Owners of large country apartments can afford to choose any type of glazing. When planning the appearance of their private mansion, anyone can design window openings of any shape and size that will fit most organically into the composition.
Window panels are the main sources of natural light and determine the atmosphere of the home. A house with panoramic windows looks very stylish, and thanks to such openings, the external space is filled with the landscapes surrounding the property.
Advantages and disadvantages of panoramic glazing
Panoramic glazing in a private house has many positive aspects, both decorative and functional:
- picturesque paintings outside the window - panoramic glass panels are advisable to install when the surroundings of the house are truly beautiful;
- natural light, the level of which increases significantly, so that people inside will not experience difficulties with light, which is very important for health;
- the external design of the facades becomes unique, with everything else, panoramic canvases make it possible to save money on exterior finishing work;
- the price of a residential property, the design of which includes panoramic windows, increases, as well as consumer demand;
- transparent glass sheets allow you to visually expand the space;
- design possibilities and choice of style for arranging houses equipped with panoramic technology are increasing, this is proven by photos of houses with panoramic windows.
However, these technologies also have disadvantages:
- The energy losses of a home with large window openings are quite large. The cost of insulating such apartments increases by 30%;
- danger for young children, as the lower border of the window is located too low. To avoid damage, as a rule, a special fence is installed;
- Frequent cleaning of glass surfaces. If you can wash them from the inside yourself, then for external work you will have to call in climbers.
What styles does it suit?
The interior styles that the second light is suitable for can be almost any. But the second light level looks most advantageous in the Provence, country, loft, classic and modern styles.
Art Nouveau, Baroque, and palace classicism are also perfectly realized when using second light. Difficulties here can only arise with minimalism, since it does not use bulky furniture, which is an indispensable attribute of a room with high ceilings and huge windows.
To balance the second lighting with any style, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Select large interior details;
- Do not leave the center of the room empty;
- Use carpets and other objects that muffle the acoustics, or take advantage of the good sound and install a piano;
- Fill the wall space with shelves and decor to avoid the effect of empty and uninhabited space.
The second light during the day illuminates the room to the maximum, but in the evening the curtains are closed, so you should take care of artificial lighting of the huge room in advance.
Glazing technologies
There are two glazing technologies:
- Cold - used when unheated rooms in the form of verandas, balconies and loggias are glazed. Windows can be equipped with a frame or not. Frameless panels are glass that fits tightly to each other.
- Warm - the design consists of plastic or wooden profiles equipped with two- or three-chamber double-glazed windows.
However, the panoramic glass frame can also be made of aluminum or reinforced metal profile. The type of material affects the cost of the product. Also, any kit should be supplemented with ebbs, window sills, fittings, etc.
Design varieties
Windows with panoramic views, according to their design features, can be standard, garden or corner. Most often, conventional products are used. There is another group - false windows, which are large panels equipped with lighting and beautiful images.
Panoramic windows can open in different ways: the tilt-and-turn system allows you to open the window slightly and completely, the sliding mechanism is very sealed, the accordion type can only be used in houses located in very warm areas, and the lifting system is the most silent.
Decoration of a building with a panoramic window system
When developing a project for a country house, which is equipped with a system of large window panels, you should definitely take into account its location relative to the cardinal directions. By placing windows facing south or southwest, it will be possible to reduce heat loss and, accordingly, heating costs will decrease.
It is also important that the house is located in picturesque surroundings. The best places to use panoramic glazing are:
- Coast,
- edge of a picturesque forest,
- area near a waterfall or other body of water,
- platform located at the top overlooking the metropolis.
As a rule, the rooms in which a panoramic system is used are guest rooms, kitchens, bedrooms or a hall.
Correct lighting
Proper artificial lighting of a two-level room will reveal the design of the room in the most favorable light. But how to create such a lighting system so that it only emphasizes the advantages of a large hall?
Spot lighting is appropriate here as a means of highlighting the multi-level nature of the area. For example, it is used on stairs or in niches.
Wall lamps in this type of room, where there are additional windows, are best used in groups. It is permissible to illuminate the TV and paintings using LED strip. Floor lamps installed in the middle along with a sofa and coffee table are also good in this interior.
The main rule of artificial lighting in the second light is the use of wall sconces and similar accessories. Without wall light, at night the room will be illuminated only in the center, and its corners will be buried in shadows and twilight.
The highlight of the artificial illumination of the second light is contained in the chandelier under the ceiling. After all, with high ceilings, this detail is always paid attention to. Therefore, the chandelier must fully reflect the style of the interior concept.
Bedroom
The main thing you should pay attention to in a sleeping room equipped with panoramic systems is the location of the bed, because this room requires special privacy.
Even with just one wall surface with panoramic glazing, it is enough for the room to be clearly visible from the street. That is why window openings must be covered with beautiful curtains and a blind system.
Regulatory Requirements
Window sill height
In all Soviet-built houses, without exception, the standard distance from the floor to the window was 70 - 85 centimeters.
As is easy to see, window openings do not start from the floor.
Why? Yes, simply because heating radiators were mounted on the window sill, creating a thermal curtain in front of the window opening.
The function of a radiator is to create a thermal curtain in front of the window.
