https://woodmadeillinois.com/wooden-windows/Round, Arc, Gothic Arch, and Bowed Windows Handcrafted in Virginia:

When it comes to bespoke architectural woodwork, Gepetto Millworks stands at the pinnacle of craftsmanship in Virginia. Specializing in historically accurate, handcrafted windows, our artisans are trusted by preservationists, architects, and homeowners alike. Among our most requested products are our round, arc, Gothic arch, and bowed windows—each style offering a unique aesthetic and functional value. Whether it’s the timeless elegance of a fully round window, the graceful curvature of an arc or bowed window, or the soaring lines of a Gothic arch, Gepetto Millworks captures the essence of historic Virginia architecture.

Round Windows: Architectural Focal Points Throughout the Centuries

Round windows have served as distinctive focal points in architecture throughout Virginia’s history. At Gepetto Millworks, our craftsmen meticulously re-create round windows to match the historic build style and quality ranging from small porthole-style accents to large oculi that dominate gable ends and facades in many prominant buildings. Fully round windows were especially popular during the Georgian and Federal periods as symbols of harmony and balance. The round, arc and elipsis windows appear above entryways or in pediments as focal features. In Victorian homes, especially in Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival styles, round windows added a touch of whimsy and light to stairwells, turrets, and attics.

If your historic Victorian home has a turret, the windows were likely crafted to fit, the exact outward arc to match the circumfrense of the turret.  Gepetto’s craftsmen are specifically trained to reproduce the quality construction that has lasted a hundred years by using the highest quality sapele utilizing traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery true to the period.  If you’re not familiar with Sapele it’s a similar wood to mahogony which comes from Africa, instead of South America.  Sapele lumber is a hardwood sourced from the Entandrophragma cylindricum tree, native to Africa. It’s often used as a substitute for mahogany, especially South American mahogany, due to its similar appearance and properties. Sapele is known for its rich reddish-brown color, which can darken with age, and its natural luster. The grain can be interlocked, creating beautiful figures like ribbon, quilted, and pommele.  Most important for windows, Sapele and Mahogany are used as they machine very straight, and have a high resistance to rot from absorbed water.  The new choice for stabilized and rot resistant wood stock is called Accoya – read about the treatment of Acetylation for wood.

Arc Windows: Graceful Curves for Historic Spaces

Arc windows feature a curved top with straight sides. Often featured in church buildings, estate homes, and public structures across Virginia, arc windows bring an understated elegance like a flower at the top of a stem. In historic Virginia architecture, arc windows made their appearance during the late Federal and early Victorian periods as craftsmen were called on to fabricate the more elaborate designs of architects. Especially prevalent in Southern plantation homes, often installed above doors, you’re subtly familiar with their placement but as you start to google for a contractor to repair or replace them, you’ll find that it’s nearly a lost art!  Not to worry, Gepetto’s staff are trained and experienced in the mathematical proportions, and the tooling needed to producing these complex shapes to exactly match your historic window. At Gepetto Millworks, our arc windows are handcrafted to match. We replicate traditional molding profiles, sash styles, and muntin patterns while integrating modern glazing technology.

Gothic Arch Windows: A Testament to Virginia’s Ecclesiastical and Romantic Heritage

Gothic arch windows are instantly recognizable by their pointed arches and narrow vertical proportions. Found in churches, academic buildings, and large estates, these windows are emblematic of the Gothic Revival movement.  The Gothic Revival architectural movement in the United States swept into Virginia, occurred in the building furvor from approximately 1840 to 1880.  Crafting a Gothic arch window requires immense skill and precision. Gepetto Millworks artisans sculpt each piece from premium hardwood, ensuring the pointed apex is structurally sound and visually perfect. These windows often feature intricate tracery and divided lights, requiring a high degree of technical craftsmanship that the shop at Gepetto keeps alive.  Our Gothic arch windows grace both restorations of Virginia’s historic churches and modern homes that seek to incorporate classical drama. Whether you are restoring a cathedral in Richmond or adding a Gothic-inspired touch to a custom estate in Charlottesville, Gepetto’s windows are your go-to source.

Bowed Windows: The Victorian Love Affair with Curves

Bowed windows curve outward from a building’s facade, often found in Victorian homes, especially those with turrets and bay extensions. In Virginia, these outwardly bowed windows became especially fashionable during the mid to late 1800s as urban and rural homeowners sought to display their wealth and architectural savvy through the new homes they were building with the most intricate or ornate results.  Bowed windows require a mastery of compound curves and precision framing. Gepetto Millworks brings over three decades of experience crafting bowed windows that seamlessly fit into historic turret structures in wood or stone. Our team works closely with architects and homeowners to ensure the curvature and mullion spacing complements the building’s scale and period for an exact match.

