Black Windows Refresn a 1980s Brentwood Home

There comes a point when a house you love starts to show its age. For this Brentwood home, built in the late 1980s, that point arrived when the original windows became more of a burden than a benefit. They were drafty in the winter, sticky in the summer and had lost the sharp look they once had. The family wasn’t just looking for new windows—they were looking for a way to refresh their entire home. A whole-home window replacement was the natural choice. 

The homeowners wanted the project to do more than solve a comfort problem. They wanted to create a sense of pride every time they pulled into the driveway. In short, they wanted a house that looked alive again, with crisp lines, plenty of light and windows that matched the way they lived today.

The design challenge was to balance tradition with transformation. The family loved the stately look of their home and wanted to preserve its traditional character, but they also knew that sticking with outdated styles wouldn’t give them the fresh look they craved. The solution came in the form of Pella® Lifestyle Series windows, which deliver energy efficiency, modern performance and timeless beauty all in one package. 

Double-hung windows were chosen for much of the home, particularly the front elevation, where the familiar up-and-down style feels right at home in a Tennessee neighborhood. To add architectural detail, fixed-frame half circles were paired with these double-hungs, creating graceful arches that nod to the original design while enhancing curb appeal. 

Elsewhere, casement windows were installed to give rooms more glass space and easy ventilation. A wide four-panel casement combination in the sitting area became the crown jewel of the replacement, opening the home to backyard views and filling the interior with natural light.

The before-and-after photos capture the transformation in striking detail. The original windows, faded and dated, gave the home a worn-down appearance that didn’t reflect the care the homeowners put into their property. After the replacement, the new black-framed windows create bold contrast against the brick exterior, instantly sharpening the home’s curb appeal. 

From the inside, the impact is just as powerful. Rooms that once felt dim and drafty now feel brighter, quieter and more comfortable. In Brentwood’s warm, humid summers, the insulated glass helps keep the interior cool. In the cooler months, the home holds on to heat instead of letting it slip through tired old frames. The change isn’t just visible—it’s something you can feel as soon as you step inside.

Replacing every window at once gave this project a cohesive finish that piecemeal updates never could have achieved. Instead of mismatched frames or half-done facades, the house now reads as one complete design. The consistent black frames create strong lines across the exterior, pulling the entire look together and making the 36-year-old home appear years younger.

The biggest impact of this Brentwood window replacement project shows up in daily life. Rooms that once felt drafty are now consistent in temperature, and the sticky, aging frames that used to be a chore to open have been replaced with windows that move smoothly. The difference is noticeable not just in energy bills, but in the simple comfort of sitting by a window without feeling a chill or hearing outside noise carry in. 

Over time, these small changes add up. A house that looks refreshed from the street also feels calmer and more comfortable on the inside. It’s a reminder that investing in updates isn’t just about appearances—it’s about creating a home that works better for the people who live there.

Taking on a full-house replacement can sound like a big step, but for these homeowners, it was a chance to bring their home back to life. Working with their local Pella team gave them confidence that every opening would be handled with care, from the trim they wanted to preserve to the custom sizes needed for their brick exterior. 

What started as a practical decision to address failing old windows ended as something much bigger: a total transformation. The home feels brighter, more comfortable and more cohesive inside and out—a space the family is excited to enjoy for years to come.