House plans – window sizes

The size of the windows in the great room needs to allow sightlines for a person standing in the kitchen (behind the island) to see down to or towards the lake. Based on the current plans I have computed the following

Calculations:

Jane’s standing eye height: 61 inches

My standing eye height: 67 inches

Bottom of windows to see edge of porch floor

Jane: 18.5 inches

Me: 20.5 inches

Bottom of window to see over bottom rail (8” above porch)

Jane: 24 inches

Me: 26 inches

Top of window to see up to roof eave beam (88 inches = 7’4” above porch)

Jane: 82 inches = 6’10”

Me: 82 inches = 6’10”

Conclusions

1. there is little purpose in having tops of windows higher than 82 inches

2. windows 5 feet tall would let any adult see the bottom rail around the porch, and let a tall man see the edge of the porch. Windows 4 ½ feet tall could be positioned to give most people most of the lakeview from the kitchen.

3. we are thinking of taller windows in the southeast corner and maybe shorter windows – maybe 48” tall windows positioned 34” above the floor to 6”10” -- in the kitchen and maybe over behind the screen porch.

4. We need to choose a window style. Will they be adjascent or spaced? How many and how wide? The windows I have indicated in my plans are standard 36” width. Casement windows this size would stick out less than 18”, which is a good thing.