Georgian homes are known for their balanced and elegant design. Windows are a key part of that look.
Traditional Georgian windows also have a distinct design. Many used small panes of glass separated by narrow glazing bars. Tall sash windows were especially common.
Today, you can keep that traditional look without relying on centuries-old window designs. Modern replacement windows can provide the style of classic Georgian windows along with modern comfort, durability, and energy efficiency.
So, which windows work best? Double-hung, casement, picture, specialty, and bay or bow windows can all work with Georgian homes. The key is choosing the right proportions, grille patterns, colors, and placement for your home.
Double-hung windows are often the strongest choice for creating the traditional look of Georgian sash windows. However, other styles can also fit the architecture when used carefully, such as casement and picture windows. Here are the five best window designs for Georgian homes.
When you picture Georgian windows, you may picture tall windows divided into neat rows of small panes. Double-hung windows are a natural fit for this traditional design.
Traditional Georgian homes often used vertically sliding sash windows. A common design featured six panes in the upper sash and six in the lower sash. This is known as a 6-over-6 pattern.
You may also see 8-over-8 windows and other regular pane patterns on Georgian houses.
Modern double-hung windows can recreate this look with grilles. The grilles create the appearance of smaller panes while allowing the window to use modern glass.
Double-hung windows also support the tall, vertical proportions found in Georgian architecture. When the same window sizes and grille patterns repeat across the front of the house, they help create a balanced appearance.
Modern double-hung windows give homeowners this traditional style while offering easier operation and modern window performance.
Can Georgian homes have casement windows? Yes, but their placement matters.
Casement windows have a long history. Earlier architectural styles that influenced Georgian design used them. However, casements are not as closely tied to the classic Georgian facade as sash windows.
That does not mean you have to rule them out.
Tall, narrow casement windows can work well with the vertical proportions of Georgian-style windows. Grilles can also help them coordinate with nearby double-hung windows.
Consider casement windows for:
Casement windows are hinged on the side and open outward. This makes them a useful choice when fresh air is a priority.
For a more traditional Georgian appearance, keep the size, grille pattern, color, and placement consistent with the rest of the home.
Picture windows give you a large area of glass. They can bring more natural light into your home and create wide outdoor views.
Large, uninterrupted panes of glass were not a common feature of original Georgian windows. Glass was expensive and difficult to produce in large sheets. For that reason, picture windows should be added to Georgian-style homes with care.
One option is to add grilles. They can give a large picture window a divided appearance that works better with traditional Georgian details.
You can also combine a picture window with double-hung or casement windows. This gives you a larger view while the surrounding windows add ventilation and traditional details.
Georgian design is usually simple and restrained. However, some Georgian buildings included decorative windows in important locations.
The Palladian window is one example. This design features a taller arched center window with smaller windows on each side. Palladian windows appeared in some grand Georgian buildings and can create a strong focal point.
Other arched or specialty windows may work above an entrance, near a stairway, or in another important architectural location.
The goal is balance.
Specialty Georgian windows should support the architecture instead of competing with it. Their frame colors and grille patterns should also coordinate with nearby windows.
If the front of your home is very symmetrical, consider how a specialty window will affect that symmetry before changing an existing opening.
Bay and bow windows are not the defining window styles of original Georgian homes. However, they can work well on some Georgian Revival and Georgian-inspired homes.
Both styles project outward from the home. This can create more usable space inside while bringing in natural light from several directions. They can also provide wider outdoor views.
The details matter when adding bay or bow windows to Georgian houses.
Look at the proportions of the existing windows. Grille patterns, frame colors, and placement should coordinate with the rest of the facade.
If maintaining a highly traditional appearance is your main goal, double-hung windows may be a better choice for the most visible parts of the home.
The Georgian era generally lasted from 1714 to 1830. During this period, window design was shaped by both architectural trends and the limits of glassmaking.
Large sheets of glass were difficult and expensive to make. Builders instead used several smaller pieces of glass. Narrow wooden glazing bars held these pieces in place.
This created the grid pattern that we now associate with Georgian windows.
Traditional sash windows opened vertically. Their tall shape also supported the balanced proportions of Georgian buildings.
Britain’s Window Tax, which lasted from 1696 to 1851, also affected how windows were used during the Georgian period.
Modern Georgian-style windows do not need individual pieces of glass to achieve a similar appearance. Larger glass panes can be combined with grilles to create a traditional divided-light look.
Georgian architecture started in Britain and later influenced architecture in the United States. Georgian Revival homes brought many of the same design ideas to later American homes.
Symmetry is one of the easiest Georgian features to recognize.
A Georgian facade often has a central entrance with windows arranged evenly on either side. Window openings tend to have tall, vertical proportions.
On historic Georgian buildings, windows could become smaller on higher floors. Simple brick or stone arches and lintels were also sometimes used around the windows.
White and other light neutral colors are commonly associated with Georgian windows. But that does not mean every Georgian window has to be white.
Look at the full exterior of your home before choosing a color.
Consider the:
Consistency is important. Using coordinating window colors across the facade can help preserve the home’s balanced appearance.
Your windows can respect the traditional architecture while still reflecting your personal style.
Traditional Georgian window frames were generally made from timber. Oak and deal pine were among the woods used during the period.
Wood made it possible to create the narrow frames and glazing bars associated with traditional Georgian windows. However, wood exteriors also need ongoing care.
Renewal by Andersen replacement windows use Fibrex® material.
Fibrex material is a composite made from wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer. It combines the strength and stability of wood with the low-maintenance benefits of a composite material.
It is strong and durable and does not require the same exterior maintenance as traditional wood windows. Fibrex material also allows for different window styles, shapes, and colors.
For a Georgian-style home, this gives you options for creating a traditional-inspired design while choosing a material made for modern performance.
A traditional look does not mean you have to settle for traditional window performance.
Very old Georgian windows may still have single-pane glass. Single-pane glass can allow more heat to move between the inside and outside of your home.
Modern energy-efficient glass can help reduce this heat transfer and improve comfort throughout the year.
Renewal by Andersen offers High Performance™ Low-E4® glass options. Low-E stands for low emissivity. A special coating on the glass helps control how heat moves through the window while still allowing natural light into your home.
The right glass option depends on your home and climate. During a window consultation, you can compare glass choices based on your needs.
This allows you to maintain a Georgian-inspired appearance while getting the benefits of energy-efficient glass.
Every Georgian and Georgian Revival home is different.
Renewal by Andersen can help you consider window style, size, grille patterns, frame colors, glass options, ventilation, and views. Custom measurements help create replacement windows for each individual opening.
Professional installation is also an important part of window performance. Proper measurements and installation help your new windows fit and operate as intended.
The right Georgian windows can respect your home’s traditional character while giving you the comfort and performance you want today.
Ready to explore your options? Schedule a consultation with Renewal by Andersen to learn more about replacement windows for your Georgian home.
