Windows behind braces?

[Bkhabra]

I am currently in the process of laying out SIPs for a timber frame structure.  I would like large windows and have windows laid out in a way which their opening would have some braces in front of them (so you can see the braces through the windows from the outside).  Will be using 7/8 furring strips between the SIPs and posts. My question is 2 fold.  First, aesthetically, would this look ok?  Does anyone have experience doing this?  Secondly, I imagine it may make the windows a little more difficult to install, but I imagine it wouldn't be that big a deal.  Any experience with installation of windows in RO with braces I'm front of them?  Please refer to the pic attached.  Any feedback is appreciated.  Thank you.

 

[Don P]

IMO, get your bracing from the SIPs and remove the eyesores.

[Bkhabra]

Thanks Don!  Fair enough, definitely something worth considering.  I like the look of the long curved braces!... but I could easily take the middle braces out or shorten them.  Thank you for your feedback.

[flyingparks]

My opinion is that the braces distract from what the window reveals. I get the idea of wanting to leave them in, and I have seen them done that way. I think to myself, why didn't they shrink the windows or get rid of the bracing?

[Jim_Rogers]

I visited a frame/home once that had this situation:





I thought at the time, why? This was a second-floor window in a bedroom. How was she going to put curtains in that window? How could they even put trim around that window?

To me this was bad planning, and they should have not put those windows in that location that size.

In your case I would reduce the number of braces and only have one at each end of that run of the timbers and reduce the size of the window or the brace so that you can trim the window and or hang curtains when wanted.

Jim Rogers

[Bkhabra]

Thank you everyone for your feedback.  I'm officially convinced, the middle braces need to go and the end windows brought in from the end.  All good points, but what really sold me was Jims pic... really not loving that look!