Replies

1. 
   aimless | Oct 05, 2004 08:46pm | #1

   If you line them up in a high row, you can mimic clerestory windows. If you place them individually but high, I think you will end up looking like you are in a basement.

   The people who built our house put all of the windows high (and counters, and closet shelves, even the stove is on a platform) and it is annoying. I would like to be able to peek out and see who is in the driveway before I make the trek to the door. Perhaps you could consider putting in normal size windows and then blocking off the bottoms with shutters? That gives you the option to look out if you want to, gives you privacy, and gives you light. Further, it means that the room can look more proportional.

1. 
   SuefromTO | Oct 05, 2004 09:02pm | #2

   Aimless

   Great advice, thank you so much.  That was my fear, looking like we were in a gymnasium.  I think your suggestion of blinds is a good one. Thanks so much!

2. 
   cten | Oct 06, 2004 12:34am | #3

   Our living room (10 ft. ceilings) has two 3'x6' windows on one wall and two high windows on an adjacent wall which backs to our driveway. We went with oval windows as we though square or rectangular looked institutional. The bottom of the casement is 5'8" from the floor and the bottom of the glass is 6'2" from the floor. The casement is 44" top to bottom. We have a fireplace between the two high windows. I love the way these windows look.

   Are you planning on placing something of substance between the windows like an armoire or a fireplace? I think the key to using windows placed this high is having them incorporated into a "vignette."

1. 
   SuefromTO | Oct 06, 2004 01:37am | #4

   That was exactly my worry.  In all the houses with high windows, there is a fireplace in the middle.  We don't want the windows to dictate where our furniture goes and we are not putting a fireplace in the room.  Thank you for your input, it was really helpful

3. 
   WayneL5 | Oct 06, 2004 01:46am | #5

   Two planning techniques that help:

   • Draw elevation views (that is straight-on views) of the walls, both inside and out, to scale.  On the outside view, include the rest of the house.  Look at the window placement as you would a famous work of architecture and see what looks right.
   • Lay out the room with all the furniture to scale.  Window placement and furniture placement affect one another, so it's best to design them together.
1. 
   Aberwacky | Oct 06, 2004 04:39pm | #7

   Two planning techniques that help:

   Draw elevation views (that is straight-on views) of the walls, both inside and out, to scale.  On the outside view, include the rest of the house.  Look at the window placement as you would a famous work of architecture and see what looks right.

   Lay out the room with all the furniture to scale.  Window placement and furniture placement affect one another, so it's best to design them together.

   Both excellent suggestions.  Doing this while designing our new timberframe house has prevented several disasters, not to mention made it more pleasing.   Takes a little more time, but the benefits are absolutely worth it.

   Leigh

1. 
   SuefromTO | Oct 08, 2004 12:51am | #8

   thank you both so much.  We have taken your advice and will look at the situation more carefully!  You're right, It'll be worth it in the end!

4. 
   PatMcG | Oct 06, 2004 12:43pm | #6

   Since you do not want to look in or out, how about the ceiling?

   Personally, I dislike sky lights, not least because they are prone to leaks. But a monitor is another story altogether. It gives wonderful light, and places the windows in the leak - resistant vertical plane.

   
   

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   Edited 10/6/2004 11:50 am ET by Patrick

5. 
   jmo2 | Dec 05, 2004 10:15am | #9

   Looks like I might be too late in commenting, but we used Duette Blinds to solve this problem in our old house.  The opaque nature of the blind still let in a soft light, and we lowered them from the top (versus raising them from the bottom) to take advantage of unfiltered light.

   We had normal height windows that were just a little too close to the neighbor's windows.

    

   House In Progress...assembling the pieces

1. 
   SuefromTO | Dec 05, 2004 08:19pm | #10

   You're not too late at all.  The windows are in but we haven't even thought of window coverings.  You're idea is fantastic, thank you so much!