Big Windows

Our little southwest stucco house is graced with huge windows. In addition to three large sliding glass doors, we have two big windows on the east side that have sizable transoms over them. 

Of course the light and brightness and visual impact were what attracted me to the house when we first saw it, but man, these windows are a challenge. They are hard to live with. 

➰ There is the exposure issue -- at night they are big black voids, needing shades for any privacy. In the daytime the shades are needed for light control. You can't read the paper or eat breakfast with the sun blasting in on everything.

➰ There's the expense issue - those huge custom shades were a major investment (they can be raised all the way to the top)  and when we replaced the leaky windows several years ago, it was very costly.

➰ Don't even ask about keeping windows that size clean in a dusty environment.

Giant windows are the thing all over the decor magazines and sites I read. So beautiful, such a statement of elegance. Big, big windows are what you need to have a graceful home. Especially in kitchens.

But none of the images of glorious kitchens show any window shades. None are photographed with intense sunlight pouring in, drowning any food preparation in glaring light and drying out your sandwich if you leave it on the counter to go get the mayonnaise. 

And those windowed glass enclosed kitchens at night must be frightening.

My own kitchen has two normal sized windows, a full glass door and a skylight. The glass door faces full east and sunlight blinds me when I get up to make coffee. The windows over the counters face south and west and make dinner prep way too bright, so we have to pull the shades down.

With all the maneuvering we do to keep the kitchen shades drawn in the afternoons and the door blinds adjusted all day, and the two big window shades raised and lowered as needed, it makes me laugh to see the fancy decor photos with their immense uncovered statement windows.

Light control with all this glass is tough in winter when the sun is low but bright and there are no leaves on the trees. 

In summer the cottonwood tree right outside the two big windows tempers the sun, creating dancing shadows inside the house and it's lovely. It's then that the spectacular design of this house with its huge windows, wood beams, saturated colors and rustic tiles emerges.

I leave the shades up then all day, letting the dappled light in and the view of my summer garden right outside the windows visible. 

But I still marvel at the fancy decor photos I see of immense glass installations in elegant homes letting all that sunlight pour into kitchens that no one ever cooks in.