Bay Replacement Windows: Three Options for Your Room

Alice Munro, Canadian short-story writer and winner of the 2009 Man Booker International Prize for her lifetime body of work, once wrote, "I can't play bridge. I don't play tennis. All those things that people learn, and I admire, there hasn't seemed time for. But what there is time for is looking out the window."

An elegant, arched bay window makes a room feel bigger and brings in natural light. Whether you want to replace an existing bay window or turn another large window opening into a bay window, installing bay replacement windows is a quick way to upgrade the ambiance of your room.

Bay Replacement Windows: Styles

There are three options to consider for your bay replacement windows: double-hung, casement bay, and casement bow.

1. Double-hung bay windows are available in four projection angles, up to a 90-degree box bay. Double-hung windows featuring two vertical panels in which one slides up and down past the other (the upper is usually immobile) to open the window.
2. Casement bay windows also are available in four projection angles, up to a 90-degree box bay. Casement windows are hinged windows that open either in or out, similar to a door. The windows open and close with use of a crank mechanism or by hand.
3. Casement bow windows are curved bay windows that project from the wall in an arc shape, commonly consisting of four, five, or six windows.

Within these three main types of bay replacement windows are an endless number of options and combinations. You can select different colors for the interior and exterior to complement your walls and the outside of your home, as well as different frame materials for your new windows. Hardware comes in matte and textured, with options like solid colors or polished, brushed, antique, or distressed metallic. Finally, you'll get to pick a grille style for your new windows, adding a lot of character to the room. Whether your look is more colonial or closer to a Tuscan farmhouse, there's a grille to complement your decor.

A gorgeous bay window creates a brighter, bigger feel to a space, almost like a room addition. And on days when, like Alice Munro, there's no time for bridge or tennis, you'll have a beautiful window to gaze out of while sipping morning coffee.