Windows

I'm hoping we'll get the building permits in the next couple of weeks (although I've been told the Ravine Protection permits take longer) so I've been thinking of ideas for some of the bigger items we'll have to decide on.  First up, windows!  This has been a bit of a problem for me since I was hoping to keep a more traditional look at the front of the house and make it modern in the back.  Transitioning is difficult.  I'm thinking the best approach is to use the same materials front and back but in a different way.  The windows, though, will have to be pretty uniform throughout. 

I have a thing for black and dark grey exterior windows.  Or maybe it's really a thing against stark white windows, I'm not sure.  I also love the look of wide open panes of glass with no break, but this makes so many of them too big to open.  Hmmm.  Here's a few that I just love....

Steven Gambrel via Canadian House and Home - love, love, love the black factory-style window but not sure about breaking up the view. 

         
c-o-a-s-t-i-n.tumbir.com               rlarchitect.com                               1.bp.blogspot.com
Examples of open, black framed windows.  Love the clear view!


dwell.com
Aside from the bars on the windows (yikes! Imagine living like that.) here are some black windows with a traditional red brick facade.  Love it!





johnlumarchitecture.com
My fav colour combo here - black, white, grey and natural wood.


Portal Design Inc.

And then again, here's another look I love -- natural wood doors with (gasp!) white windows.  But they're really good looking white windows aren't they?  I'm not keen on wood exterior windows for us (although they are super gorgeous!) because of the upkeep and cost, but the more I look at this, the more I think it's the way we should go.  Very simple with the wood doors as the stand-out feature.

Coates Design Architects
Here is a charcoal grey exterior window with a natural wood interior-- perfect!

waiting on the permits

We have unfortunately had to let our contractor move on to another job.  The planning and permit process is taking much longer than anticipated.  We want to dig out an area in the backyard to allow for a basement walkout and this has opened a whole can of worms.  First of all we now have to get a separate permit from the ravine by-law department because we want to change a portion of the grading.  This has been a big job since they require a site plan, a grading plan, an arborist report, and a geotechnical report!  And secondly, the digging out would expose a whole section of the back foundation wall which has to be 4 feet under ground.  So, how do we deal with that?  Well, after much deliberation and weighing of our options, we have decided to underpin the back of the house.  Might as well do it right!  We do plan to live in this house for a long time.  So after almost 3 months of planning (and finding the right people to help us out with it) we should be ready to submit our plans this week.  I hope!