Going from historic, single-pane windows to brand-new A-Series windows helped muffle outside noise.

In the meantime, the Gublers are focused on sound abatement to help create a quieter home. “Santa Clara Drive is literally the cutest main street ever. There are giant Sycamore trees lining both sides of the street, plus cute shops and a fruit market right down the road, and so many adorable old houses,” she gushed. And while large commercial windows make for great views, she noted her frustration with the noise pollution and traffic on such a bustling street. Century-old construction coupled with original single-pane windows were not effective enough to minimize chronic noise exposure.

While noisy neighbors or environments can just seem annoying, there’s growing evidence linking noise with effects like sleep disturbance¹, increased stress² and even high blood pressure³. Ulcers⁴ have also been linked to chronic noise exposure. Among industry pros, noise control is increasingly considered a green building tenet. That’s where smart sound abatement through architecture and materials comes in, including Andersen^® A-Series windows, which have the option for triple-pane glass to further improve efficiency and noise reduction. A high-quality window can help improve interior acoustics as well, making music and movies sound crisp and conversations less apt to travel.

Natural light abounds in the main living area thanks to a combination of casements and an all-glass A-Series hinged patio door with colonial grilles and a matching transom window above.

“It was very important to me to match the original style of the windows at the Merc,” said Gubler. She chose Andersen for its customization options, sound abatement, ease of shopping and energy efficiency. While sifting through options, Gubler selected A-Series windows with Full Divided Light (FDL), where grille patterns are applied to both sides of the window. She also opted for an upgrade that’s available with FDL, called an Energy Spacer, which is a narrow bar that fills in the space between the two panes of glass and aligns with the grilles giving the appearance that the glass is divided. This upgrade complements the look of the grilles, while also minimizing the transfer of heat and cold, allowing Gubler to save on energy during Utah’s extreme summers. “It’s really cool technology and looks great,” she said.

At the Merc, each type of window has a purpose. Fixed windows (which don’t open) are perfect for flooding the space with natural light, primarily in the mud room and laundry room. Casement windows, which open similarly to doors, with a hinge on one side and latch on the other, open to the backyard and bring fresh breezes into the building. Gubler chose double-hung windows for the east-facing bedrooms. With the option to open these windows from both the top and bottom, double-hungs offer the opportunity to bring fresh air into the bedrooms.

With upgrades like insulation and high-quality windows, Gubler said, “[the Merc] feels like a giant blanket.” It was important to make such an industrial space feel cozy. She encourages other renovators to think about windows first, as they’re an often-overlooked detail that make a major impact in creating a happy, healthy space.