I like the brick colour. Have you looked at the flush upvc windows? Could you reduce the number of sections from 4 to 3 on the bigger windows, and reduce number of bars so less busy? Bars on the flush windows are laid on not within the glass so also look better.

Have you thought about a grey/anthracite colour for the windows with a very light grey render? Walk past a house with this combination every day and it looks really good.

Like @sarh123, I love the colour of the brick! Green or grey windows would look good... a sage green would pop out nicely but not look as stark as the current white, or grey would compliment the brick in a more subtle way. I would steer away from cream / magnolia render - these tend to look dirty quickly. I have a lovely green render on my house which contrasts with the brick (see pic) and because there are two layers of brick before the render starts at the bottom (you can just about see it on the pic), it stops it looking dirty from splashes at ground level. A pale grey render would also work well. Keep the window designs simple so the focus is all about the view out.

I agree with Dean Design. So many roads of character houses are now scattered with the grey window/render combination. This is a lovely house (although I would try at some stage to restore to the original windows!)

Thank you everyone for your comments! It’s really interesting to hear everyone’s views.
We live in a conservation area at the edge of a North Yorkshire village so we have a certain amount of restrictions placed on us in terms of what we can choose for the render although weirdly not the windows. We need permission from the council for the render colour for our new ground floor extension (this is going along the side of the house in the space you see on pic two). A light grey render isn’t one we had thought of but I think would look good.
We have decided to leave the brick as it is and just concentrate on the windows - I have window blindness now as literally everywhere I go I’m looking at other houses! We have found what the original windows looked like via google and they were also quite busy although I’m sure we could have a variation on them now. Anything would be better than the existing ones!

In my opinion the house benefits from having decorative windows- the originals were probably quite plain so restoring a 1960’s original style probably is a backward step. I do get that the internal glazing bars don’t look as good up close (especially from inside) but perhaps there is a decorative style of heritage casement window that would work in your rural village.

I am glad you are keeping the original brick. The extension will read as an extension if it is rendered and perhaps you should therefore consider different styles for the different parts of the house.

How about if you put a heritage style window in the main house in a soft grey/ green and then contemporary black glazing in the extension. I also think white render sits uncomfortably in rural settings but think the opposite (soft black or dark brown or dark green) help extensions fit into green and leafy settings.

Thanks Jonathan, I like those windows!
So much to think about. I’ll be asking advice for the very large kitchen / dining room / family room we are planning next!

I personally like the brickwork on the house, gives it a sense of history and character. I've seen lots of rendering and whilst they look good I find you lose the character over time.
For Windows I personally will also keep them white but get rid of the white lines in between. What you can do is have smaller openings at the top of the windows which will automatically create a white bar to split the windows a bit whilst also being more practical (see below image of new windows on a house with smaller openings at top of each window). This will also allow you to open the windows during colder periods. I've also attached a photo of white rendering and grey windows for inspiration if you still prefer that look.

Also think about having a statement door in anthracite grey and windows in white. It provides a nice contrast without having to spend money on different coloured windows.

Sorry but I think the statement door would clash with the style of the house. Can you post the google picture you have showing how the house originally looked?

Here are the original windows - also white and quite busy! We can’t see what the front door would have looked like as it’s recessed. When we do the work we are bringing the porch space back into the house to make a bigger front hall. So a new front door choice will also be key!

I was wondering what the original windows looked like.

Quite like them. They seem to ‘make sense’.

I also like the big climber. 😊

The cream ones in Jonathan’s post would look great as they’re close to the original but simpler. I think it’s a lovely house.

I like the original windows, but if that is going to obscure the view too much, think about keeping the same casement size but removing the horizontal bars. But this will make the house look a bit ‘blank’ so softening it with planting would definitely help.

I really like the grey “statement door” suggested above. I think it is in 60s style, so would suit the house. Only it doesn’t have to be grey. Could a purple or yellow complement the colour of bricks?
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought pastel green windows would be in keeping with victorian houses, not midcentury?

For me if you are choosing heritage style windows the front door should also be traditional. My preference would be for a door colour to match either the render it windows in order to keep the palate sophisticated.

However some contemporary colours would be worth considering. Changing the door furniture from brass to chrome can also make it feel more contemporary

I like the original windows, but if that is going to obscure the view too much, think about keeping the same casement size but removing the horizontal bars. But this will make the house look a bit ‘blank’ so softening it with planting would definitely help.

