Quick Guide to Picture Windows for Michigan Homes

When there’s a beautiful scene outside your Michigan home, why not make its beauty a part of your interior decor, too? With a picture window, you can do just that. Look through the window to admire the green forest or rolling hills in your backyard. Picture windows are both functional and attractive, and you have many customization options.

What Is A Picture Window?

A picture window is any large window placed in a way that allows you to admire the beautiful view through it. Usually, picture windows are placed on a room’s dominant walland used as the focal point of the room’s decor. They’re common in living rooms, though some homeowners also work a picture window into their dining room, bedroom, or even foyer decorating scheme.

How Do Picture Windows Open?

Picture windows do not open, but you can pair your picture window with one or more windows that do open. These windows can be of most any style, including:

• Double-hung windows slide up and down in a sash. You can open the top or bottom window simply by pushing up or down. Double-hung windows allow you to let plenty of air into your Michigan home. They’re easily fitted with screens.
• Casement windows open on a hinge placed to the side of the window. To open them, you turn a small crank. Casement windows are very energy efficient since the sash seals tightly into the frame.
• Gliding windows open by sliding to the side. These are a good choice if your picture window is against a patio or porch.

What Glass Options Are Available?

Many homeowners are concerned with energy efficiency when it comes to picture windows. Since they take up such a big space on your wall, it’s extremely important that they’re made from energy-efficient glass, especially in Michigan where the winters are so cold. Double-pane picture windows insulated with a layer of Argon glass between the panes offer excellent protection from the cold. The Argon gas helps prevent heat from escaping through the glass.

Renewal by Andersen’s SmartSun™ glass is a good option if you’re worried about your home getting too warm in the summer or too cold in the winter. It resists heat transfer and blocks harmful UV rays, preventing your carpet and drapes from becoming sun-bleached while also lowering your heating and cooling bills.

Are There Other Ways To Customize Your Picture Window?

You can customize your picture window to ensure it paints the beautiful picture you’ve dreamed of for your Michigan home. Customize the color of your window’s interior with choices like natural oak, sandstone, pine, and Terratone, a deep gray color.

You can also customize your picture window with a grille. A Farmhouse-style grille divides the top of the window into three side-by-side segments without dividing the bottom half. A Prairie-style grille creates corner and edge sections while leaving the interior portion of the window open so you can see through it clearly. If you have a traditional Colonial-style home, you may wish to go with the Colonial grille, which divides your window into numerous small panels.

Finally, choose your window hardware color. Popular options include brushed nickel, white, polished chrome, and bright brass.

If the picture window in your Michigan home is in need of replacement, contact Renewal by Andersen today. We offer free in-home consultations, and our estimates are good for one year. You’ll have plenty of time to decide which window customization options are best for you.