It’s clearly about the view

Black windows are red-hot right now. It’s a trend that seriously took hold when farmhouse-style homes began entering the picture with their classic four-light grid windows. But it also carries through to contemporary homes which typically feature grid-free casement or slider windows to complement that style’s crisp, clean lines.

“It’s been that way for four to five years,” says Brett Howard, division sales representative for Pella Windows and Doors in Cincinnati. “Black finishes are very popular right now.”

With 17 years of window sales experience under his belt, Howard has seen trends come and go. When asked if the trend toward black is going to stick around for a while he says, “That’s a good question. I don’t have a definite answer, but it appears like it’s not going away anytime soon.”

A home show standout
The majority of Howard’s work involves new home construction, and he is quick to point out that all but one of the homes in this year’s Homearama feature black windows.

One such Homearama builder, Redknot Homes, is also in the construction phase on another one of their projects–Pottebaum Point in Dayton, Kentucky. Howard was the point man for the windows in that venture, working closely with owner/builder Mark Pottebaum.

The Pottebaum development is slated to feature 19 custom homes built into the Kentucky hillside with panoramic views of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and the Ohio River. Since the view is paramount to the design of these homes, windows were specified by the builder and architect to capitalize on that vantage point.

“This development is designed around city views,” says Pottebaum. “It was absolutely key that we have a lot of glass.”

A 12-foot-wide, four-panel slider window, with a fixed transom above it, dominates the northwest-facing side of each home. Pottebaum said he selected Pella windows because they offer a great mix between quality, design and value. Plus, the black casements fit perfectly with the modern style of these homes.

But just in case black windows aren’t to your liking, depending on the material–wood, fiberglass or vinyl—and the Pella series you choose, you can select from as many as 15 interior and 28 exterior paints or stains. Who knows? You might just be on the forefront of the next big trend in windows.