We do all types of windows. However, after many years in this business my suggestion is go for wooden windows. After 10 years all types of windows will require maintenance. You can repaint wooden windows and they then will be as good as new. Now about 90% of our customers replacing plastic or aluminum windows to wooden and all of them had been changed 10-12 years ago. Whereas old wooden windows we replacing after 30-40 or more years. Another advantage of wooden windows is - you can paint it in any RAL color.

I like the original windows, but if that is going to obscure the view too much, think about keeping the same casement size but removing the horizontal bars. But this will make the house look a bit ‘blank’ so softening it with planting would definitely help.

Although built in ‘81, it’s obvious the school had to go for an older “cottage” look, therefore I would go with something of a heritage look. Normally I do not like bars but that is on houses that have a different style to this, mostly post war designs, however I think they are suitable for this house but there should have less of them. It’s far too busy! Also, go for wood. As mentioned in a previous post, they last longer and you can paint them.
I would also replace the roof tiles for flat slate but that is a whole other ball game!

I like the original windows, but if that is going to obscure the view too much, think about keeping the same casement size but removing the horizontal bars. But this will make the house look a bit ‘blank’ so softening it with planting would definitely help.

Why has Alix Ws post repeated 4 times?

I noticed that too, odd isn’t it?

Unhelpful comment, sorry:
Those windows remind me of some on a US renovation programme exactly like them - the home owner was complaining vociferously, but couldn't afford new.
One of the hosts walked over to them, fiddled, and a whole area of cross pieces came away in his hand, leaving one sheet of glass instead of sixteen. Turned out, they were just strips of plastic glued to the glass. It was rather entertaining.

Sadly the plastic strips are inside the glass panels. It’s the bright white uPVC plastic we don’t like.
I’m not sure why Alix’s comment keeps repeating either!

I like the original windows, but if that is going to obscure the view too much, think about keeping the same casement size but removing the horizontal bars. But this will make the house look a bit ‘blank’ so softening it with planting would definitely help.

Now, now E D 😉🙄

Haha yea, bit silly. Sorry. 😌

I blame the lockdown... ☺️

Made me laugh 😉

And me! 🤣🤣

So sorry - promise I wasn’t spamming you! Some glitch in the app? Or in the space/time continuum...? But about those windows....

😂
Definite glitch in the matrix

I like the house. Plenty of big windows which is a great starting point. Got a bit of an arts and crafts feel to it. The brick from the photos looks nice and a rendered extension would add a nice contrast and some interest. Actually the thing I like least are the tiles. I would be inclined to change the tiles as well as the windows over rendering. I think this would give the biggest visual impact. For windows I’d consider a central sash with side lights given their width. Might seem an odd choice but I think it would work with the proportions. Also remember whilst it would be difficult to change the width of the windows with an older brick house it is pretty easy to change the height of the windows by cutting out the brickwork below although I like the window proportions so I do t think you necessarily need to. For window colour I’d go light grey or grey green which will also give a nice contrast on your extension against a light coloured render (I’m a fan of Sandtex chalk white). I’m a fan of coloured front doors - I like the orange above - but just need to make sure it doesn’t clash with your window colour. Personally I would go with the bright orange posted by Jonathan but if it were my house my wife wouldn’t sanction it (she didn’t). An easy way to get a feel for what it would look like is to use MS paint. Paste in a photo and then cut and paste over windows doors, tiles, etc . It’s actually really easy and gives a surprisingly good idea of what might work. Anyway, good luck.

Hi Lidsay

With the windows, you need to treat the front and back separately, The front is the kerbside appeal so this needs to say something about the style of the house and its age. Have bars on the front windows as this is the main view of what everyone else sees. The back is all about what you see from the inside. You state that the views are wonderful views, don't spoil it by putting bars on the windiows or doors.

I agree that a Flush Casement window will look good but not always with larger centre glazed areas, they work best with modules of the same size. The choice of colour is restricted with UPVC but you can have any RAL colour with Aluminium. I'm not sure that Aluminium would be the right choice for the exiting house.

Hope this helps and not confuses more!

Happy to help if you want any quotes?

Martin

Hi Lindsay

How about a grey colour render? The original windows look arc deco ish, so maybe go for a colour from that era? I think green would blend the house into the background due to the landscape.