- A bay window has three sides, including one main window flanked by two smaller ones. Seen from outside the home, a bay window projects out of the wall. However, when seen from inside, a bay window recedes into the wall, with a flat surface beneath the glass that sometimes functions as a window seat or shelf.
- Geometric by design, a bay window often takes a rectangular polygon shape. Windows are usually 30, 45 or 60 degrees apart, creating an elegant symmetry. They can also be customized according to the homeowner's preference.
- Fixed bay windows do not open, while vented bay windows do. Some bay windows are a combination of fixed and vented styles, allowing air to flow in and out of the room in a limited capacity.
- Bay windows are associated with Victorian architecture, although they do appear as early as the Gothic era. Historian Randolph Delehanty traced occurrences of bay windows to the 1850s and 1860s, but they were still rare at that time. His research indicates that bay windows became popular during the 1870s.
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