FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Farmhouse Windows

| Posted in General Discussion on February 11, 2005 07:59am

Hi my name is Carolyn and I hope I’m in the right place (smile).  We are restoring and adding on to a 1890 Farmhouse.  In the latest issue of IH it states that farmhouse windows should begin 8-18″ above the floor.  The nightstands in our masterbed room are 31″ high by 36″ wide.  Night stands are usually beside the bed, in front of the windows.  Should I place those high stands in front of those low windows, or should I start those windows 30″ above the floor and violate the farmhouse window rules?

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. spinnm | Feb 11, 2005 05:38pm | #1

    Details like windows are what makes a remodel/addition look authentic.

    The traditional window is longish and rather narrow.  I vote for the right window.  The night stands will be fine.  Maybe your window treatments can help.

    ShelleyinNM

    1. Carolyn1 | Feb 12, 2005 09:15am | #5

      Thanks.  I should have used the proper term "restoration" for the orginal 956 square feet that we are retaining.  Do you think those 30" x 60" windows are going to be too narrow looking for the 36" night stand?

      1. spinnm | Feb 12, 2005 05:36pm | #7

        I don't worry too much about things like that.  I want my houses to look good empty.  Most look pretty sad when all the decorating is stripped away.

        Have you tried redrawing the elevation with different windows?  Must the bed go on that wall? Can you tweak the floorplan so that the bed can go elsewhere?  Are these egress windows, or is there another?  Can the same windows be raised slightly? Or are they in line with others?  What I'm saying is that touches to make the addition look old aren't completely ridgid.  You just don't want some mongo picture window looking out of place. 

        For instance, if there's another egress window, could you make high square windows look good?  Maybe somewhere over 2'0"?  That would give you light while retaining wall space for furniture.  Remember farm houses were enlarged over time.  Not every element has to match.  You just want to get the proportions correct.  Would 3'0"x4'0" look OK if you line up the tops with the other windows?  Think that gives enough for egress.

        Sorry for the ramble.  Just trying to think of things that I might try to do.  If none of the above works, can you put a solid window treament on the bottom half of the window to mimic wall space?  Solid shutters painted the wall color?  Blinds that rise from the bottom?

        1. Carolyn1 | Feb 13, 2005 07:14am | #8

          I'm going to try and answer "some" of your questions.  We're adding 3,000 sq feet to the existing 956 sq feet.  The upstairs master bedroom is a part of the new addition.  There are is an  original window in an upstairs bedroom on the same side (south) as the new bedroom.  Those original windows are 28" x 58".   The bed and night stands do have to go on that south wall where the new windows are going in.  The east wall leads to my husband's study, the west wall is the site of the sitting area and exit to the balcony and the north wall leads to the masterbed bath.  I like the idea of the solid window treatment, and the ladies on the cooking site suggested shutters.  These ideas just might work.

           

           

          1. hlechat | Feb 15, 2005 02:20am | #9

            My two cents:

            get new nightstands!  (half serious, half jesting)

            i, like you, like the idea of shutters. a great solution!

             

            i'd say ya gotta ask yourself why did you go with an old farmhouse in the first place?

            * was is cause ya loved it?

            * were you ambiguous about the house but loved the location? the lot?

            if you loved the house and bought it cause of that, there is no choice but to go with the "authentic" windows. to do anything else will make it look awkward, and make you sad everytime you look at it -- you will destroy the aesthetic, in other words. if you bought the house cause you love it, it will eat away at your soul to violate the spirit of the house by trying to save some bucks on some windows cause of 1) payin' extra for tempered glass and 2) a pair of lousy night stands.

            if you bought the place for other reasons, and don't care about the house and its architectural integrity, do what ever you like. you could even go with some great "modern" windows, and capture different views of the outside! just make it a place that nourishes you and makes you feel welcomed when you come home.

            Megan

            who has a 100-year-old farmhouse and would rather cut off her husband's left foot than comprimise the spririt of its architectural charms!!!  :-)  even when that might mean gettin' a splinter in mah foot!! ouch!

            (speaking of glass, i need to take out all the orginal (wavy) glass and turn it upside down -- for each window. boy, what a job THAT is gonna be!)

             

             

          2. Froed | Feb 15, 2005 02:22pm | #10

            (speaking of glass, i need to take out all the orginal (wavy) glass and turn it upside down -- for each window. boy, what a job THAT is gonna be!)

            If you're thinking that the glass will somehow "flow" down to even out, you're gonna do a lot of work for nothing - the uneven thickness is from the way the glass was made.

            http://www.glassnotes.com/WindowPanes.html

            Are you doing it for some other reason?

