On window color (and architectural woodwork or finishes)
People often ask if they should go with black windows, white, or wood for their home’s exterior (and for their interior too).
We have definitely seen a rise in the trend for black windows, especially in exteriors, but also in interiors. It can be beautifully implemented when it is appropriate to the design, and I highly recommend it when it is! But — is it a surefire way to give your home a modern edge? This might be an unpopular opinion, but — no.
Black windows are the perfect solution if you’re seeking that super clean, Scandi-modern Nordic design aesthetic. They can also be an elegant way to update a classic Colonial to a Modern Colonial. There are other style variations that black works exceptionally well. But if you have a home with another architectural style, black windows might appear gaunt or out of place, at best.
I also see people dragging their feet to select windows that are white either on the exterior or the interior. Have white windows gone the way of cherry cabinets or golden oak? Also perhaps an unpopular opinion, but — nope.
People are always looking for a silver bullet solution to get their home to look modern or updated. The trouble is it just isn’t that simple.
Some of the factors that play in when we are helping clients decide what is right for their home are as follows :
Decade built
Architectural style of the home
Personalities of the people who occupy
Larger color scheme of home’s exterior (and interior. - these should bridge and feel connected!)
If you want your windows to look at home on your house, it’s very important to consider the context of the property as a whole to ensure a tightly finished aesthetic. I have seen and admired a striking black-sided home with bright red windows. I’ve appreciated other properties with stone exteriors and green shutters. Gray, charcoal, undertones of green, or navy can also serve as beautiful substitutes for a neutral finish.
Now let’s talk about wood. Most of our clients are (understandably) terrified to consider building in wood-toned windows on their home. (Can you blame them? Where have all of the wood tones gone… cherry, golden oak, dark wood floors, the list goes on.) Right now White Oak is in vogue. (I love it! But give it time…)
My honest opinion is to choose a wood that flatters your color palette and the aesthetic of your home. Choose what makes you feel happy or creates a calming environment. For some people that means black. For others that means oak, alder, birch, or even walnut.
Try though we might, the trends that shape our homes (and our remodels) simply don’t last forever. If you stay true to who you are and your home’s architectural intent, the choices you make will have staying power that will long outlive the latest trends, and become those homes that are perceived by others as ‘timeless’.