Windows and doors
A house’s windows and doors are its most important and defining exterior features, and provide clues to the era it was built in. We round up the best designs for a period property
We round up the best designs for every style of period home
Extended style
Right: If you extend your home, it’s important to choose suitable glazing. This might be a minimalist design that shows how the house has evolved over the years, or it might be an in-keeping style. This orangery extension to a Georgian home features a triple weighted box sash window with central opening section in a dual-colour paint finish with antique brass/bronze ironmongery, £5,250, and roof lantern with double opening roof vent, £9,750, by Wesbury Joinery.
Mix and match
Below: A house’s door and window styles need to complement one another, but they don’t have to be exactly the same design and colour. This Moorbank door is finished in Fired Earth’s Carragheen with the frame in Porcelain, and features an etched sun glass design. The frame ties in with the flush casement windows, also finished in Porcelain with 27mm astragal bars. The door costs around £3,500 and windows are priced at around £2,000 each including installation, at Timber Windows.
Rustic choice
Left: Oak French doors are a classic choice that look fabulous on rural cottages and barn conversions. This part-glazed design by Broadleaf is made to measure by craftspeople in Wales, and can be provided oiled or primed, ready to be painted or stained in the finish of your choice. Priced £4,516.
Set in steel
Right: Steel windows were popular in the early 20th century and became identifiable features of many Art Deco homes and industrial buildings. Today, you can buy both traditional and modern designs. The material is hardwearing and secure, and allows for narrow frames that let in more light than many timber windows. This new replacement Clement EB24 steel window gives the same look as the house’s original windows and costs from £740 for H100xw50cm.
Crafted in oak
Above: Bespoke solid oak doors are a true investment, and the wood will continue to grow more characterful with age. These bespoke heavy sectioned arched oak double doors and frame by Deacon & Sandys have handcarved details. The bespoke ironmongery was made by a local blacksmith. Expect to pay £9,600 for a similar design.
Restoration game
Right: Even if they fall into a poor state of repair, original timber front doors can often be restored to former glory. The Grand Victorian Door Company specialises in restoring period designs, and this Victorian door has been fully renovated, with the sadly broken stained glass replaced with new, and the ironmongery spruced up. Price dependent on the work involved.
Like for like
Above: This replacement front door and frame is based on the original design for the house and made from engineered hardwood: a three-core lamination of the solid wood that prevents warping. It is double glazed with clear-line border etched glass and fitted with an integral high-security multipoint lock. Factory finished in Anthracite. Expect to pay around £3,600 for a similar design from GBS Joinery.
In the fold
Above: Bi-fold patio doors are increasingly popular, and this beautiful window design by Whyte & Wood emulates the style while folding back to allow for a fully wide opening. The bespoke accoya timber window has a 50-year anti-rot guarantee and won’t need to be repainted for at least 10 years. Expect to pay from £2,800. ➤
Going bold
Above: The front door is the focal point of your home, so make it stand out in a strong hue, such as red or blue. This handcrafted and handpainted door by the London Door Company makes an exceptional first impression. Made from accoya, it costs from £2,000.
Link to the garden
Below: Bi-fold doors are ideal for opening up your home to the garden. They run along a track and fold back, to give the flexibility of being partially or fully open. While timber designs are more in-keeping with some period homes, aluminium designs add a modern edge. Origin’s bi-fold doors cost from £1,000-£1,200 per leaf.
Classic elegance
Left: Sash windows were ubiquitous in the Georgian era, and comprised two vertically sliding ‘sashes’ made up of small panes in a six-over-six or eight-over-eight configuration. The style continued through into the Victorian and Edwardian eras, although the panes got smaller as larger glass pieces became possible. This semicircular headed sliding sash window with applied glazing bars incorporates security locks and traditional weight and pulleys. Manufactured from engineered hardwood and finished with a microporous paint for durability, prices are on application from Scotts of Thrapston.
Authentic style
Above: UPVC and composite frames are not traditionally recommended for period properties as the material is not authentic, the glazing bars tend to look too chunky, and the finish is artificial. However, there are some far better quality examples that are practically indistinguishable from new timber – some have even been approved for use on listed homes. These cottage-style casement windows from The Residence Collection replicate the character of traditional timber frames. Available in a range of colours and woodgrains, and with a choice of traditional window furniture, prices are on application.
Repair or replace?
Above: Where possible, you should always look to repair rather than replace original windows, but when they are too far gone or have already been replaced with poor designs, it’s important to choose authentic options. The Sash Window Workshop restores original windows, but also makes new designs to suit a range of period properties. This double-glazed accoya casement window bay and surrounds, with a bespoke paint finish, is £5,400.
Bronze age
Above: This bespoke bronze screen with slimline doors makes a stunning contrast to soft-toned stone walls, and is perfect for adding elegance to a rustic structure. Expect to pay around £13,000 for H290xw280cm at Architectural Bronze Casements.
Bespoke is best
A custom designed and made front door will really make a house and is an authentic choice. The Bespoke Front Door Company makes and installs low-maintenance accoya doors in the London area, but also offers a selection of beautiful doors to order online. This 1930s design with landscape panels cost £7,900.
All in the detail
Left: Timber casement windows, where the sashes open on hinges, are simple, unpretentious designs that are perfect for cottages. This triple casement design by David Salisbury features Gothic arched details. All of the brand’s windows are custom made to suit the property’s requirements, and casement designs start from around £1,200.