Timeless Design for Houses: Talk #9

Talk #9

9th Commandment: Bay Windows and Balcony Basics

Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Naper Blvd Library Program Room
2035 S Naper Blvd
Naperville, IL 60565

Bay windows and balconies project outward past the walls of buildings enhancing the interior and exterior of almost any house.  Bay windows allow more natural light to enter a home than traditional windows and provide views in three directions.  Balconies take opening a window to the next level by allowing physical access to the outside while keeping a ‘roof over one’s head’ just a step or two away.

In most towns they are also one of the only projections from an exterior wall permitted to extend beyond an established building setback essentially extending one’s living space...let’s keep that between you and me. 😉

In our ninth Talk, Tom Ryan explored various types of balconies and bay windows to how how they enhanced the exterior of historic and newly-built house in and around Naperville

Walk the Talk  #9

On the Saturday August 29th, Tom took folks on a short walking tour to see firsthand how bay windows and balconies have been used over the years in Naperville’s beloved Historic District.

6 Bay Window & balcony Basics for New Homes and Additions

1. Follow the first three Doors & Windows tips of the 8th commandment for repair & replacement guidance.

2. Bay windows should be supported by a foundation or believable brackets and have three parts: a low-slope roof with minimal overhangs, a middle window section (not a picture window), and a base.

3. Angled bay windows with 45° components should have five sides—three with windows and two with short walls returning back to the house at a 90° angle. Flatter bays should feather into the wall.

4. Box bay windows should have the same three-part design as angled bays, but look integrated into the house—not like pop-out sides of a travel trailer.

5. Faux balconies in front of windows and doors add natural light and fall protection. Window railings should be 1/3 the opening height and set within the jamb. Door railings need to be designed to code but should have slender components.

6. Functioning balconies should have a visible means of support that matches the railing material. A balcony built into a house may have a 30" railing installed atop a 12" knee wall to maintain a historic aesthetic while satisfying fall-protection building codes.

Sources of Inspiration

Book: Chapters 5 & 8 of “Get Your House Right” by Marianne Cusato & Ben Pentreath

Online: Video by ZAQIRAZ Home Design: Parisian Balcony Mastery