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Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via Instagram and/or Twitter.
If the windows are the eyes of the home, then you’ll have to look up to have a staring match with clerestory windows. Pronounced clear story, this type of window is installed as a row of panes, usually fixed high above eye level on a wall.
Clerestory windows are desirable in home design because they let in plenty of natural light. But they do so in an indirect way, illuminating a space without the glare you often get from traditional windows. Transom windows act in a similar way, but they are installed above door frames or even other windows, whereas clerestory windows are installed high up along the expanse of a wall.
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Clearly, clerestory windows are not suitable as the only type of window in a home. But when they are installed as part of a larger fenestration design, they can make quite an impact. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of having these unique windows in a home.
Windows of any type let in natural light, which can make a space seem bigger. Clerestory windows are installed in such a way that a room could be positively flooded with light.
“I don’t think I’ve ever walked in a house and said ‘too much natural light,’” says Andrew Pasquella, a real estate associate with Sotheby’s International Realty in Malibu, California. That’s reason enough for him to be a fan of clerestory windows. “The addition of more natural, often ambient, light can transform a space and make it feel more open and larger.”
Depending on the time of day, if you’re in a room with clerestory windows, you might not even need to reach for a light switch. “Because clerestory windows are placed high up on the wall, they can allow light to enter a space from above, which can help to illuminate the space and reduce the need for artificial lighting,” says Humberto Marquez, a licensed real estate agent with Awning. “This can create a more pleasant and comfortable living environment and can help to save energy and reduce electricity costs.”
Traditional windows are useful, but boy can they get in the way of wall decor. Enter clerestory windows: they’re simply above it all, quite literally. “They can be an excellent design choice to gain more wall space for art, shelving, and other decor without sacrificing natural light,” says Pasquella.
You don’t need a curtain — though you could add blinds — to dress up a clerestory window. It’s usually a knock-out on its own. “Clerestory windows are a great way to add architectural interest to the home as they typically have unique shapes and sizes that make them stand out from traditional window designs,” says Shaun Martin, a real estate professional and owner and CEO of The Home Buying Company in Denver.
Windows and privacy don’t usually go hand in hand. Depending on the placement of the clerestory windows, though, you might only get sunlight peeking in. Martin says it all depends on the design of the home and the placement of the windows; depending on the height and angle, passersby might still catch a glimpse of the interior.
While most clerestory windows are fixed, there are those that open like regular windows and therefore carry an even bigger advantage. “When properly designed and installed, clerestory windows can improve the thermal balance of a home,” says Pasquella. “If the clerestory windows are operable and can open and close, then they can allow heat to escape in the summer and add extra general ventilation.”
Martin agrees. “Clerestory windows provide excellent ventilation in warm climates through cross ventilation, creating a cool and comfortable environment without relying on air conditioning,” he says.
Regular windows are expensive enough to install. But clerestory windows can be on another level, especially if you’ve got vaulted or cathedral ceilings in your space. “Installing clerestory windows can be more expensive than traditional window designs due to their custom size, shape, and installation requirements,” says Shaun Martin, a real estate professional and owner and CEO of The Home Buying Company in Denver.
There can be a downside to all that sunshine, depending on the climate in your area. “Clerestory windows can be less energy efficient than other types of windows, as they can allow more heat to escape from the space during the winter months,” Marquez says. “This can increase heating costs and reduce the overall energy efficiency of the space.”
Homeowners tend to let window washing lapse even when the windows are easy enough to clean. (I’m not judging.) Marquez says the high placement of clerestory windows makes them super hard to reach for cleaning purposes, which could be a drawback for some home buyers. Still, there are many who will fall in love with all that natural light streaming in and decide it’s worth the extra money to hire a pro to clean them.
“When selling a home, it’s clear to me that light and an open feeling are advantages,” says Pasquella. “People are attracted to light and open spaces, and clerestory windows are the perfect solution to offer those.”
Home means something different to everyone — whether it be a studio apartment, a classic colonial, or something more unconventional — but it’s always a delight to see how people furnish and live in their respective homes. Lucky for me, I’ve gotten to peek into some pretty unique and jaw-dropping homes this year, from a renovated school bus house-on-wheels, to a guest house made with straw bales, to a cabin on stilts in South Africa. Read on for 11 of the most one-of-a-kind homes Apartment Therapy toured this year.
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While a beautiful A-frame in the woods is certainly an ideal weekend getaway, this family is lucky enough to reside in this Scandinavian-inspired Michigan home year-round. “The thing we love most about the chalet is its total unique charm, and how we’ve custom remodeled it for our little fam,” writes Courtney Hall, who shares this home with her partner, kids, and dog and bunny. “We made a vacation property a full-time home in one of the most beautiful places where we can raise our kids and be closer to family. We have total access to Nubs Nob, Boyne Highlands, North Country Trail for mountain biking and hiking, the list goes on.”
Ever stepped inside a cloud? Well, seeing a tour of Tynan Sink’s high-rise NYC apartment is definitely as close as you can get without literally being inside a cloud. “My place is cloud-themed. Obviously,” says Tynan, “But more specifically, I wanted it to feel like a 1950s honeymoon suite, a cocktail lounge, a powder room, the Playboy Mansion, a 1960s TSA terminal, and a little gay space station in the clouds. Frankly I nailed it.” He pulled this off with curvy, white furniture, a DIY cloud lamp (“It took me an entire day and I couldn’t feel my right hand for three days after, but it was worth it”), and simple, airy artwork.
