Windows are a must for every home and thinking of them we usually imagine something traditional – a large or average window right in the center of the wall. But what about more creative windows that add special charm and more light to the space? Do you consider having a skylight or a clerestory one? Let me share some ideas on the latter and maybe you’ll want them.
Clerestory windows are large windows placed above eye level to illuminate an interior space with natural light. They’re typically placed in a row right below the roofline, but they can also sit above roof lines or overhangs to maximize the amount of light in a given space. Clerestory windows date all the way back to ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians made use of clerestory windows by cutting slits into giant slabs of stone in order to illuminate halls and temples. Centuries later, these windows became a standard architectural feature of the upper levels of both Romanesque and Gothic churches.
A cabin living room with a stone accent wall, chic furniture, a large window and some clerestory ones for more light.
A catchy blue farmhouse kitchen with white stone countertops, a large mirror and clerestory windows to natural light yet privacy.
A chic minimalist bedroom with white walls, a glazed wall and clerestory windows, a bed with grey bedding and some plants.
A contemporary bathroom with a floating vanity, an oval tub, a pendant lamp and a clerestory window that keeps privacy at its best.
A contemporary bathroom with penny and large scale tiles, a wooden ceiling with a clerestory window that is good for both light and privacy.
A contemporary cabin with a glazed wall and a clerestory window for more light and views and minimalist furniture.
A contemporary space with a brick wall, white sleek cabinetry, pendant lamps and clerestory windows that birng light in.
Clerestories are located high in the walls, close to the roof, which leads some people to say that they are wonderful because they allow to see the sky and the top of the trees. Still, clerestory windows should be properly designed and positioned to avoid serious overheating and heat loss problems.
A contemporary white space with a long window as a backsplash and clerestory windows plus contemporary furniture.
A large modern farmhouse bathroom with a window, a large floating vanity with a stone countertop, clerestory windows for more light.
A mid-century modern dining room with lovely stylish furniture, potted plants, an exit to the garden and a clerestory window to illuminate the space.
A light-filled mid-century modern space with glazed walls and clerestory windows that fill the spaces with natural light.
Clerestory windows can be used in conjunction with high mass walls and floors, properly designed and positioned to store solar heat during the sunny parts of the day to heat the house during the coolest parts of the day. Clerestories are, in this case, located in the sunny side of the house, protected from the summer’s sun by the roofline or by overhangs or other projecting architectural features. That’s very important: clerestory windows should be recessed into thick walls; or protected by other means.
A mid-century modern dining space with a bright gallery wall, a plywood table and chairs, a glazed wall and clerestory windows for more light.
A mid-century modern home office with a glazed wall and clerestory windows, a corner desk and leather chairs is welcoming.
A mid-century modern neutral bathroom with skinny tiles, a terrazzo floor, a clawfoot tub, a clerestory window that brings some light.
A mid-century modern open layout spruced up with a glazed wall and with some additional clerestory windows for additional natural light.
A mid-century modern space with double-height ceilings, with clerestory windows for more natural light, a large bookcase as a space divider.
A midern dark wood kitchen with a white marble backsplash and countertops and a clerestory window to make the space lighter and fresher.
A minimalist space in black and white, with minimalist furniture and black pendant lamps plus a clerestory window over the space.
It’s hard to find blinds, shades, coverings or other sunlight control devices for clerestory windows. But the devices used for skylights, roof windows, or for common windows can be used or adapted for clerestories.
A modern farmhouse bedroom with a blue bench with pillows, a large window and an additional clerestory one.
A modern neutral bedroom with contemporary furniture, a large window and a clerestory window over the bed is super chic.
A modern open layout with a neutral color palette, with clerestory windows dotting the facade and giving more light to the spaces.
A neutral kitchen with modern furniture, with clerestory windows for more natural light and some large windows for the views.
A pretty neutral bathroom with a black and white floor, a light-stained vanity, an oval bathtub, two mirrors and pendant lamps.
A serene contemporary bathroom with a black tile floor, a light-stained built-in vanity and a large mirror, a clerestory window.
A stylish modern space with a glazed wall and doors, with clerestory windows to maximize the light and a black and white gallery wall.
A cute b&w bathroom design.
A white cabin kitchen with beadboard cladding the walls and clerestory windows that bring light inside and sliding doors.
An all-natural living room with a fireplace with a gold cover, a black sectional, glazed walls for amazing views and clerestory windows for more light.
An eclectic space with black sleek furniture, light-stained chairs, a bright rug, glass doors opened to the garden and a clerestory window for more light in the kitchen.
An elegant art deco kitchen in black, grey, white and gold, with a glazed wall and doors, with clerestory windows to bring more light to the double-height space.