(MS) - Gentle breezes. Bountiful sunlight. Playful children. Scenic views. Americans crave more time outside. Whether you live on the water, in the woods or in the suburbs, the outdoors beckon. Romping with the kids on a backyard playground. Taking in the lapping waves of the ocean on the coast. Scouting for rare birds that grace nearby trees. Anything that gets us out of the house, away from the office and separates us from the busyness of life.
Our passion for the outdoors has translated into design elements of new and remodeled homes. Ever-expanding backyard terraces. Quaint front porches. Elaborate outdoor kitchens with monster grills, storage and refrigerators. Beautiful patio doors that stretch to unheard of widths. More and larger windows. Outdoor fireplaces.
"Our clients are more often wanting to bring the outdoors inside of the home," said John Anderson, NCARB, founder of JDA Design Architects. "The traditional great room, with its expanse of glass, is becoming the room where a wall opens up completely to the outdoors, pushing the envelope of what really defines an exterior wall. Where there used to be multiple windows in the great room, now there are doors."
People who love to entertain know that walls and furniture often hinder the flow of people moving about the house and the ability to socialize with large groups of people. So when it comes to outdoor entertaining, opening up an interior living space to the exterior space is beneficial. Patio door manufacturers have responded to the demand with wide choices in styles, sizes and decorative options.
Patio doors are available for openings from 3'6" to 24'0" wide, to accommodate great rooms or dining rooms. Styles for the larger openings include telescoping patio doors, which have panels that slide one behind the next as they open; and accordion-style, bi-fold patio doors that stack one panel on top of the next as they open. These two doors are ideal for great rooms that open to a backyard terrace, wrap-around deck or a pool area. Homeowners and their guests inside can feel the breeze and hear the birds or move without hindrance from the great room to the great outdoors.
"Folding and telescoping patio doors are not only functional when they're open," said Dave Koester, of manufacturer Weather Shield Windows & Doors, "they're also beautiful when closed - from the inside and out. They are as much a part of the interior design as flooring, paint colors and window treatments. With different wood choices for the frames and trim, homeowners can match the door to crown moulding, built-in shelving, a fireplace mantel or whatever other wood may be in that particular room."
Weather Shield makes a range of patio doors, including the telescoping and bi-fold styles, as well as hinged and sliding doors and a picture patio door with sliding panels on both sides of a fixed panel.
And outside, the doors are the centerpiece in a home's backyard entertainment center. Virtually endless shades of paint and anodized aluminum clad colors ensure these wood doors match or complement windows, doors and other exterior trim. Grilles in certain patterns will bring out a home's architectural style, such as Colonial or Prairie.
In addition to being used for blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor environments, patio doors are being incorporated into rooms throughout the home. Homeowners are putting patio doors into master suites, master baths and family rooms for those times when they need a quick fix of fresh air or more personal moments of relaxation. Frosted, textured, tinted and specialty glass can be used in doors for baths or bedrooms to maintain privacy.
For these narrower openings, there are many, many options on the market - from simple sliders to French hinged doors with transoms above and fixed windows to the sides.
Patio doors are more energy efficient today than the models of 20 years ago. Most swinging patio doors and French doors have multi-point locking systems that secure a door in four or five points for improved security as well as a resistance to inclement weather. Patio doors that perform to ENERGY STAR® ratings or higher provide insulation against heat loss or gain through the glass.
Patio doors are much more than a passageway in homes today - they are functional, yes, and encourage a more relaxing way of life that draws us to the outdoors. With the styles and options available today, patio doors provide access to breathtaking views or can even be the subject of those views. To get ideas for incorporating patio doors into your dream home, visit the Idea House at weathershield.com.
CAPTION: Homeowners are often choosing to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces with expansive windows and doors.
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home, design, window, door, patio doors
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