Pella Window Grilles & Grille Patterns

Window grilles can dramatically change a home’s character.

From traditional Colonial patterns to clean contemporary designs, the right grille configuration can help replacement windows complement your home’s architecture instead of looking like an afterthought.

Pella® offers a variety of grille types and patterns across its wood, fiberglass, and vinyl window collections. At Valdicass, we help Chicagoland homeowners choose grille styles that match the window, the home’s architecture, and their preferred level of maintenance.

As a Pella Platinum Elite Certified Contractor serving Chicagoland homeowners since 1997, we know grille selection matters most when replacing windows in older, historic, or architecturally distinctive homes.

What Are Window Grilles?

Window grilles are the horizontal and vertical elements that create the appearance of individual panes of glass.

Historically, windows were constructed from multiple smaller pieces of glass because manufacturing large panes was difficult and expensive.

Today’s insulating glass allows windows to use much larger panes, but grille systems can recreate the traditional appearance of divided-light windows.

Depending on the Pella product and configuration, grilles may be:

• Applied to the interior and/or exterior glass surface
• Permanently attached
• Removable from the room side
• Sealed between the panes of insulating glass
• Designed to simulate traditional divided-light construction

The right option depends on the appearance, maintenance, architectural authenticity, and product series desired.

Simulated Divided-Light Grilles

Simulated divided-light, or SDL, grilles are designed to create the appearance of traditional individual panes of glass.

Grille bars are applied to the glass surface rather than being located only between the panes.

Depending on the Pella product and glass configuration, additional components may be used to create greater visual depth and a more authentic divided-light appearance.

SDL grilles are particularly attractive for:

• Historic homes
• Traditional architecture
• Colonial-style homes
• Craftsman homes
• Tudor architecture
• Homes with prominent front elevations
• Projects where maintaining architectural character is important

For homeowners who want their replacement windows to resemble traditional divided-light windows, SDL configurations are often worth considering.

Grilles-Between-the-Glass

Grilles-between-the-glass, commonly called GBG, are positioned inside the sealed insulating glass unit.

Because the grille bars are protected between the panes, the interior and exterior glass surfaces remain smooth.

This provides one major advantage:

easy cleaning.

No exterior or room-side grille bars need cleaning.

GBG can be a practical choice for homeowners who want the appearance of divided-light windows while prioritizing lower maintenance.

Depending on the product, GBG options are available across various Pella window and patio door collections.

Removable Room-Side Grilles

Certain Pella products may offer removable room-side grille options.

These provide the dimensional appearance of a grille on the interior while allowing you to remove the grille assembly when cleaning the glass.

For some homeowners, this offers a useful compromise between:

traditional appearance + easier maintenance.

Availability depends on the Pella product, window style, and configuration.

Pella Reserve™ Grilles

Pella Reserve is especially well suited to projects where architectural authenticity and detailed window design are priorities.

Reserve windows offer grille options designed to recreate the depth and character of traditional divided-light windows.

This can be particularly important when replacing windows in:

• Historic homes
• Architect-designed homes
• Traditional residences
• Homes with original divided-light windows
• Renovations where window proportions and detailing must be preserved

Pella Reserve also provides significant flexibility for custom grille patterns and architectural applications, depending on the selected product.

For homes where windows are a major architectural feature, consider the grille design as carefully as the window itself.

Pella Lifestyle Series Grilles

The Pella Lifestyle Series offers grille options that let homeowners combine traditional styling with modern wood-window performance.

Depending on the window style and glass package, available configurations may include simulated divided-light and grilles-between-the-glass options.

Lifestyle Series can be particularly attractive for homeowners who want:

• Wood interiors
• Low-maintenance clad exteriors
• Traditional grille appearance
• Flexible glass and performance options
• A balance between architectural character and everyday practicality

The appropriate grille configuration depends on the specific window and glass package selected.

Pella Impervia® Grilles

Pella Impervia fiberglass windows offer grille options for homeowners who want architectural detail combined with durable, low-maintenance fiberglass construction.

Grilles-between-the-glass are especially practical because they create the appearance of divided panes while maintaining smooth glass surfaces.

Impervia can work well on both traditional and contemporary homes depending on the grille pattern, frame color, window style, and overall design.

Pella 250 Series Grilles

Pella 250 Series vinyl windows offer grille configurations for homeowners who want the appearance of divided-light windows with the low-maintenance advantages of vinyl.

Depending on the specific window and configuration, options may include grilles between the glass and simulated divided-light designs.

This lets homeowners coordinate the grille pattern with the house’s architectural character without switching to a wood-window product.

Choosing a Window Grille Pattern

The grille pattern can have just as much visual impact as the grille type.

Different architectural styles traditionally use different window proportions and divided-light patterns.