“We actually purchased our home via an eBay auction, sight unseen,” Talia explains of the “skoolie” bus she, Andy, and their child travel the country in. “We had always been talking about living ‘tiny’ but it seemed impossible! Two months into the pandemic, we took the leap and haven’t looked back! We converted this bus 100 percent on our own. It has been an amazing journey. We’re even ready to begin converting buses for others so they can enjoy this adventure as well!” Now, the bus is complete with a spacious bathroom, full kitchen, and two bedrooms to accommodate the family of three.
“For the past 35 years I’ve been vacationing on a lake in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where my family has a year-round home (which was profiled on Apartment Therapy over a decade ago) plus a little cabin next door. Unfortunately, a few years ago I developed a severe allergy to mold/mustiness, and the house and cabin, despite our best efforts to remediate, became too musty for me,” explains Kyle of the three-season cabin she now lives in. “With removable plexiglass covers for the screen and space heaters, I can be there well into October. I added a sink, mini-kitchen, and outdoor shower so the only reason I need to go into the cabin is to use the toilet,” Kyle describes of the updates she made. “I feel profoundly grateful and lucky to have come up with this workaround because the lake is my favorite spot in the world.”
It’s certainly not every day that you see a totally round apartment, but despite the difficulty of furnishing such a uniquely-shaped place, Mia has created an ’80s wonderland in her Munich, Germany, home. “I wanted to reflect the heritage of the house in my interior,” she says, “so I would describe my style as a combination of ’70s glam and ’80s design (Memphis, Post Modernism). I love playing with colors, materials, shapes, and graphic patterns and always try to find the right balance between calming and bold, e.g. by combining soft pastels with vibrant pops of color. The biggest challenge was definitely the round layout of the apartment. We were used to living in square-shaped homes, so it was not easy for us to give each room a structure that made sense.”
Imagine being invited to stay with a friend but instead of a guest room, they have an entire guest house made from… straw bales. Yep, Allison Green and Dan Theriault built their pink passive solar straw bale ADU in their Boise, Idaho, backyard “to give us a little extra space when guests visit. We rent it out the rest of the time because we love sharing the beauty of straw bale building with others. We worked with local professionals for the construction/plumbing/electricity and did the finishing ourselves over two long years. We’ve been interested in natural building for many years so this project is the culmination of a dream.”
For so many of us, the childhood dream of living in a treehouse never really goes away, so it’s envy-inducing to see Will Sutherland and Sabrina Hartley living the dream in their 164-square-foot treehouse in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. While the couple has a primary residence on the property, the treehouse was a dream fulfilled for Will, who, along with his arborist wife (convenient!) ensured the longterm health of the tree and treehouse with “heavy-duty treehouse attachment bolts known as ‘TABS’ along with slider brackets that allow tree growth and movement.” When they’re not living among the trees, Will and Sabrina share the treehouse with friends, family, and list it on AirBnb.
Amy Keevy and her fiancée, Maryke, live something out of a storybook in their South African wooden cabin. “Tulani (the name of the house) is made of all wood and stands on stilts overlooking the old-growth Tsitsikamma forest,” Amy says, “Maryke and I both love being outside and our house is a great balance of indoor and outdoor living space. You immediately feel connected to the nature around you. On top of my studio is the grass roof, and inside the house you will find very few straight walls! The curves, open-plan feeling, and connection to nature (literally above our heads!) create a womb-like atmosphere and contribute to the magic of the home.”
Filled with skeletons, handmade octopus chandeliers, and tons of cast plaster details, Adam Wallacavage has created — in his words — a “Victorian style freak show” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He describes his style as a “mixture of the beach towns Wildwood, New Jersey, and Cape May, New Jersey. The Wildwoods are known for their kitschy ’50s neon and mid-century modern motels and boardwalk. And Cape May is known for its Victorian gingerbread.”
Ainsley Fleetwood lives in this 460-square-foot studio apartment in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, and the layout is definitely one of the most interesting things about it. “Seeing the studio for myself,” she says, “I appreciated its character, and felt a spark of excitement that ended my apartment hunting. The building is built along a diagonal alley, and my unit faces the alley and is at the end of the building, such that narrowest tip of my apartment is only about three feet wide.” To combat the odd layout, Ainsley has two daybeds instead of a couch and conventional bed, and keeps all her possessions pared back so as not to clutter the space.
While Maya “Marty” Martin-Udry’s Upper West Side studio might be standard in structure, the wall covering is anything but. Instead of painting or peel-and-stick wallpapering, Maya decided to start an always-changing collage. “I started taping up photos, art, notes from friends, and more in college,” she says, “Over the years, the collection of memories on my wall has grown and moved with me to various apartments. It is kinship rendered on paper, a chaotic and overwhelming manifestation of the people and spaces I love and have loved. The noisiness, brightness, and abundance of the collage collapses and queers time — everything that has ever mattered to me, all the people I have been, and all the loved ones and experiences that have shaped me, clamoring together all at once. It makes me feel full.”
Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via Instagram and/or Twitter.
Curvilinear architecture cuts a crisp white silhouette between the trees of a thick forest landscape that breaks open to a sea view. Visualized by Vladislav Ponomarev, the ‘Waterfall house’ has a cascading water feature that thunders down from a cantilevered second floor. At the other side of the property, a huge infinity pool merges calmly with the seascape, flowing out endlessly to the horizon. Inside, the modern home design makes the most of the blissful panorama with massive edge-to-edge windows. Furniture is minimal and decor is neutral and discreet. A mini courtyard brings nature inside, threading its way up a sweeping stairwell toward a bright lantern at the top.
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Recommended Reading: Curvilinear Architecture with Landscaped Gardens
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