My first apartment in New York was my first peek into “interior windows.” As you can see in the photo below, my room was likely “invented” in the main common space so that the landlord could charge more for the space. Wanna guess how much this room was in 2010?? $740. The craziest part is that it was a STEAL given the prime East Village location. But I digress. So yes, I can’t say “entirely windowless” because up in that crawl space were two rows of chunky glass cubes that let in a tiiiiny bit of light from the front room where the actual light lived. Long story short, it was in that apartment I truly realized the importance of natural light. It not only makes a space beautiful but it helps your mood and prevents you from not sleeping until 1 pm because your body thinks it’s always nighttime.
Are interior windows a new idea? No, not at all. But I have been seeing them way more and honestly I can’t get enough. Let that light in! We need to feel joy again! (kidding…or am I?) They also invite the perfect balance between an open concept home and a traditional closed floorplan.
But Jess, where and/why is an interior window a good idea? Thanks for asking, Jess. One fun/solution-based way is to put one between a load-bearing post and a wall like Emily did in the mountain house dining nook. Since they couldn’t move that post and weren’t in love with the original pony wall, Em and the design team decided not to close up the wall and instead install a window that matched the windows in the nook. This kept things looking and feeling airy.
Emily is actually keeping the good interior window times rolling in the farmhouse. She’s repurposing some of the original exterior windows and using them for the pantry as shown above. It’s going to add just a sweet architectural moment that is also special to this house specifically. Actually adding a vintage interior window (depending on the style you are going for) is SUCH a great way to bring in some soul to a home without having to worry if it’s sealed perfectly like it would need to be if it were being used as an exterior window.
Now, let’s get into all of the examples I found (well, not all but some of my favorites:)). This one above by Michelle Mele is perfect. Had that wall been solid it still would have looked nice but now the whole space feels more open and larger. It feels modern yet classic while also being decorative but ultimately functional (because it lets in light).
I also wanted you to see it from a more pulled-back angle. It really adds so much to this whole space. Let an interior window be a functional piece of art!
Ok so technically this is more than “just a window” but it has the same function on a larger scale. This window wall gives the feeling of the living and dining rooms being two separate spaces while still letting the light bounce around in both rooms. It’s almost too pretty. Ok, it’s definitely too pretty.
P.S. This was also one of the rooms that inspired me to get my shag rug. I need mine to look like that!
What I also love about interior windows is the style variety. This isn’t something that’s exclusively modern, traditional, farmhouse chic, etc. It’s for everyone and every home.
Something else to note is that they don’t just have to be picture windows (ones that don’t open). As shown in this beautiful living room by Blanc Marine Intérieurs with those awesome functional vintage windows. Let that air circulate if it makes sense with the flow of the house and design.
I’m not sure if this entry and interior window were original to this house but regardless it’s so smart. This home is in Seattle so it’s wet and the need for an entry with storage is a must. This example design by The Residency Bureau shows us how to get that needed entry without losing all of that precious light in the living room.
Big, bold interior windows at their finest. When I saw these photos I gasped. They perfectly separate these spaces, add architectural interest, AND make the space feel simultaneously cozy and grand.
James Home Renovation 