Bay Window

The second floor of our house has very few windows. In fact the entire east side is window-free. My husband is determined to brighten up that space on the second floor by putting in a bay window. I think it's a great idea, however, I'm a little scared off by the price of these windows and the thought of him attempting to install it himself!

When we were kids, my father installed a great big bay window in my parent’s bedroom. Their bedroom was located at the front of the house - a house that had formerly been a church, and had a peaked roof on the second floor. My Dad was a real do-it-yourself kind of guy. I remember hanging onto a rope for dear life, as my father worked to install that window. The thought of that window pitching forward to shatter on the cement below was enough for me to hold fast! My Dad built such an elaborate system to install that bay window. He ended up nailing boards all across the front of the house, to ensure that it wouldn't do exactly what I had envisioned. I should have had more faith in my father's handiwork, because that bay window was installed in no time flat, without a hitch and to the delight of my mother.

A bay window is nice to have, especially if it's the sort that allows for window seating along the edge. My father created a beautiful window seat, complete with cushioning. It made for a great place to read and allowed for a nice view.

If my husband goes ahead and purchases and installs a bay window in our house, I will be sure that he allows for a window seat as well. I love to read, and having a comfy spot with lots of light would be a perfect spot to escape to with a good book. Of course, my children would probably lay claim to the spot, well before I could even think of where I'd left my book. But the idea of having a nice big, bay window with a cozy reading nook still sounds like a great idea and I hope this is one of his bright ideas that he actually follows through with.

There is actually a discount window manufacturer in our city and a friend mentioned to me that they often have very large, custom-built windows for sale. It would probably be a good idea to check there first and work our ideas around what's available. As long as my new bay window lets in lots of light and has a window seat I'll be happy - saving a bit of money along the way, sounds good too.