I just left a friend’s most charming home. It was overflowing with character and graced by an incredible French antique furniture collection. Each piece was highlighted by an inordinate amount of natural light flooding through each space.
This quaint home didn’t overlook a spacious piece of property with large expansive walls of glass, or sport any of the “typical” window features we are all familiar with. Interestingly this charming two-bedroom home was anchored by two small courtyards – one situated at the front entry and the other located in the rear of the home each accessible by French doors and windows.
So what made the interior of this home so
bright and inviting?
Skylights – strategically positioned in the kitchen, living room, bathrooms and master bedroom all in an effort to maximize the daylight. And it worked! What could have felt like a dark and dingy home
(due to a long/narrow site), was a bright, lively and incredibly inviting home.
So here’s some food for thought when incorporating skylights into your next home renovation project.
Design Tips:
- Skylights can be fixed or operable depending on your needs.
- Skylights create an open/airy ambiance to any room.
- If compared with traditional windows of the same size, skylights allow in almost five times more natural light into your space.
- Natural lighting floods the space and immediately enhances the room and your mood as well.
- Consider its size and placement and the attic space above. A shallow well will wash more light throughout the space. I like splaying (angling it outward from the rough opening) the well to distribute more light.
Energy Efficiency:
- The right quality skylight (wood, vinyl or fiberglass frames) when positioned strategically could potentially increase the energy efficiency in your home and keep your heating costs down.
- If installed with a southern exposure, over the winter months it will provide you with passive solar heating – which could reduce your heating costs. If possible install it in a shaded area under a deciduous tree to avoid some of the summer heat.
- When positioned on an east-facing roof – you’ll get a maximum amount of natural light and heat in the morning hours.
- Research the options and specify a low e coating for better insulation value. It reduces the loss of heat in the winter and keeps your home cooler in the summer.
- Saves on electricity as it maximizes natural lighting – reducing the need to turn lights on during the day.
So consider implementing a skylight or two into your next home renovation project. Not only will they add architectural style, detail and natural light to your home – they are also an excellent way to increase the overall value of your home.
I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report:
“15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”
Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.
