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For many people searching for their be-all and end-all home, the number of bedrooms doesn’t mean much if when you look out the window, you’re greeted by your neighbor’s ugly vinyl siding. According to a survey conducted by financial firm IPX1031 that polled more than 1,000 Americans, 64 percent of buyers want a dream space with a view, while 62 percent crave a big backyard, and 58 percent want a front porch or balcony. In other words, it is what’s on the outside that people are really after. 

Of course, what classifies as a good view is in the eye of the beholder. For some homeowners we’ve talked to in the past, it’s uninterrupted sight lines of a lake. For others, like Brooklyn-based couple Madison Utendahl and Lex Kendall, it’s getting to look out onto the building where they first met. Whether you’re after zen, nostalgia, or something else entirely, here are three ideas for making the most of your dream vista with creative windows. 

Round Up

A circular window has a telescopic quality to it; even from far away, what’s on the other side feels zoomed in. Exhibit A: The extra-large one in this Park City, Utah, bathroom. Achieving the fresh shape is simple: Just cover a square window’s corners with drywall. And without curtains or shades, the single sheet of glass is free to flood the space with natural light. 

Hit the Deck

The back porch is the It place to hang out at Atlanta-based designer Dana Lynch’s Clarkesville, Georgia, cabin. In an effort to seamlessly connect it to the interior, she replaced the old 6-by-6-foot-something slider with an iron and glass system that spans the width of the wall. Then, to not block the new view she created, Lynch opted for low, beanbag-style seating. 

Lower the Bar

The problem with having a ton of picture and stationary windows is ensuring airflow. Liz Hoekzema of KLH Custom Homes incorporated vertically split windows in this kitchen, closer to the floor level, that can be opened and allow for a natural breeze. No compromises were made in spotlighting the Michigan home’s lush backyard.