Each bowed window is assembled by hand using traditional joinery methods and features high-performance glazing for durability and energy efficiency. Our craftsmen have recreated bowed windows for homes in Alexandria, Norfolk, and Staunton—preserving the distinctive Victorian charm of their turrets and facades.

Federal Period Elipsis Overlights: A Distinctive Accent of Historic Virginia

Elliptical overlights—also known as fanlights—were a hallmark of the Federal period, providing natural light and architectural refinement above entry doors. In Virginia, these elipsis-shaped windows were often adorned with intricate muntin patterns and flanked by sidelights.  Gepetto Millworks specializes in accurately recreating these elliptical overlights using historical blueprints, archival photos, or surviving fragments. Our reproductions have graced the doorways of plantation homes in Williamsburg, townhouses in Fredericksburg, and government buildings in Richmond. Using custom bending forms and precision-cut jigs, our artisans handcraft each elliptical frame, fitting it with period-correct glazing and mullion patterns. We also offer restoration services for damaged or incomplete overlights, ensuring these iconic features endure for future generations.

What sets Gepetto Millworks apart in Virginia’s landscape of historic window craftsmen is our relentless attention to detail and commitment to authenticity. Every round, arc, Gothic arch, and bowed window is a testament to our passion for historical accuracy and our dedication to artisanal woodworking.  We collaborate with historical societies, preservation commissions, and homeowners who want their architectural features to reflect the period styles of Virginia’s diverse architectural heritage. From the coastal Georgian mansions of the Tidewater region to the highland estates of the Shenandoah Valley, Gepetto Millworks is proud to be the trusted name for period-specific window design and fabrication.

Our craftsmen utilize time-honored techniques:

• Mortise-and-tenon joinery
• Hand-carved moldings
• Custom-milled sash profiles
• Historically accurate glass lites and muntins
• Fine finishing using natural oils and historically accurate paint
• Each window is more than a product; it is a legacy piece that honors the architectural lineage of Virginia.

Monticello Region: In Charlottesville, a late-Federal style estate required a full set of elliptical overlights and arc windows. Gepetto Millworks used historic blueprints and archival photos to reconstruct each window, earning praise from the local historical society.

Downtown Richmond: A restored Gothic Revival church needed over a dozen custom Gothic arch windows, including tracery patterns unique to the building. Our craftsmen worked on-site to ensure a seamless fit and aesthetic harmony.

Norfolk Victorian Mansion: This turreted Victorian home received a full bowed window rebuild, fabricated in our workshop and installed with precision to preserve its dramatic street-facing curve.

Fredericksburg Federal Home: Damaged elliptical overlights were restored to their former glory, complete with fan muntins and clear restoration glass.

Architectural Continuity and Innovation

While our windows reflect historic aesthetics, they also meet modern performance standards. All Gepetto Millworks products are available with insulated glazing units, low-E glass, and weather-sealing. We believe that preserving Virginia’s architectural history should not come at the cost of energy efficiency.  Our design team works in AutoCAD and Revit for precision planning, and we offer full shop drawings for complete sizing, fit, and approval for client visualization. Blending of old-world craft and modern technology makes Gepetto Millworks a leader in both restoration and new construction projects. From conceptual design through installation, Gepetto Millworks offers a collaborative and professional approach. Our window specialists consult on site-specific challenges, whether it’s ensuring a bowed window maintains the correct radius or replicating a Gothic arch to meet preservation board standards.  Contractors restoring windows as far and wide as Illinois and Texas reach out to Gepetto for custom fabrication of unique casement windows.

We welcome:

• Homeowners restoring historic properties
• Architects designing period-sensitive new builds
• Contractors managing adaptive reuse projects
• Preservationists requiring documentation and authenticity

Craftsmanship Rooted in Virginia History

Round, arc, Gothic arch, and bowed windows have each played a defining role in Virginia’s architectural evolution. At Gepetto Millworks, we honor that legacy with handcrafted windows built to exacting standards. Whether you’re restoring a Federal period home with elliptical overlights, adding a bowed window to a turreted Victorian, or installing a fully round window as a dramatic focal point, our team are Virginia natives that live in and pass by the history that has made us each day.  Call Matt direct at 804.938.2097 to schedule your project into the pipeline. Reach out today to bring historical accuracy and artisanal detail to your project.