See some of our garden windows!
Whether you are adding a special touch to your kitchen, brightening up your den or creating a new opening, garden windows add sunlight, dimension, warmth and atmosphere to any room in any season. For most of us who love plants, there never seems to be enough room or enough light allowing them to flourish. A garden window, sometimes referred to as the “plant window”, “flower window”, “garden box window”, or “window box”, can be your answer. The reason? A garden window is constructed and built with an extended glass roof.
The Low-E, double-pane, double-strength glass roof allows twice the natural light into your home throughout the day. A southern exposure is ideal, but maximizing any natural light, which otherwise would be lost through conventional windows, allows your plants to have more of what they need, keeping them healthy and vibrant.
The Low-E (Low-emissivity) energy efficient glass ratings can only improve the ability to keep your home more energy efficient and comfortable. Any plants that will grow behind clear glass will grow behind Low-E glass. Plant growth and photosynthesis occur due to many factors including the amount of light exposure and the intensity of light that plants receive. A small percentage of ultraviolet light may be reduced with Low-E glass, but has no adverse effect on plant growth.
The garden window came about in the 1970’s, over 40 years ago. Earlier disappointments with the cold, foggy glass, or an occasional leak, have long been rectified. Today’s garden windows meet all standards of the American Society of Test Methods (ASTM), which are the same construction and energy rating standards used to evaluate and rate any other style window in your home. They also qualify for any applicable government-backed energy rebates.
A popular location for a garden window is above the kitchen sink. Replacing that obstructive double-casement or double-hung window with a garden window can significantly increase the view and the perception of added space, making the room feel and look larger. When replacing your kitchen window with a garden window, you also have the option of expanding the width of your window (relative to your cabinets), as well as expanding your countertop space, which can run flush into the garden window base for a clean, open look. This simple change can have a dramatic effect on the beauty of your kitchen giving it that “wow” factor and separating it from the average kitchen, while increasing resale value.
Tired of the over-crowded window sill? In addition to growing healthy, beautiful plants, you can grow herbs, start early seedlings for your spring vegetable garden, or display your beautiful birthday bouquet! A simple addition of a garden window will also create panoramic views of your beautiful landscape or flower garden that can sometimes go unnoticed with conventional “flat” windows. When autumn arrives, and your favorite plants come inside, a perfect space awaits them. The newly expanded view lets you enjoy the crisp blue sky and beautiful fall foliage.
Any window in any room can be replaced with a garden window. Since most are custom-made to order, it is not unusual to increase a standard window size or remove the center mullion between two windows and replace it with one large garden window. There are certain limitations on width and height when considering a larger unit. Installation takes less than a full day with minimal disruption.
There are many options that can add to the overall beauty and function of your new garden window. Some of them include shelving, copper, tin or aluminum drip pans, as well as stone, Quartz, Corian or laminate window base choices. Interiors can also be ordered in a natural birch or an oak wood grain finish, allowing for the ability to paint or stain depending on your existing décor. Exterior colors are now available in various brown tones, as well as hunter green, barn red and many others.
So whether you are thinking about more space for indoor winter plants, start your spring seedlings, brightening up that dull room, or adding that one special touch that sets your home apart, a garden window may just be the answer you’re looking for. Your home is an extension of who you are, so let the sun shine in!
