Shining Examples of Clerestory Windows

The clerestory makes for a bright master bath, with soothing blue glass tiles by Hakatai cover walls and floor alike. Appealing contrast of textures and light might be why this design team have completed sixteen projects in the area, half new built, half renovations. Shower faucets by KWC and custom tub by Sunrise Specialties. [Photo Credit: Josh Perrin]

In the main living space, stairs lead to the basement. The white-framed chairs and couch were built by Jamie; the cabinets were designed by Jamie and built by a local cabinetmaker. Brazilian cherry floors run throughout the main house. The clerestory windows allow light in without sacrificing privacy.

A clerestory around the perimeter of the butterfly roof gives an illusion that the roof floats over the box of the treehouse.

Bestor restricted the height of the walls on the second floor to allow the clerestory windows to carry light from the front deck all the way to the guest bedroom in back.

A floor-to-ceiling window frames the dining area.

The back, however, is a different story. The shape of the roof eave is designed to allow winter sun into the house while cutting out the hot summer sun.

The kitchen, framed by Loewen windows, features walnut butcher block countertops, custom made by Dovetail, a Hansgrohe faucet, Franke apron sink, Miele refrigerator and oven, and Thermador cooktop.

Float On Clerestory windows from YKK Commercial give the illusion that the roof hovers above the house—a key factor in keeping the light, modern touch that the homeowners desired. Epstein did not design the clerestories in a single, straight line; the glass drops down where possible to allow the maximum amount of light. It took a bit of convincing to sway his clients. “He said, ‘Listen to me, stay with my concept, and you won’t be sorry,’” Tetreault recalls. “So I stuck with it, and I’m not sorry.”

Light is invited into the home through the 75-foot wall of windows in the main living area. Kopel’s favorite part of the home is “the changing quality of light” that “animates the living space” from day to day and season to season. Lucifer architectural lighting and Polk Audio in-wall speakers add understated function.

In the house’s front room Monkman relaxes on a stool from local retailer Andrew Richard Designs. A new window system draws in sunlight and views of the front courtyard designed by local landscape architect Terry McGlade, the building’s former owner.

As the name implies, undermount sinks are attached to the underside of a countertop, where special clips ensure the sink stays in place or the sink is supported from underneath by the base cabinet structure.

This airy addition on the back of a historic house in Boise is a model of sensitive renovation, seamlessly melding new and old. Photo by Lincoln Barbour.

A system of clerestory windows, positioned underneath a cantilevered roof, strategically filters natural light through the interior. A full-height window in the living area provides dramatic views of passing storms.

Designed by architects Rick Shean and Christopher Simmonds, a project in Quebec, Canada, was a winner of the 2014 Architects Challenge, a collection of annual submissions each year that display architectural creativity and feature Marvin Windows and Doors. On our Design for Humankind panel, Christine Marvin will represent a family business dedicated to accommodating residents of all abilities.

Spencer Greene and his daughter, Anya, go for a dip in their Palo Alto, California, home. The three-inch-thick acrylic pool window allows the parents to monitor their children’s swims from the LC4 chaise longue.

A crucial aspect you’ll learn about throughout the process is the energy efficiency that will come with your new selection. The range of operating styles and material types offered by Milgard makes it possible to meet Energy Star® requirements, no matter where you’re located. If you’re determined to meet specific performance goals but not sure how to make it happen, their Energy Calculator can help you figure out what choices would be best for you.

Milgard Essence Series® windows are available in a wide variety of obscure glass patterns, and for spaces that demand serenity, laminated glass is especially proficient at noise attenuation.

Light cascades into the living room through a row of six insulated timber windows on the south wall. The north wall flares out to create what Schaer calls a sunset scoop. “It grabs the late afternoon and evening sun and brings it deep into the space,” he explains.

The kitchen features a sink from Kohler, a faucet by Brizo, and a cooktop from Wolf. The tiles are by Everstone. Courtesy of Richard Leo Johnson / Atlantic Archives Inc.