An unexpected and beautiful window backsplash can bring style and light into any kitchen. Whether you opt for a single window or a long row of glass, low-profile windows or full-height windows, it will make your kitchen feel more open and brighter. A... more »

Stained glass, whether actually stained or enameled or painted, can do more than decorate. It also can tell us a story, hide an ugly view, bring in needed light or even block out too much light. Whatever its intention, stained glass may be inspired by... more »

Designer Michael Stout and his roommates had a love-hate relationship with the original windows in their loft, in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York. "I loved the variety and uniqueness of each pane, as well as the sense of history embedded... more »

Even though the bathroom is the most private room in a house, it's lacking if it doesn't have a window. Ideally a bathroom window has a view and offers privacy, which may seem impossible but which can be achieved through various means (size and... more »

Glass is easily one of the most amazing inventions in human history. In architecture the material physically separates inside and outside yet provides views from one side to the other. This quality alone makes glass unique in buildings, and in the 20th... more »

A typical home conservatory is a greenhouse or sunroom with three walls and a ceiling made of glass or some other translucent material. Conservatories were popular add-ons to the grand homes of the English aristocracy in the 19th century. They... more »

The double-hung window is about as traditional a window as can be. It's no surprise that its style fits colonial and more traditional homes, as the double-hung window became the window of 18th-century America. The double-hung, or sash,... more »

It seems that for well over a century, the vast majority of houses were built with a single window above the kitchen sink. Usually tiny and with a lot of space between the window sill and the sink, these windows allowed the person washing dishes a bit... more »

The Industrial Revolution gave us many new materials and technologies, from the elevator to the concept of a curtain wall construction. Not the least of these was the introduction of sheets of glass set in metal frames. Introduced on a large... more »

An architectural detail that I find really wonderful is the round or oval window. Placed judiciously, small circles of glass stand out in a home's design, creating a strong architectural punctuation mark in an otherwise ordinary space while bringing... more »

Every home has windows and doors that are not so simple to cover, such as front doors with large windows and adjacent sidelights, or gorgeous arched windows. They might add to the beauty of a home and supply natural sunlight into interiors, but they might... more »

Hand-crafted board and batten shutters may be the quintessential accessory for creating charming curb appeal for a traditional home. Their vertical boards are positioned side by side to create the desired shutter width; the boards may be... more »

Wildlife can be a key part of your everyday life at home if you let it. Feeders and natural habitats can invite birds and chipmunks, for example. And when they come, how can you get the best views of them up close? The key is to create safe habitats near... more »

“Glass box" is an expression — sometimes endearing, more times not — describing buildings made up primarily of glass walls. Think Mies van der Rohe's designs of houses and office buildings. But a glass box can also be just that, a box made out of... more »