The window as we know it today has not existed for all that long. The common double hung window in New Jersey and many other parts of the eastern coast is actually the culmination of millennia of different window styles and designs. For a long time window did not have any glass in them. Originally this was because people did not know that glass could be made into flat panes and later, when they did learn how to, it was because of the price of such panes was quite expensive and was only reserved for the rich. The original windows were little more than holes cut into the sides of a building to let light and air into and out of the house.

As soon as glass became a material that was easier and cheaper to make, people started thinking of new designs for windows. One of the most common types of window in the United States and other countries that were originally colonized by the United Kingdom is the double hung window. New Jersey homes and many other states' homes have this type of window on many houses. But there are many other different types of windows. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and some have more interesting uses than others. Some windows cannot be opened while others can be opened in a variety of different ways depending on how you want the light and air to enter the house.

Windows have also been the subjects of artworks. The magnificent stained glass windows of the cathedrals in Europe and churches all over the world attest to this fact. There are many other non-Christian holy places that also have beautiful stained glass window that adorn them as well as palaces and castles. In some cases even the simple double hung window of New Jersey can be turned into a work of art with some creative glass working and painting. Any window can be a work of art if someone puts his or her minds to it.

The windows of a house give us a glimpse of the people that live inside. The shape of a window can give us glimpse of the personality of a house. From the double hung windows of New Jersey homes to the great big skylights in New York lofts - windows try to bring a bit of the world into our homes.