Rather than selecting a pattern simply because it looks attractive in a brochure, we recommend considering the architecture of the entire home.

Colonial Grille Patterns

Colonial-style grilles typically divide the window into evenly arranged rectangular sections.

They work especially well with:

• Colonial homes
• Georgian architecture
• Traditional residences
• Symmetrical elevations

The exact number and proportion of divided sections should complement the window’s size and shape.

Prairie-Style Grilles

Prairie patterns typically emphasize the glass perimeter while leaving a larger uninterrupted area toward the center.

They can complement:

• Prairie School architecture
• Arts and Crafts homes
• Certain Craftsman homes
• Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture

Prairie-style grille design can be particularly relevant in communities such as Oak Park and River Forest, where Prairie School architecture is an important part of the local housing stock.

Craftsman-Style Grilles

Craftsman homes often use grille patterns concentrated toward the upper portion of the window while maintaining larger areas of unobstructed glass below.

When replacing windows in Craftsman architecture, proportions matter. An overly busy grille pattern can change the elevation’s character.

Traditional Custom Patterns

Some homes require more specialized grille arrangements to complement original windows or architectural details.

Depending on the Pella product selected, custom or less-common grille patterns may be available.

For architecturally significant homes, we can evaluate the existing windows and determine which current Pella options most closely complement the original design.

Window Grilles for Historic Homes

Historic and older homes require particular attention when selecting replacement windows.

A replacement window can technically fit the opening and still look completely wrong for the house.

Grille pattern, grille profile, window proportions, frame dimensions, exterior trim, and glass area all shape the completed window’s appearance.

This is especially relevant in communities with substantial historic housing stock, including:

• Oak Park
• River Forest
• Riverside
• La Grange
• Hinsdale
• Western Springs
• Brookfield

Some properties may also be subject to local historic-preservation requirements.

For these projects, we consider the appearance of the existing windows and the home’s architecture before recommending a grille configuration.

Should You Choose Grilles or No Grilles?

Not every home needs window grilles.

Homes with modern or contemporary architecture may look better with large, uninterrupted glass areas.

Removing unnecessary grilles can create:

• Cleaner sightlines
• More contemporary styling
• Less visual interruption
• Greater emphasis on outdoor views

Traditional homes, however, may lose significant architectural character if you eliminate divided-light patterns.

There isn’t one universally correct choice.

The goal is to select a window design that belongs on the house.

Grilles and Patio Doors

Grille design shouldn’t stop at the windows.

When patio doors are visible from the same elevation, coordinating grille patterns can create a more intentional appearance across the home.

Pella patio doors may offer grille options that coordinate with compatible window products.

During a whole-home window and patio door project, Valdicass can help coordinate:

• Window grille patterns
• Patio door grilles
• Frame colors
• Interior finishes
• Exterior finishes
• Hardware

This helps the completed project feel consistent rather than assembled from unrelated products.

Grilles, Glass and Energy Efficiency

The grille configuration you choose may interact with the glass package available for a particular Pella product.

For example, available grille configurations can vary between dual-pane and triple-pane glass systems.

That’s why we recommend selecting the window as a complete system rather than making the grille decision independently.

Valdicass can help you compare the available combinations of:

• Pella product series
• Window style
• Glass package
• Grille type
• Grille pattern
• Interior finish
• Exterior color

before the final order is placed.

See Actual Pella Samples

Grille profiles and patterns can look different in person than they do on a computer screen.

For projects where architectural appearance is especially important, reviewing actual samples can help homeowners understand differences in grille width, depth, finish, and construction.

Valdicass can help you review current Pella grille options available for the specific product included in your project.

Because Pella product offerings can change, always confirm current availability for the exact window, patio door, glass package, and product series being ordered.

Why Choose Valdicass?

Valdicass has served Chicagoland homeowners since 1997 and specializes in professional Pella window and patio door installation.

As a Pella Platinum Elite Certified Contractor, we help homeowners make the detailed design decisions that determine how a replacement window will ultimately look on their home.

Our team can help you compare:

• Pella Reserve
• Pella Lifestyle Series
• Pella Impervia
• Pella 250 Series
• Simulated divided-light grilles
• Grilles-between-the-glass
• Available removable grille options
• Grille patterns
• Window colors and finishes
• Glass packages
• Hardware
• Full-frame and pocket installation

For historic and architecturally distinctive homes, we can also evaluate existing windows and help identify replacement options that respect the property’s character.

Explore Pella Window Grille Options

If you’re planning a window or patio door replacement, Valdicass can help you select a grille type and pattern that complements your home’s architecture.

We’ll help you compare Pella products, grille configurations, colors, glass options, and installation methods before you order your windows.

Contact Valdicass today to schedule your free in-home consultation and explore Pella window and patio door options for your home.