Why do windows need a thermal curtain? It solves at least two problems:
- Eliminates the appearance of cold drafts. Air from the street, penetrating inside through the gaps of the window frames, is mixed with the rising air flow from the hot battery;
A window without a thermal curtain will become a source of cold in winter.
- Warms up the glass, eliminating the formation of condensation and frost on them.
The thermal curtain created by the radiator warms up the glass.
There was no GOST for the height of the window from the floor in the USSR, and it still doesn’t exist now. However, indirect mention of this parameter can be found in SNiP 3.01.01-87, which sets out the requirements for load-bearing and enclosing structures .
Cover of the document.
What should be the height of the window from the floor according to SNiP? The document makes the following recommendations:
- The heating radiator must be separated from the floor by at least 10 centimeters. The gap is necessary so that the proximity of the floor does not limit air convection;
- The gap between the battery and the window sill should be at least 6 - 8 centimeters. The purpose of creating a gap is the same - not to interfere with convection.
Distances from the radiator to the window sill and floor.
To these values you should add the height of the heating device itself.
The most common cast iron batteries MS-140 in the late 80s, during the years when SNiP was issued, have a section height of 588 millimeters.
Dimensions of the MS-140 radiator.
Adding up the size of the gaps and the height of the battery, we get 76.8 cm. This will be the minimum allowable distance from the window to the floor.
Typical height of a window opening above the floor.
Window area
We found out at what height from the floor builders install windows. Now we have to find out whether there are any regulatory restrictions on their maximum area.
An excessively large window area can create problems for the owner.
The answer can be found in SNiP 2.08.01-89, which regulates the construction of residential buildings. According to this document, the ratio of the window to the floor area of the room should be in the range of 1:5.5 - 1:8.
A source of information.
For attics, the ratio of window area to floor area can be increased to 1:10.
The ratio of window area to floor area for premises for various purposes.
Guest room
In the living room, you should pay special attention to the arrangement of furniture. Near the panoramic canvas, you can install a comfortable composition of a sofa and armchairs with a small table, where you can gather for a pleasant conversation, reading books or playing board games.
By placing furniture groups along the walls in the shape of the letter “P”, all household members and guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the views outside the window.
If possible, it is advisable to install a telescope or piano in front of the panoramic canvas. These accessories will add elegance and sophistication to the interior.
Living room interior with second light
Living rooms with a second level of light were previously used in palaces and mansions. This arrangement of windows is related to European architecture of the 17th century.
The prestige of a double-height room increases significantly if it is decorated according to all the rules. Let's look at these rules using a table:
| Interior idea | Implementation |
| Gothic chandelier | The most simple design, large size, minimum of small details. |
| Panels and paintings | They are located at the level of the second and first windows; two-tier compositions are welcome. |
| Sofa | The largest sofa you can find or a medium sofa and two massive armchairs. |
| Bookcases | The highest possible structures, preferably from floor to ceiling. |
| Lighting | Wall sconces, floor lamps, ball chandeliers in one row from the center to the edges of the room. |
This arrangement of significant interior details will help achieve maximum harmony of space. The rest of the interior elements can look the way the home owner wishes and are arranged in accordance with the chosen style direction.
Kitchen area
When creating an example of beautiful glazing in the kitchen, you should take into account the size of the room, the height of the walls and the layout. The most suitable options for panoramic systems will be the following:
- full-height canvases - typical for spacious areas with an open layout;
- half a meter from the floor plane - it is advisable to install such canvases on the territory of the dining area;
- height 0.8 m from the floor surface - such a panoramic system can be installed throughout the room. It is possible to install a table or soft sofas under the window panels.
Fireplace placement
A fireplace in a room is of great importance. It is a decoration and an additional source of heat. A seating area is usually set up in front of the fireplace. If the room is too large and its center is far from the walls where the fireplace can be placed, then you can use an imitation fireplace. For example, a glass fireplace that runs on special fuel or gas is better suited here than other options.
Where possible, the fireplace is placed between the central windows or to the side of them. This position helps combat heat loss and also does not disturb the overall harmony of the interior.
Sometimes a fireplace can be used for zoning. Then its pipe runs through the center of the room, and behind it there is a special stylized wall.
Design of panoramic windows
The design of panoramic windows in a private house should be given due attention, since the final appearance of the interior composition largely depends on this. To decorate window openings they often use:
- standard, roller or Roman blinds;
- lightly draped curtains;
- blinds.
In order not to spoil the main functional purpose of panoramic glazing, which is to fill rooms with natural light, it is not recommended to decorate openings with multilayer compositions. It is better to give preference to light, flowing fabrics in light shades.
Design Features
A floor-to-ceiling window is a design, a device that allows you to improve the appearance of a building and provide an unobstructed view. Panorama translated from Greek means “I see everything.” An alternative name for panoramic windows is French glazing, since such house designs first began to appear in France, where temperatures in winter reached -7 degrees Celsius.
In most cases, plastic is used to create a panoramic structure, but in addition to PVC, other building materials can be used, including wood and metal. Depending on the accuracy of installation, not only the comfort of the interior space depends, but also its protection from the influence of external adverse factors (rain and snow, wind and low temperatures).
