OPENING WALLS
MAKING WALLS DISAPPEAR
NOW THAT SUMMER IS ROLLING AROUND WOULDN'T YOU ENJOY HEARING THE SEA, THE BIRDS AND ALL OF NATURE'S SOUNDS COMPLIMENTED WITH AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW?
Of Course You Would!
New technologies and materials now allow you to literally open an all-glass wall with the touch of a finger - or a button.
(Source: Fearon Hay Architects)
MOVABLE GLASS DOOR CONSTRUCTION is a quantum leap from 10 years ago. New, better-quality windows and doors have a very low "u-factor" which means they're almost equivalent to a solid wall when it comes to insulation and their easy-to-use hardware is mind-blowing.
NEW WAYS TO OPEN YOUR HOME TO THE OUTDOORS!
1. FOLDING DOORS
Nanawall is an excellent manufacturer of folding doors, offering many ways for doors to fold and open.
(Source: Nanawall)
This small cottage doubles in size when the wall of doors are opened and the deck becomes part of the living area.
The greatest luxury of folding doors is that they're totally out of the way when opened; no broken noses from people walking into glass sliders or blocked views through layers of stacked sliders.
NOW THAT SUMMER IS ROLLING AROUND WOULDN'T YOU ENJOY HEARING THE SEA, THE BIRDS AND ALL OF NATURE'S SOUNDS COMPLIMENTED WITH AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW?
Of Course You Would!
New technologies and materials now allow you to literally open an all-glass wall with the touch of a finger - or a button.
(Source: Fearon Hay Architects)
MOVABLE GLASS DOOR CONSTRUCTION is a quantum leap from 10 years ago. New, better-quality windows and doors have a very low "u-factor" which means they're almost equivalent to a solid wall when it comes to insulation and their easy-to-use hardware is mind-blowing.
NEW WAYS TO OPEN YOUR HOME TO THE OUTDOORS!
1. FOLDING DOORS
Nanawall is an excellent manufacturer of folding doors, offering many ways for doors to fold and open.
(Source: Nanawall)
This small cottage doubles in size when the wall of doors are opened and the deck becomes part of the living area.
The greatest luxury of folding doors is that they're totally out of the way when opened; no broken noses from people walking into glass sliders or blocked views through layers of stacked sliders.
(Source: Paul Burnham Architect)
A large home becomes an open air pavilion when all of its folding doors are opened on both sides of the home.
A large home becomes an open air pavilion when all of its folding doors are opened on both sides of the home.
(Source: Pinterest)
A small country kitchen feels much more connected to nature when the wall of windows are opened.
(Source: Pinterest)
This "glass porch" in winter becomes an open porch when the seasons change and the doors are folded back. The space is now roomier and the deck is wide-open, more easily accessible.
(Source: Malibu Colony)
This small ocean-front cottage feels like it drops right into sea with the doors and glass balcony railing. It would feel entirely claustrophobic with French doors or windows.
This "glass porch" in winter becomes an open porch when the seasons change and the doors are folded back. The space is now roomier and the deck is wide-open, more easily accessible.
(Source: Malibu Colony)
This small ocean-front cottage feels like it drops right into sea with the doors and glass balcony railing. It would feel entirely claustrophobic with French doors or windows.
(Source: Houzz)
This casual suburban home is integral to the garden when its doors are opened. If it had glass walls or sliders to look through the effect would be totally lost.
2. SLIDING DOORS
(Source: twentyfourseven)
This is what we all were used to up to the late 70's, which gave way in the 80's to French doors. BUT, this does make you feel part of the adjacent courtyard - which French doors can't do.
(Source: Juancarlos Fernand)
When using sliding doors its best to accommodate them with a "pocket" to hide them when you have the doors open - as above.
(Source: Pinterest)
Even in old rustic-style homes the views are still important. Most old homes have small windows - which reduces most of the natural light. These wooden-laminated doors look rustic and blend perfectly with the structure and allow awesome views.
(Source: Winkelvoss Brothers Residence)
Now you know this is just plain sexy!
A view over LA like this can't be done with French doors or Picture windows...jus sayin'.
(Source: Balance Associates, Architecture)
The large sliding panels of this mountain home are fantastic picture windows during the winter, and in summer they slide wide-open to enjoy the mountain air.
(Source: Steven Harris Arch.)
It doesn't have to be glass that's moved; a modest weekend cottage uses barn-door apparatuses, giving the small rooms a sense of being outside with sweeping dramatic views.
(Source: Architectos)
Instead of a costly renovation, this older home had its fixed windows removed and large sliding glass doors installed on the inside of the exterior walls which avoided any major re-construction.
(Source: Designrulz)
This house don't talk no smack, it's the bomb because it feels like a covered loggia when the walls of sliding glass are opened and hidden inside their wall pockets.
(Source: Freshome)
Thinking all these glass walls are too modern for your style?
Think again! Having this great room open completely to the outside makes entertaining easy; no traffic bottlenecks or bloody-noses from guests walking into the sliders - the doors are tucked away in their wall pockets!
(Source: H&G Great Britain)
This small room has two wooden sliding doors which slide fully away to the left on a track mounted onto the outside wall, making the garden an extension of the room.
3. SWINGING DOORS
(Source: Marie Claire Maison)
This small urban kitchen feels larger because the deck is visually a part of the kitchen - thanks to the glass wall. As there is no place for a door to disappear to, the solid glass hinged door swings out and out of the way.
(Source: KAA Design)
These extra-wide French-style doors latch into each other when open so they don't blow around. They can also be adjusted to catch and direct or divert the breeze.
(Source: Lai, Thailand)
Here there's nowhere for the door to 'disappear' to within this structure, so this super-wide steel-framed door is hinged and swings out of the way - against the fixed glass wall.
(Source: Houzz)
When there's no stacking space for sliders, and the budget doesn't allow for Nanawall, pivot-doors can work quite well. They offer a more architectural look than French doors and allow the most ventilation possible.
They can direct the breezes, and they're aesthetically compatible with wooden structures.
4. OVERHEAD DOORS
(Source: Kim Hersovell)
If you have a narrow room with no stack-backspace or swing space for doors consider having the glass go "up"!
(Source: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett's home)
With the simple flip of a switch the entire glass wall of this living room lifts up and out of the way.
(Source: Marie Claire Maison)
They're not just for garages anymore!
As industrial design gains favor the use of many heretofore forbidden options are now acceptable; they're inexpensive and easy to use.
6. GLASS OPENINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED!
These electrically operated glass balconies are perfect for city homes, or renovations where you can't structurally cantilever the bracing to hold a deck. These offer one-piece installation, and come with either glass(above) or solid floors(below).
(Source: Fakro)
Leave it to the Europeans to design something so simple and yet so sophisticated as a skylight which can morph into a balcony.
A conservatory 'bay' would physically add more space, while the glass roof and folding Nanawall would visually add unlimited space - year round!
You can do it, I'm here to help!