December 29, 2025 by WindowRama
A Creative Solution for Replicating a Classic Look
When a homeowner in Scarsdale, NY decided it was time to refresh the first floor of their home, they teamed up with Bruce Danback from WindowRama and McCormack Contracting out of Hawthorne, NY. Their vision? Bring the updated space to life while keeping the charm and character of the original architecture—especially the distinctive leaded glass on the second-story windows.
If you’ve ever tackled a project like this, you know the challenge: many manufacturers only apply lead tape on glass surfaces 3 and 4, which usually means stepping up to triple-pane glass. Great for performance, not always so great for the budget.
But Bruce had another idea.
He reached out to Kolbe Windows & Doors, and they came through with a smarter, more cost-effective solution. Kolbe was able to provide insulated glass with the lead tape applied on surfaces 1 and 2. Same beautiful look the homeowners loved—without the hefty price tag attached to triple-pane.
“This provided a significant cost reduction in the project with great results,” Bruce shared. “We were able to keep the aesthetic the homeowner was looking for.”
To round out the project, custom Kolbe Ultra casements were selected with a Sahara-clad exterior and primed pine interior, ready to be painted a custom color. The windows were finished with 2″ clad spread mulls, clad brickmould casing, and standard subsills—details that helped tie everything together seamlessly.
The Ultra Series is designed for exceptional versatility. It can replicate the classic look of traditional wood windows with warm interiors and detailed exterior trim, or support clean, modern architectural designs. With customizable divided lites, profiles, finishes, and hardware, the Ultra Series adapts easily to both historic renovations and contemporary new construction.
Ultra Series products combine a durable extruded aluminum exterior with a warm, real wood interior. The aluminum exterior is available in more than 50 standard colors and finishes (plus custom options), while the interior offers familiar and exotic wood species with over 20 standard pre-finished choices or fully custom finishes.
Kolbe Ultra Series windows and doors are engineered for performance. They offer enhanced energy-efficiency options, including Low-E and specialty glass, as well as impact-rated configurations to meet demanding climate and code requirements. These options help improve comfort, durability, and long-term performance in a wide range of environments.
The Ultra Series provides extensive customization, including divided lite patterns, specialty glass, hardware styles and finishes, and automation options for easier operation. These choices allow homeowners and designers to tailor both the look and functionality of each window or door to perfectly suit the space.
For builders and remodelers, this is a great reminder: sometimes the right supplier partnership leads to creative solutions that elevate the final product and keep the project on budget. And when you can deliver both? That’s what keeps clients coming back.