Timeless Design for Houses: Talk #8

Talk  #8

8th Commandment: There’s More to Doors and Windows than Simply Being New

Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Naper Boulevard Library Program Room 

This event was unfortunately canceled due to a last minute scheduling issue. The postcard of this talk was made available at the August 25th event for the 9th Commandment. A recording of the 8th planned talk may be produced as a youtube video instead.

How can the type of windows and their placement add to the timeless design of your home? And how are the designs of windows and doors appropriate for different styles of houses? And what about those windows and doors that people are buying now? Learn everything you need to know about perfect windows and doors at Naperville from architect Tom Ryan.

Door And Window Strategies For For The Timeless House

1. Historic doors and windows should be restored, not replaced, whenever possible.

2. If historic doors and windows are not salvageable, their replacements should be as similar as possible in design to the original types.

3. If non-historic poor-quality doors or windows are no longer salvageable, take the opportunity to relate their replacements to the building style.

4. When building new, windows on the first floor should be taller than those on the second floor.

5. All door and window proportions (whole door or window, sash, and grilles) should be taller than wide.

6. Multiple windows should be installed as individual units, separated by a 6-inch space.

7. Window grilles (technically muntins), if used, should be located on the outside and inside of the panes, never between them.

8. Door and window materials, in order from most timeless to least, are wood or steel, wood interior with a non-wood exterior, all fiberglass, and all vinyl.

Sources of Inspiration

Book: Chapters 5 & 6 of “Get Your House Right” by Marianne Cusato and Ben Pentreath. Available Locally at Anderson’s Bookshop.

Online: Video by Brent Hull: Historic Windows: Restore or Replace?