What Are Picture Windows? No living room is complete without a picture window. The picture window is perhaps the most favorite of all types of windows. Typically chosen for its ability to beautify a room by adding an open feel and nearly unlimited illumination, the picture window has long been one of the top window replacements in Baltimore and throughout the country. Few types of windows have quite the impact than that of a picture window when installed in a living room, bed room, or just about any other room of the house. For more than a century, the picture window has been chosen as one of the most popular replacements of smaller windows, especially for their ability to bring in more of the sun's radiance than just about any other type of window replacement. For those homeowners in Baltimore who are considering replacing one or more windows, here's more information on how a picture window might be the right choice. History The use of the picture window dates back to the 19th century when the glass industry began advancing and making notable improvements in its manufacturing process. This recognizable progression, in turn, brought production costs down, allowing manufacturing companies to begin increasing the size of windows. Homeowners took very well to this increase in window size, largely for the ability of bigger windows to allow in more light, and also because picture windows were so aesthetically pleasing from both the interior and exterior of a home. Additionally, when single-family homes became the centerpiece of life in the United States, the picture window became one of the most favored additions to the architecture included in these homes because it added a feeling of expanded living space. Features In today's window market, high-solar glazing is one of the best features of picture windows because it affords homeowners energy efficiency that helps to cut down on heating and cooling bills. Because picture windows typically are not operable, they are often added to homes and other buildings for their security as well as for their ability to limit bugs and airborne contaminants. Function
Picture windows are large, fixed windows that typically contain a single pane. They are a very popular type of window in Baltimore and throughout the country because they allow in an impressive amount of natural light, as well as for the fact that they provide unobstructed views of the outdoors. Pros Naturally, the biggest benefits of the picture window are the fact that they do provide these unobstructed views as well as extra sunlight that other windows may not provide. They also can work well in several different types of homes, from traditional to modern. Cons The biggest disadvantage of a picture window is the fact that it leaves little privacy for the room in which it is placed. However, homeowners often do not see this as a disadvantage because the room the picture window is chosen for is either not at street level or because the view from outside is impeded by trees or other obstructions to the interior of the home. Window treatments The window treatment ideas for picture windows are nearly limitless. Light, airy curtains work very well for picture windows because of their unmatched ability to allow in an effective amount of natural light. Additionally, heavier drapes can also work well because a picture window is a dramatic addition to a room, meaning that the heavy drapes are matched by the drama of the window. Vertical blinds can also be an attractive choice for a picture window, especially when paired with curtains or swags. Horizontal blinds used alone are often a popular choice to add to picture windows, especially in urban apartments or condominiums. A picture window can even be effective if left without any curtains or blinds at all when a colorful cornice is used atop the window. Today's Baltimore homeowners want as much of the sun's brilliant radiance to illuminate their homes as possible. And no other window can bring in all that extra light quite like the picture window. If you're considering window replacements in your living room, bedroom, or any other room where a picture window would work well, contact a top window replacement contractor to schedule a consultation.