          3. hlechat | Feb 15, 2005 05:12pm | #11

            hahahaa!!!

             

            Froed,

            Bless you!! I'm gobsmacked! I WAS going to flip them around, just for the reason you said!!!

            You're my hero!

            I especially liked this part: "Why don't we find that Egyptian cored vessels or Hellenistic and Roman bowls have sagged and become misshapen after lying for centuries in tombs or in the ground? Those glasses are 1,000-2,500 years older than the cathedral windows."

            Megan

            blushing a little bit that I was so badly taken!

          4. Froed | Feb 15, 2005 06:30pm | #13

            Megan, glad I could help.

            Well, my job here is done...

          5. Carolyn1 | Feb 16, 2005 03:56am | #14

            Hector, thanks for your comments.  I can't get rid of the "new" king-size bed with the high night stands because I got it at such a bargain.  The bedroom is 17' x 26' and I need the large pieces of furniture.  And, unfortuately, I didn't think of the windows when I was getting such a deal of the bedroom set.

            I love the house.  We have owned it for about 16 years, renting it out.  I finally convinced by husband to restore it, make it larger, and make it our "dream home."  All of you have encouraged me to do just what I really wanted to do which is to keep the integrity of the house.  So, low, long, narrow windows it will be in all of the new rooms.

            Thanks everyone.

             

          6. Peter36 | Feb 19, 2005 06:54pm | #15

            Hi Carolyn. I would stick with the original style windows at the low height. If you don't like the look of the nightstands in front of the windows then maybe you could look at something like a set  of wooden shutters on the interior that were split so you could close the bottom and have it line up at a suitable height to work with your stands.     Sounds like a lovely home.  Peter

          7. highfigh | Feb 15, 2005 06:15pm | #12

            I assume there's a reason they're on the cooking site. ;-}
            "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

  2. budreaux | Feb 12, 2005 03:53am | #2

    If this is an add-on you should match the rest of the house.  Are the other bedroom windows low or higher?

    1. Carolyn1 | Feb 12, 2005 09:26am | #6

      The other windows in the upstairs bedrooms are in the original part of the house and they are low.  Once we replace them (because we can not save them), we must comply with the city code of 18" above the floor to save ourselves the cost of tempered glass.  There is another master bedroom downstairs and those windows are set at 3'6" x 5" because they have to be wide enough for emergency escape.

  3. WayneL5 | Feb 12, 2005 04:51am | #3

    If you go that low with your windows, by code you'll need tempered glass.  Check with your local code official for what is required.

    1. Carolyn1 | Feb 12, 2005 09:12am | #4

      The City of Pasadena is saying that anything below 18" has to be tempered glass.  We will set them right at 18".  They also said that if we did "anything" in terms of repair of the orginal windows that we had to comply with the new law.

      1. onthelevel | Mar 14, 2005 03:46pm | #19

        Sorry Carolyn, I didn't read down far enough to see that you already covered that! 

  4. Piffin | Feb 26, 2005 11:34pm | #16

    I thnk you are fretting too much over the "rules".

    A farmhouse is practically by definition, a vernacular style that is whatever the occupants want it to be.

    It is true that many older farmhouses have low sills but they also have low ceilings and illegal egress sizes.

    Since your addition is so much larger than the original, it will dominate style anyway. Make it what suits you and egress requirements. I would not worry about the furniture height or let it determine house design issues. I hae lived in and worked on several of these old homes with higher furniture in front of lower silled windows.

    I do have strong opinions tho about windoe with sills lower than 18". not only are they unsafe closed so as to require safe tempered galss, but they are unsafe for childredn when open.

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

    1. Carolyn1 | Mar 01, 2005 05:31pm | #17

      You're correct about the rules.  I just finshed reading this great book called "The Farmhouse" by Larson and I was amazed by what some owners of newly built farmhouses had done. 

      The architect was very careful in the design so hopefully the new construction will not take over.  The City of Pasadena was very specific about leaving the frontage uptouched so the architect carefully kind of tucked very thing behind the orginial on the second floor.  On the first floor where it extends about 8 feet on the northside we wrapped the porch around to meet the new construction and balanced it with the southside.

      Thanks for the advice.

       

       

  5. onthelevel | Mar 14, 2005 03:45pm | #18

    Be careful in window height as below a certain height (help me out guys, is it 18?) needs to be safety glass. The nightstands will look fine in front of the long windows.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Townhouse Transformation

A sleek, modern redesign maximizes space and light while preserving the building's historical charm.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Watch mason Mike Mehaffey construct a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Building Codes
  • Old Boots Learn New Tricks
  • Install Denim Insulation Like a Pro

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data