has a big slider while the front has double-hungs.

For your 1985 home, you might find that even just changing color or removing outdated grids will be enough. Sometimes those era homes had those criss-cross grids or something that date them. Simplifying to a single-lite style (no grid) immediately updates it. Frame color like bronze or almond as you said can also add a contemporary touch without going full modern. It’s all about the subtle details adding up.

I'm hearing a lot about black vs white vs bronze frames. Quick poll for everyone still following: which did you choose for your home and are you happy with it? I’m personally torn between going classic white (safe, matches everything) or trendy black (bold and stylish). There’s also the in-between options like gray or bronze which sometimes feel like a good compromise.
I worry black might be a trend that fades, but it does look so good on certain homes. White is timeless but can also be, dare I say, a bit boring if not done with other accents. My house is light-colored brick with white trim currently. I could play it safe with white windows, or spice it up with darker ones. What did you all do and do you have any regrets or gloating points?

We went with black frames and absolutely love the outcome. No regrets at all. Our home is a pale yellow Key West-style bungalow with white trim, and we did black window frames to give it a pop of contrast. It sounds unconventional (black on a Key West pastel house), but surprisingly it works – it ties in with our black metal roof and the wrought iron details we have on the porch.
From inside, I was a bit worried the black would be too harsh, but it actually frames the view like artwork. We kept our interior decor light and breezy (white walls, light wood floors), so the black windows add structure without overwhelming anything. I think if our interior were darker, black frames might have made it feel cave-like, but with mostly white interiors, the windows just punctuate the space.

As for trendiness, maybe black won’t be 'the hot new thing' forever, but black windows have been used in industrial and farmhouse designs for a long time. I feel like they’re kind of timeless in their own right, just not as ubiquitous as white. Even if at some point white comes back in vogue, I can’t imagine looking at our black windows and thinking “oh no, how dated.” They’ll probably always look sharp to me. So if you like the look, I’d say go for it!

I stuck with white frames for a few reasons:
1. Interior decor flexibility: White inside just goes with everything. I like to change up wall colors and decor, and white windows never clash. If I had black frames, I’d feel locked into a certain palette or style to complement them.

2. Heat considerations: This might be less of an issue with good quality windows, but I was a bit concerned that dark frames (especially in vinyl) could absorb more heat and potentially risk warping or making the house a tad hotter by radiating heat. Maybe that’s minor, but in Florida every bit counts. Our white frames stay cooler to the touch in the sun.

3. House’s classic look: Our home has a classic look (red brick, white columns and trim), and white windows just fit that aesthetic perfectly. Black would have been too high-contrast and might have made the house look chopped up. The windows now blend in smoothly with the trim, which was the look we wanted.

So far, very happy with white. It’s crisp, clean, and classic. Sometimes I get a tinge of envy seeing stylish black-framed window pics online, but when I look at our home in person, I know we made the right choice for our situation.

We actually did a mix: our windows are dark bronze on the outside and white on the inside. Best decision ever for us. The bronze exterior gives a modern, upscale vibe against our light tan stucco, but inside we have the traditional white that makes our rooms feel bright. It truly is the best of both worlds.
We got this through a manufacturer that offers exterior color and interior color separately (which ProTech Windoors mentioned during our quote, so we knew it was possible). It was a slight upcharge but not outrageous. Bronze is a nice color too – it’s dark enough to be in that trendy dark family, but it’s a bit softer than stark black, kind of a deep espresso brown. It doesn’t jump out as much, in a good way.

The two-tone option also solved an argument in our household: I wanted dark exteriors for style, my spouse wanted white interior for the inside decor. When we learned we could do both, we were sold. So anyone wavering between two choices, check if you can have both! Many companies offer it nowadays.

Oh, and one more thing: even though our interior frames are white, we did get bronze hardware (cranks, locks) for the windows that crank open. It’s a small detail but it makes the interior side tie in a bit with the exterior look when you notice it. Looks very intentional.

By the way, has anyone played with window shapes beyond the standard rectangle? I have a cottagey house and I kept daydreaming about putting a round window somewhere (like User22’s porthole idea). I haven’t done it yet, but I might in a future phase of renovation, maybe in an attic or a small powder room just for a fun accent.
I’m also curious about how people integrate those half-circle (fanlight) windows over doors or big windows. We have a regular rectangular transom above our front door, but I see those semi-circular ones on some homes and they really give a classic elegance. If anyone replaced or added one, did you find it hard to get a match for your other windows?

And what about triangles or other odd shapes? I feel like in modern architecture you sometimes see a triangle window following the roofline. In an older home, maybe a diamond-shaped window on a staircase could be cool. These are more 'out there' ideas, but with custom window companies, it seems almost anything is possible if you’re willing to spend a bit more. Would love to hear if anyone took the plunge on an unusual shape and how it affected the home’s character.

@timmentor – We have a half-circle transom above our entry door. It was there originally (house built in early 90s) and when we got a new door and window package, we kept that shape. It definitely adds a bit of elegance. The one thing we changed: the old one had an ornate sunburst grid in the semicircle, which felt dated to us, so we opted for a plain glass semi-circle when we updated. Now it’s just a clean half-round window and it actually looks more timeless without the fussy pattern.
We also have a small octagon window in a bathroom (original to the house). When we replaced it, we went with frosted glass for privacy but no grid. It’s a fun little accent that suits our somewhat traditional house – kind of a throwbackUser1: Hi everyone, I’m in the Tampa Bay area and I’ve been thinking about updating the windows in my home. I’d love to hear about current window design trends and ideas, both for the exterior and interior.

Specifically, I’m curious about things like frame colors (should I go with the classic white or try something bold?), different window shapes or grille patterns for curb appeal, and how window choices affect the inside of the house (light flow, the look of the rooms, modern vs. traditional style, etc.).

Has anyone here recently done a window makeover or noticed trends in our area? What did you choose for your home, and what tips or lessons learned can you share? Thanks in advance for any insights!

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!