The Case for Casement Windows

In New England, every window tells a story. Some are drafty and old, pried open for a hundred summers. Some are picture windows framing the mountain ridge just so. And then there are the casements, swinging wide and pulling in that first crisp fall breeze.

Casements are not new. In fact, they were the original movable windows of Europe. In the Middle Ages, wood frames were hinged with iron and filled with oiled cloth or thin slices of horn to let in light while keeping out the weather. By the 16th century, glass making caught up, and casements were fitted with small diamond-shaped panes in leaded grids, the kind you can still picture in a Tudor house. When English colonists came to New England, they brought the casement design with them.

Through the 17th and 18th centuries, casement windows appeared in early American houses, though the double-hung sash gradually became the standard. Still, casements never really left. They reappeared in 19th century revivals, in Arts and Crafts bungalows, and in the tall, airy rooms of mid-century homes. Their history is long because their appeal is simple: they open wide, catch the breeze, and close snug.

That crank handle, though. Anyone who has lived with casements knows the dilemma. You fall in love with the light they let in and the way they make a house breathe, then you go to add shades and realize nothing quite sits right. Shades bump into the crank, bulge out at the sill, or need constant adjusting. Casements can be dressed beautifully, but they ask for more thought than most.

The good news is that the fixes are straightforward. Swap the bulky crank for a low-profile T-handle and suddenly shades glide without issue. Order treatments just shy of the sill and fabric clears the handle neatly. Mount shades outside the frame and not only do you bypass the crank, you also give the window a sense of height and presence that can make a room feel more polished.

What makes casement windows compelling is that they are not generic. They come with quirks, but those quirks are part of their heritage and their charm. When you choose the right treatment, you are not just covering a pane of glass. You are working with history, tailoring function to design in a way that feels distinctly New England.

The case for casement windows is simple. They have been here for centuries, they are beautiful and practical, and with a thoughtful approach to window treatments they will serve as both a link to the past and a comfort in the present. At Monadnock Shutter and Shade, we can help tailor the perfect solution for your casement windows without the frustration, so you can enjoy their charm without compromise.