House in Progress Diary

Just wondering if the windows were going to open like the old Transom windows for natural circulation.

Looking at that pic, it occured to me that it might also be nice to terminate the hall with a transom over the door to the MBR. 3 is a nice balanced number always useful in design, and it would carry that element through to the end of the hallway. It's especially good to draw someone down a hall (even a short one) with light, rather than a dark dead end. I don't know the solar orientation of your house, but since that BR has the frontage and you're pretty tight on the sides, it might also let in more light (and through more of the day).
It doesn't look hard to install either, just knock out the jackstuds above the door and beef up the kingstuds around it... of course the whole story is about that folly! Have you thought about how you'll trim them out on the finished walls? Will they be visually tied into the doorframes or will there be wainscotting or what? Just my thoughts~ it's really coming together and looking great!

Nathan--

You will be especially pleased that we considered a transom up there. It is a funky place, where the two rooflines meet in a dip. So there is a structural support issue there that we don't want to mess with. If we did "go for it", the height of the door to the ceiling to that point doesn't leave much room for a transom. It is different than all of the other hallway doors. Our transom there might be 3-5 inches high (at best!) and would be much thinner than the parallel transoms in the hallway. I love the sentiment, though. That is why we are reversing the swing of the door on the end and flanking it with soft mica sconces. (I hope to try to make these but we'll see. In the A&C tradition I SHOULD make them. But they are difficult.) The sconces will be the same ones that flank the sides of the bedroom beyond and, through the door, you will see the 3 prairie windows. Which draw people to that end already and we don't even have proper walls yet!

Tom--To answer your question, we would love the transoms to open (I am very supportive of circulation), but our budget is tight at this point. So we will be relying on a pal to help us frame some glass to set in the openings. I'd like the walls to be smooth (textured walls would make the space more narrow) and to trim out the transoms simply, like the windows, with a butt joint for bottom and sides and just a simple trim on top to match the other windows and the doors in the hallway. Someday we can replace them with transoms that open. Though I would have to consider the effect that would have on the bathroom space in terms of privacy, sound and releasing condensation out of reach of the bathroom fan. It's a process. Dave was so creative to come up with the idea, because the hallway was very dark and narrow before. Aaron knocked himself out getting them perfectly lined up even when the existing studs were NOT lined up. That was a truly amazing feat.

Take care--

jm

Aha, I see!
Yeah, it seems that you guys understand very well that to do something in a forced manner is worse than just leaving be. Good call on the smooth walls, too. Another question on the transoms you are going ahead with, though~ will you use clear or textured glass? I'm a big proponent of frosted in such applications, myself. Also~ check local fire codes about operable transoms. Most places no longer allow them in new construction because they make it easier for fire to jump from one room to another and potentially allow what would otherwise be an isolated fire more of the air it needs to spread. Technically, you may even be SUPPOSED to use rated glass in the innoperable transoms you're installing.
I LOVE that you're going to attempt the lights yourself! Ive made several of these kinds of things and it's surprisingly easy to make something really elegant as long as you keep it simple.

Not to be a design nitpicker, but wouldn't the windows have worked better if you had included Addie's horses?

Nathan--Definitely frosted, safety glass and we'd like to get laminated glass (as a fire break). We were keen on recycling some of the glass left in the house, but it doesn't have these properties that you rightly point out are SO important. We will use the other half windows and such for decorative purposes on walls, etc. I've collected a few windows in my lifetime (including carefully carrying some home from China). Windows IN walls are supreme, windows ON walls or hanging by a sturdy chain to suggest a barrier without creating one are excellent too. Just hanging them on the walls showcases them as the works of art that they truly are.

Gregg--I would LOVE to use Addie's horses as decorative devices. I gave her a few from the house and I don't want to be an indian giver :) and ask for them back. However, there are two Dala horses we have which will enjoy a prominent place on the second floor somewhere in honor of Addie. They are popular symbols of Sweden (my husband's roots...there's a little bit of Norwegian in him as well. :)

That's a fabulous feature - funny that it isn't used more, isn't it? Now I can't wait to see the finished hallway!

What about using a seeded or wavy glass instead of frosted? Would maintain privacy and obscure views of any, say, 6-foot-7 passersby :) but let in more of that natural light you crave. Just a thought.

Oh yeah, we are DEFINITELY going with frosted glass. Very very frosted.

You should consider "Glue Glass". It is a traditional textured and frosted finish that was used in old houses. Before you go to a window and glass shop, go to a stained glass window supplier or hobby shop that has a supply of stained glass. You will certainly find something there!

Ooh, I second Gary's idea about (we call it here) glue chip. It looks kind of like a frosty winter window. My friends used frosted glass in a first-floor bathroom and dressing room - very necessary because that side of the house is right next to the neighbor's driveway - but the light penetration is next to nil except under very direct sunlight. I'd hate to think you've gone through all that trouble to add light to your hallway and not get the results you're hoping for. In any case your great hallway window idea reminds me of something you'd see in a not-so-big house, of which I know you're a fan!

I've never heard of "Glue Glass". Is it like Milk glass? Anybody got a link to a source?

I found examples of different kinds of glass at this site. They show a great example of glue chip and how it looks different than other types of glass.