Imagine enjoying everything about the outdoors but from the comfort of your home… Wouldn’t it be great to feel the warmth of the sun through custom skylights or to stargaze through a beautiful glass dome without the annoyance of bugs?
Over the years, trends in residential architecture have consistently introduced more and more amounts of natural light throughout a home than in years past. The desire to increase our connection to the natural world has lead to some unique architectural solutions; taking these simple skylights you may see in a kitchen or living room and changing their design to introduce windows, curves to play with how light moves about a room, and have placed them in some of the most unusual of places!
As you consider adding a custom skylight, cupola, dome, or roof lantern – let’s explore the difference between them and some unique uses!
Custom Cupolas and Roof Lanterns
Custom roof lanterns and cupolas are some of our favorite home additions! They give a sense of openness to spaces, introducing an abundance of natural light and visual interest.
Think of cupolas as smaller functional roof structures that are pieced together by three sections; the base, vents/windows, and the cap. The base is the section of the cupola or roof lantern that conforms to the slope of the roof, holding it all in place.
Roof lantern is another term for a cupola. These structures tend to be large multi-paned glass structures positioned on top of a flat roof. Compared to a skylight, roof lanterns and cupolas provide significantly more natural light and give the room an opening bright feel.
Take a look at some of the more unique uses for these architectural features besides on your home! From outdoor showers to garden follies – they serve many purposes!
Custom Skylights
The most common home solution to add more natural light to a space are skylights. Skylights, in essence, are windows for the roof but they can be designed in a number of ways. Large or small, raised, domed or flat, operable or inoperable, take a look at these skylights to see what styles best suit your needs!
For more inspiration, check out our Skylights Portfolio!
Custom Domes
To best describe these structures, domes resemble a hollow upper half of a sphere, creating a favorable open atmosphere in your room. Domes are extremely durable and strong, forming together a series of triangles to create a circular appearance. Through the years, dome structures have become distinct features in several well-known buildings. Have you ever been to Disney World? Did you go to Epcot and see Disney’s “Spaceship Earth”? This world famous ride takes dome structures to another level! Other well-known structures include the National Capitol in Washington D.C., St. Paul’s, and the Pantheon.
So how are you looking to elevate your space? Is it for a more open feeling or does stargazing capture your interest? To start the conversation, fill out our online form or give us a call at (410) 479-4700!