Windows choosing design

[GOODCAT]

Our house would originally have had wood sash windows. Those were replaced with aluminium windows in the 70s. They have a large fixed pane at the bottom and a small pane at the top which opens. We are going to replace them. We are going to use upvc due to cost and it should be more energy efficient.

I need to decide between 3 options (Windows are tall and narrow):

1. Top pane and bottom pane equal size - pro - looks better from outside as symmetrical, con from the inside the horizontal bar between the two panes is at my eye level so not great for looking out.

1. Smaller top pane and larger bottom pane - we have this at the moment and it looks fine from outside but the horizontal bar between the panes is at my husband's eye level and it is still at a height that doesn't give me an easy view out either

1. Smaller bottom pane and larger top pane. We can both see out, but because I have mostly only seen this in more modern properties I am not sure. Also I haven't lived in a property with this style of window I am not sure if it has any cons / irritations.

Does anyone have any views?

Or get tilt and turn, a single sheet of glass.

Thank you. Unfortunately the windows are too big height wise to have it open and be a single pane of glass. We are going to have tilt and turn with the smaller windows though.

When we were replacing ours we drove around our area (same style housing) to see what other people had got and what we thought looked nice.

Was really interesting to see all the different choices people had made for their home. Could you do that?

Most of our windows have 3 panels (panes?) the middle one has a top opener and the ones either side are full openers. That gave us the best option for airing we felt, plus an escape access as they are 90 degree openers, which I think they said we needed for upstairs? They have restrictors that you can release (child safety)

I used to have those windows with bars, an arse to clean on the outside plus I never liked them.

if the house was designed to have vertical sliding sash, you should have two equal panes.

They are tall and narrow so thick frames will eat into the glazed area.

Tilt and turn is great until you want any privacy, as it gets in the way of any blinds, voiles or whatever dressings you want to use.

There's downsides to all 3 of your options (visibility for the fist two, the third would look ugly), so I would chose the one most sympathetic to the style of house, ie the equal size panes.

You'll just need to sit down to curtain twitch!

I'd be looking to replace the windows with UPVC sliding sashes that looked as close to the original ones. as possible if it was my house.

Go back to the original design. Anything else will look wrong.

Go back to the original design. Anything else will look wrong

Agree. Long narrow windows with a smaller top or bottom pane look awful.