A modern home design is about more than the volume of spaces, the shape of the roof, and open floor plan. Window details play a huge part in making a house look modern.
But deciding how to detail window openings on the exterior is a tough decision. There’s a lot to take into consideration: the cladding material, the type of window, the location of the window within the wall assembly, and how thick the wall is. Considering all those parameters while also aiming for a modern aesthetic can be tricky, but so important to get right.
In this article, we’ll look at 6 modern exterior window details to choose from for your modern home.
Here’s a quick look at the details we’ll explore:
- Flat stock trim
- No trim
- Thin trim
- Cladding returns
- Modern bay projections
- Picture frame trim
But first, a quick note: It’s important to mention that the type of window you use may dictate or exclude certain window details.
Standard off the shelf windows with nailing flanges typically place the window at the exterior face of the wall. Some manufacturers allow you to select the offset distance of the nailing flange from the exterior face of the window while others have a preset distance. Just know that you are usually limited in where your window sits in the wall because of the nailing flange, so your options may be more limited.
Custom windows or those without nail flanges give you more freedom to choose where to set the window in relation to the exterior finish. Whether you recess the window in the wall or push it to flush out with the siding (or even protrude beyond it) is stylistically and functionally up to you.
So, let’s take a look at these modern window trim options:
1. Flat Stock Trim
Just like you might use a simple flat stock trim detail on the interior of your windows, the same flat stock detail at exterior works nicely.
A flat stock trim aesthetic creates a modern look to an otherwise seemingly traditional siding material like vinyl. But it’s also a nice, clean and simple detail against fiber cement board or wood siding.
Standard windows have nailing flanges located at just the right depth to give a little relief to the elevation. This helps prevent the siding, trim, and window frame from all sitting in the same plane, which would create an undesirable flat facade.
Typical flat stock trim pieces are 1×4 with either mitered or butt joints at the corners. If you go with anything bigger than 1x4s, you’ll run the risk of it looking less modern.
Contractors are familiar with and like this installation because it doesn’t have the fussiness of complicated profiles or cuts – making it an affordable solution.
[Gable House by Clare Cousins Architects. Photo by Shannon McGrath.]
2. No Trim
Another super simple and clean look is to forgo exterior trim altogether. This is the most affordable and easiest option.
In this option, the siding simply slides over the nailing flange and butts up against the window frame with a nice clean caulk line. This detail works with most siding options and creates a very minimal look without the weight of any trim to distract the eye.
[Magnolia Remodel by SHED Architecture & Design. Photo by Mark Woods.]
[Sandringham House by office of mcfarlane bigger architects + designers. Photo courtesy office of mcfarlane bigger architects + designers.]
[Magnolia Remodel by 
No Trim With a Rainscreen Exterior
Detailing the window without trim gives the impression of a truly punched opening without decoration. It’s a simple, clean and modern window detail.
[Hurdle House by Adam Knibb Architects. Photo by James Morris.]
[Recreation House by 
[House in House by
3. Thin Window Trim
This option offers a lot of opportunities for customization allowing you to choose the thickness, material, protrusion, and joinery of the detail.
Similarly, deciding to have the frame protrude out beyond the face of the siding punctuating the facade creates shadow lines and draws attention to the window opening. But having the frame flush with the siding causes it to recede into the field of siding and not distract.
It’s a personal preference whether you want to draw attention to the window or not.
[House in Avanca by
4. Cladding Returns
In situations where you intentionally want the window recessed into the wall, either for aesthetics, function, or sun shading, the simplest detail is to return the siding material into the opening. This detail calls attention to the opening itself and window frame because the wall just wraps into the opening.
There are a few variations to this solution:
- You can simply frame the opening as mentioned in the option above which is a simple clean detail.
- You can miter the material as it returns into the opening if using wood or fold the corner in if using metal. This is a more minimalist detail that eliminates the joints and fussiness. Mitering or folding the material into the window opening treats the windows like punched openings.
- You can change the material of the return completely. Changing the material will definitely make the window opening stand out more so if the intent is to draw attention to the opening then this is a very dramatic way of doing it.
Whether you fold the wall cladding into the opening or you change the material completely, either way, you’re adding a little more complexity to the project but for the right application, these options can be great solutions.
[Photo courtesy SD Schrijnwerkerij & Interieurbouw.]
[The Point by Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt. Photo by Hufton + Crow.]
5. Modern Bay Window
The modern take on the bay window is a pure geometric boxy extrusion. Modern bay windows are frequently used as window seats or reading nooks as they still lend themselves nicely to light and seating opportunities.
Modern bay windows or projecting windows are best as simple extruded boxes. Framing out the protrusion and then simply cladding it with the same window frame material is often the best and simplest solution.
While not as affordable as the other window options, modern bay windows are nice when you want to interrupt a seemingly flat facade.
[SCARchitecture by Jager Janssen Architects BNA. Photograph by Vincent van Dordrecht.]
[Kerns Micro House by Fieldwork Design & Architecture. Photo by Polara Studio.]
6. Picture Frame Trim
Similar to the jamb extension of interior trim options, an exterior expression of a jamb extension would be a picture frame or plate box around the window. This option added dramatic shadows to the facade as well as articulates it in a way that really draws attention to the window openings. It’s not simple to install this detail, but after it’s installed it has a simple clean look.
Typically, picture frames are thin steel plates or break formed metal profiles and in rarer instances, wood. Picture frame profiles extend into the opening and protrude out anywhere from a flush detail to up 12″ or more.
Often, the material matches either the window frame or the siding, but not always.
To give the facade and frame some consistency, matching the materials is a good solution. If instead, you choose to match the material to the window, it will give the impression that it’s actually part of the window itself and not separate.
Either detail can give you a clean look, but just watch how you mix and match materials so as not to overcomplicate the exterior.
A picture frame trim detail gives you a clean simple look, but will cost more than the options above because there’s more material and more complexity.
[Stonington Residence by Joeb Moore + Partners Architects LLC. Photo by David Sundberg / Esto.]
[Cube Residence by Edmonds + Lee Architects. Photo by Eddy Joaquim.]
[Arets House and Studio by Wiel Arets Architects. Photo courtesy Wiel Arets Architects.
Window Wall Openings
[Modern Farmhouse by Sito architecten. Photo courtesy Sito architecten.]
Conclusion
How you trim the exterior of your windows can have a dramatic effect on the overall aesthetic of the modern house you’re trying to achieve. Getting the window details right can be one of the hardest design decisions to make with regards to the exterior detailing. There are so many ways to trim a window but choosing a detail that isn’t simple and modern can screw up the entire house design that you’ve worked so hard to make modern.
Deciding between trims, frames, siding returns, or window extensions can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. Just spend some time reviewing the options and don’t forget to ask your designer for their design input and your builder for cost and schedule impacts.
