Should I keep my original stained glass or have a new pattern/colour?

[Mangojuic]

30s house with a large picture window on the side. The leading is knackered & the whole thing needs serious refurbishment. I don't know whether to stay faithful to the original bright orange, red, purple & green or whether to choose colours that are easier to live with? Or even no colour, but a nice pattern just in lead?
I'm also conflicted between encapsulation or having lead stuck on the glass with argon inside? I'm told if you have encapsulation you can't have argon so encapsulated windows have lower insulating properites. What d'you think?

Ideally need to see a pic.
I’d probably go for something in keeping - but using nicer glass than 1930’s
Polish Glass (Tatra) is fabulous, and hand made, some of the pressed glass isn’t as lovely ( has a slight texture)
Price makes a big difference between glass types.
Encapsulation never looks quite as lovely, ( Light bounces and reflects off hand made glass ) but will be marginally warmer.

Lead “ stuck on” is a serious no no!
looks so naff, and doesn’t last.
Leaded lights Have to be properly done to look good - where glass is held together with solder in H profile lead cames.

Go trad or not at all :)

I can't go totally traditional & just have single skin glass because it's not insulating enough. Ideally I'd like to have it as warm as possible because my hall is freezing in winter and that means an argon sealed unit - with no stained glass.

I watched a Monty Don program years ago, he was talking about plants but I've taken it further wider, where he said, 'people seem to think they have to keep plants and trees in the garden that don't make them happy just because they're old, no! This is YOUR garden now, make it exactly the way you want it with the plants you'll enjoy'.

I immediately stomped out and removed the giant buddlia that was blocking my kitchen window (don't worry the bees are super happy with all the lavender and wild flowers) but the point is I was suddenly empowered to choose, so in my old house I do the same. I say pick the colours that make you happy and enjoy them.

pic

@oakleaffy I've added a pic

Refurb the original

Original is lovely. Use secondary glazing as that has better thermal and sound properties than double glazed anyway.

Is this your forever home? Because if not, I believe that's what an estate agent would refer to as a period feature.

You'd be mad to get rid of that. I'd go for secondary glazing inside.

I agree you’d be mad to replace it, it’s lovely.

That’s simple and very lovely.
It will let in masses of light.
It oughtn’t be too expensive to get taken out and get re - leaded either.
:)

It looks to be in very good order, no broken glass as far as I can see?
secondary glaze if you must, but that looks lovely.

@oakleaffy There's 12 cracked panes but they can be replaced. The last quote I had to remove/deconstruct & relead & board windows in the interim was 475£ per pane as it's labour intensive work. When it rains, we get massive puddles on the windowsill that then run down the wall because it weeps all over.

It's a nice-enough window but I don't think that Historic England will be giving you a Grade 1 listing on it any time soon. Nobody will look at it that closely so get a modern reproduction that does the job. Ask the glazier to get the old one out in one piece and try to flog it to a reclamation yard to assuage your guilty feelings.

I think it’s done it’s time, and it’s nice but not that nice. (Sorry). Get something new and thermally efficient.

I really like that - I'd redo if you can, as long as you don't actually hate it.

These guys do refurb of stained glass and turn it into double glazing - depending where you are in the country there maybe someone closer who does the same timberwindows.co.uk/happy-customers/gallery

If you are likely to sell up in the next few years, I'd always try to keep original period features if you can...

Nobody will look at it that closely so get a modern reproduction that does the job.

Depends on who’s looking. Anyone who values period features would spot the average reproduction a mile off. The glass and the patterns in modern stained glass windows that I’ve seen are chunkier and less delicate. I’m sure you can get great reproductions, but presumably they aren’t cheap.

I’d refurb too. Doesn’t have to be listed to be worth keeping.

Refurb original and get secondary glazing in.

Any change will not look right from the period original and a future home buyer will not thank you for having removed the period features. Neither will your bank balance as you can add £££ to the value of your home for having the original windows.

speaking as one of those suckers who has bought houses on the basis of leaded lights alone

That's lovely. I'd keep it.

When my Mum and Dad sold their 1920's house, the buyer skipped all of the original wood doors. The neighbours rescued a few of them.

100% agree @BadAtMaths2 with this comment. I don't think you'd be mad to get rid of it , it's not that nice imo and something simple but contemporary and properly thermally insuated will make you much happier! don't reproduce it as that is naff.

I've had a quote from these guys, 6k