Atelier Cuivre
Copper Clad Wood Windows & Doors
Where European joinery meets the art of the metalsmith.
Some windows are built. Others are composed. Atelier Cuivre is our most intimate collection – solid wood interiors, dressed on the outside in copper-finished architectural bronze, and finished by hand in Europe. Each piece is made to measure for one house, and its patina will never be found on another.
The Collection
A Window Conceived Like a Piece of High Jewelry
In the great jewelry houses, a creation is never only about the precious metal. It is about proportion, the setting, the hand that finishes every edge – and the time it takes to get it right.
We approach a copper clad window the same way. The profile is drawn to the millimeter. The wood is selected board by board. The metal is fitted to the joinery like a setting around a stone. Nothing is rushed, and nothing is standard.
The result is not a product you choose from a catalog. It is a commission – a piece made for one facade, one light, one family.
The Construction
A Bronze Body, a Copper Face
Fine jewelers have long used vermeil – a precious surface laid over a noble metal. Atelier Cuivre follows the same idea. Each exterior profile is shaped in architectural bronze, a strong and stable alloy, then finished in copper. The bronze gives the structure. The copper gives the color, the warmth and the patina.
Behind the metal, the window is solid European wood. The cladding is mounted with the same precision system as our bronze clad windows, holding the metal slightly off the wood so the wood can breathe and stay dry. Inside the room, you see only wood – finished to match your floors, your paneling or your millwork.
The Patinas
Three Patinas, One Signature
Like the dial of a fine watch, the patina is the face of the piece. Choose the one that speaks to your house – or let time choose for you.
Cuivre Rose
Natural copper
The natural finish. Delivered in the rosy glow of fresh copper, it begins to deepen from the very first season – to amber, then to a warm chestnut brown. Over the years, where rain touches the metal, the first veils of green appear. A finish for those who want their windows to write their own story.
Ombre
Hand-applied brown patina
A deep, earthy brown applied by hand in the atelier. Ombre gives the window, from day one, the quiet depth of copper that has lived for decades. Discreet and timeless, it sits beautifully against brick, limestone, slate and dark timber.
Vert-de-Gris
Hand-applied verdigris
The legendary green of old copper roofs, chapel domes and the old bell towers of Europe. In French, vert-de-gris is the original name of verdigris. Applied by hand, layer after layer, no two windows carry exactly the same nuance. A finish for houses that want to look as if they have always been there.
Every patina is hand-applied and will keep evolving gently with its climate. Small variations of tone are the signature of an authentic finish, never a defect.
The Art of Time
A Living Finish
In haute horlogerie, a movement is admired for the way it keeps living. Copper is the same. Where rain runs across the metal, the patina deepens toward green. Where an eave or a reveal keeps it sheltered, the copper keeps its warm, golden tones. By the ocean, the transformation comes sooner. In the mountains, it takes its time.
The result is a facade that changes with the seasons and with the years – never twice the same, never like any other house.
On the outside, there is nothing to paint, stain or seal. The metal protects the wood from rain, snow and UV, and the patina itself becomes its protection.
Savoir-Faire
Métiers d’Art
In watchmaking, finishing is what separates a fine piece from an exceptional one – the details few people will ever notice, and that the owner will never forget. Ours are the same.
The Houses
Made for Exceptional Houses
Historic Townhouses
For brownstones, landmark facades and Old World townhouses in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Boston. Copper brings the depth and authenticity that historic districts ask for, with the performance of a modern window.
Coastal Estates
From the Hamptons to Nantucket and Palm Beach. Salt air does not fight copper – it completes it. Paired with teak or other durable species, the window takes on the soft green of the coast.
Mountain Estates
For Aspen, Jackson Hole and Lake Tahoe. Copper with stone, heavy timber and snow is one of the most beautiful dialogues in architecture. The metal shields the wood from the strong high-altitude sun.
French Chateau
For classical French design: tall French doors with a real crémone bolt, slender profiles, true divided lites. In Ombre or Vert-de-Gris, it gives a new house the soul of a chateau that has seen centuries.
The Pieces
The Atelier Cuivre Pieces
Every opening type in our collection can be dressed in copper.
The Commission
From First Conversation to Delivery
For Architects
Specifications
Shop drawings, details and finish samples for every project. Architects & builders – trade resources.
| Exterior | Architectural bronze profiles, copper finish, extruded and welded |
| Patinas | Cuivre Rose (natural), Ombre (brown), Vert-de-Gris (green) – hand-applied |
| Mounting | Precision clip system, ventilated – the wood breathes |
| Interior | Solid wood: French oak, teak, mahogany, others on request |
| Interior finish | Stain or paint, color matched to your project |
| Glazing | Double or triple insulated glass; laminated, acoustic and custom glass available |
| Divided lites | True divided lites or simulated divided lites |
| Hardware | Concealed multi-point locking; crémone bolts, handles and hinges in bronze, brass or patinated finishes |
| Opening types | French casement, French doors, tilt and turn, lift and slide, entry doors, wood curtain wall |
| Shapes | Arched, segmental and custom shapes on request |
Questions
Copper Clad Windows – Your Questions
What is the difference between copper clad and bronze clad windows?
Both protect the wood with metal, and both use the same precision mounting. The difference is the face: bronze ages into deep golden and brown tones, while copper starts with a rosy glow and can travel all the way to the green of verdigris. Many clients choose by the color story they want for their facade.
Can I keep the fresh copper color?
Copper is a living metal and the natural finish will darken over time. If you prefer a stable look from day one, choose Ombre or Vert-de-Gris: the patina is already there when the window is installed, and it only evolves gently after.
Will the copper stain my stone or stucco?
Rainwater running off copper can leave green marks on light stone, stucco or concrete below. We help your architect plan drip edges and sill details to manage this. It is a normal part of designing with copper, the same as with copper roofs and gutters.
Can the windows match my copper roof, gutters or lanterns?
Yes – this is one of the most beautiful reasons to choose copper. We propose the patina closest to your existing copper roofing, gutters, dormers or lanterns, so the whole house speaks the same language.
Do copper clad windows need maintenance?
On the outside, no painting, staining or sealing. The metal protects the wood. Inside, the wood is cared for like fine furniture or millwork.
Are copper clad windows a good choice by the ocean?
Yes. Salt air speeds up the natural patina, which many homeowners on the coast love. For coastal projects we recommend durable wood species such as teak, and marine-grade hardware.
Can you work with my architect's details?
Yes. We work directly with architects and builders, and every project goes through detailed shop drawings. The wood can be machined to fit your installation detail.
Atelier Cuivre
Every Atelier Cuivre Piece Begins With a Conversation
Tell us about your house, your architect and the light you live with. We will propose the profiles, the wood and the patina that belong to it.
For French-style projects, ask us for our private Château Collection.