Part 2 of the Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Renovation: Sprucing Up the Windows

Part 2 of the Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Renovation: Sprucing Up the Windows

Now that you’ve improved your kitchen, you may be looking at the end product and still not feel totally satisfied with it. This could probably be because your old windows do not match your new décor. And what’s the point of renovating your kitchen if your windows do not match the new style and architecture of your kitchen? Since it is one of the most used rooms in your house, you want to choose windows that not only look great but that also enhance the room by adding more natural light to it.

But there are a lot of things to take into consideration when looking for kitchen windows. These may include location, ventilation and amount of light. While it’s okay to have more than one style of window for your home, there is such a thing as having too many different styles. If you don’t take into account the overall design of your house when choosing windows for your kitchen, you may end up with an exterior design that looks disjointed.

Read on to find out more about window options that are available to you!

The 4 Best Styles for Kitchen Windows

There are generally 5 window types that go well with almost any kitchen. These include:

1. Garden windows
2. Sliding windows
3. Casement windows
4. Double-hung windows

Window type 1: Garden Windows

What are the garden windows?

Garden windows are windows that extend past the façade of your home and that look like a glass box. The sides of the glass ‘box’ connect at the rigid and straight front of the window.

Pros of having garden windows installed:

1. Since it sticks out, it creates space for additional storage.
2. As every side is made of glass, it can be used to grow herbs all year round.
3. Its dimension gives the impression that the kitchen is bigger than it really is.
4. It brings in the perfect amount of light in the kitchen.

Cons of having garden windows installed:

1. Most windows need thick vinyl or wood frame to be really energy efficient. Garden windows do not come with these thick frames, meaning that cold and hot air is more likely to escape through the windows or pass into the kitchen.

Window type 2: Sliding Windows

What are sliding windows?

Sliding windows are made up of side-by-side windows that open on a sliding track. Mechanically simple, it can also be designed to have both windows or just one window slide horizontally.

Pros of having sliding windows installed:

1. Sliding windows do not take up much space.
2. They are easy to open.
3. Sliding windows tend to be cheaper due to their simple designs.
4. Since you get to crack the window open just a little bit or open it all the way, this type of window gives you better control over air circulation.
5. They are very durable.

Cons of having sliding windows installed:

1. The tracks are not that easy to clean.
2. The design is not necessarily modern.

Window type 3: Double Hung Windows

What are double-hung windows?

Double-hung windows are quite possibly the most popular type of window. It is very similar to sliding windows, except that in that the two large sashes slide up and down within vertical tracks instead of horizontally.

Pros of having double hung windows installed:

1. You have the freedom of opening them as wide as you want.
2. You have a wider selection of styles and sizes when compared to sliding windows.
3. The springs or weights used in the design make the windows easier to open and close.
4. The vertical tracks do not accumulate dirt easily.

Cons of having double hung windows installed:

1. Their design makes them dangerous for little children.
2. This type of window needs maintenance to ensure that the springs or sash cords do not wear out.

Window type 4: Casement Windows

What are casement windows?

Casement windows are very popular windows that open outwards. They open outwards horizontally via cranks mounted on hinges. These hinges are located on one side of the window and are found both at the top and bottom of the windows. Essentially, when you open the window, it will open like a door with one side of the window staying stationary.

Pros of having casement windows installed:

1. They probably offer the best over control airflow than any other type of windows.
2. Since its seal is pretty tight, it is very energy efficient –  it can easily keep out drafts.
3. Their design allows a lot of light in.

Cons of having casement windows installed:

1. Casement windows are vulnerable to strong winds.
2. Because of its cranking mechanism, it has greater chances of breaking when compared to the other window types mentioned in this list.