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Into the woods

Windows help family bring wooded lot indoors

  • Housetrends
The residence is in the contemporary shed style with a monochromatic brown stained cedar exterior.

When you’re an architect and your home sits on seven wooded acres adjacent to a nature trail, you know that windows are going to be an integral part of your design.

Jonathan Wood AIA, NCARB, owner of Wood Architects, and his family purchased their home almost 10 years ago knowing it was going to need some work. They were drawn to the cedar-shed style of its 1979 construction, and they loved the location.

“The property is very interesting,” Jonathan explains. “We have seven acres in the woods and we can walk up the creek to 60 acres of parks and trail systems.”

“My kids love walking through the woods.”

Renovation plans include opening the dining room to the kitchen and family room, as well as the views outside.

Bringing in the light
The home had some elements that Jonathan was drawn to due to his background. The wood ceilings, vaulted spaces and loft area were all appealing. Plus, he gravitated toward the modern, contemporary lines. But the home was too dark, and there were site lines missing where the family with young kids wanted to be able to see all angles of their property.

The loft above the kitchen is an exercise space where the couple keeps their spin bikes because they feel like they’re in a tree house while spinning.

“We worked with Pella on this project because the windows are key here,” Jonathan says. “We’re in the woods. Every side of the house has some kind of view, whether we’re looking up the hill or down the creek.”

“Plus, we wanted views out to different parts of the property we didn’t have before. The big square window in the kitchen gives a view to the front of the home so we can watch the kids play and watch people come up the driveway.”

The wet room—one big shower/tub area—is a popular trend. The privacy of the lot allows for the massive window over the tub.

Expert opinion
Nick Blessing, trade salesman with Pella, says this was the first project he worked with Jonathan on and says the process was seamless due to the architect knowing exactly what he was looking for. “It’s easy working with someone in the industry because they have a clear idea of what they want and which products and technologies are available on the market today to achieve those goals.”

Jonathan opted for black fiberglass windows for architectural and practical reasons. “Black is a color architects tend to gravitate toward due to its modern style,” he explains. “The darker color blends nicely with the woods. It’s almost like a shadow created by the trees.”

A cluster of Adirondack chairs provide the perfect place to unwind.

The windows selected were from a fiberglass line that is both cost-effective and durable. “They won’t rot like wood and they won’t warp like a vinyl material. It doesn’t break any seals and holds its shape really well,” Jonathan says.

“Pella’s fiberglass windows are engineered to last with a timeless style,” Nick adds. “A lot of people right now are wanting the contemporary, sleek look of black-on-black. Grey windows are also making a big rise in popularity, and Pella just introduced a new color line to align with today’s color trends.”

Some windows have casings around them, and others have clean drywall returns as a way of blending the existing house with the spaces added during renovations.

Nick could not be happier with the outcome of the Wood family home. “People today are wanting more and more glass in their homes and this project was one where they got a perfect balance.”

Article by Sarah J. Dills/Photos by Ross Van Pelt



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