Millennials are hitting the home-buying age in full force, bringing their unique taste and design to the market in the process. It comes as no surprise, then, that doors have undergone significant changes in recent years.
Rob Garofalo, the specialty business leader at Andersen Corp., highlighted several distinct qualities of contemporary doors. According to Garofalo, contemporary doors are trending bigger, and they tend to feature more glass than stiles and rails. But even when doors incorporate stiles and rails, equal sight-lines there “can certainly define the door as contemporary,” he said.
Rounding out the look of a contemporary door is the hardware, which has trended sleek and minimalistic. With contemporary doors, the objective of the hardware is to fly under the radar, not stick out like a sore thumb. Contemporary doors, then, typically feature hardware with simple lines in trendy colors, like satin nickel and black.
Contemporary front doors in particular are increasingly using pivots rather than traditional hinges. Pivots have become popular among homeowners because they allow for larger panels on the front door. While the width of a standard entry door may be three feet, pivots allow for panels as wide as six feet. Another selling point for pivots? They provide strong security thanks to “multi-point locks all the way around the top and the sides of the door,” according to Garofalo.
Contemporary doors, like many other aspects of homes, have also incorporated technology to make everyday life easier. Garofalo pointed out that the technology present in contemporary doors has increased convenience in a number of ways. For example, smart technology allows a homeowner to lock his or her door remotely, or issue a one-time code for neighbors or delivery people who need temporary access to a home. In addition to providing everyday convenience, smart technology allows a homeowner to put his or her sliding glass door in so-called “party mode,” essentially turning it into an automatic door for the duration of a social gathering so that people carrying food and drinks can walk inside and outside hands-free.
Garofalo, who called contemporary sliding glass doors “the hot thing in the last four or five years,” theorized that the popularity of contemporary sliding glass doors is due to changing trends in home design. Homeowners are increasingly interested in glass because it gives the illusion of bigger space and opens up a room. “The ability to have your inside and outside coexist as one space is very popular,” Garofalo said. Meanwhile, elaborate outdoor elements have become popular, so that homes now have outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, living spaces and pools. Large sliding glass doors allows for increased visibility around those outdoor elements, providing a constant visual reminder for the homeowner and showing off the outdoor elements to any guests.
One of the most important selling points for contemporary doors is their versatility. Contemporary doors fit well in a glass box design, but also do not look out of place in more traditional architectural styles. A contemporary door in a Tudor home, for example, does not fundamentally change the design of the home, but blurs the lines, adding an interesting element that creates a unique feel.
”It’s very traditional architecture that is being influenced by this contemporary design.
Rob GarofaloSpecialty Business Leader, Andersen Corp
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Webinar: Understanding Window, Door & Skylight Certification
The Understanding Window, Door & Skylight Certification webinar is designed to help architects and remodelers understand the benefits of window, door and skylight certification and how certified products can enhance their projects.
