For the Love of…Steel Doors and Windows

As a designer, there are many areas of a home that I sometimes feel are overlooked and under appreciated. The doors and windows have great potential and really add more character and personality than one might think. When the budget allows, consider my all-time favorite…steel doors and windows.

Steel Doors and Windows   Steel Windows in Kitchen   Wall of Steel Doors and Windows     Exterior Steel Doors

 

Steel doors and windows are so classic and timeless, in my opinion. They offer a minimalist feel which is ageless and memorable in all respects. They are ideal for most traditional and contemporary settings. Not every window or door of the home needs to be made of the same material. If done correctly, a steel door or grouping of windows can be added to the exterior. Homeowners tend to think that all the windows in a home have to match one another. Depending on the fenestration, the arrangement of doors and windows, you can have more than one style of window or door.

 

Exterior Photos of Steel Doors and Windows  

 

There are some areas of the home that can be more defined. These steel doors and walls can define two areas while still allowing the space to feel open and the flow to be uninterrupted.

 

 

Interior Walls Designs Blog - Steel Doors   Steel Window Wall   Interior Steel Doors - Interior Walls Designs Blog   Interior Steel Window

 

The kitchen is an ideal location in the home to add this style of window. Steel doors can also be used in the bathroom; even used for the shower door. Any room in the house truly has potential for steel door and windows.

 

Steel Window in Kitchen   Steel Doors in the Bath

House Beautiful

Steel Wall in Kitchen - Interior Walls Designs

images via pinterest

Sliding Barn Doors

Given the opportunity to add an architectural element, sliding barn doors are one way to add function and detail to a home. Many times there are rooms, especially smaller spaces, that have too many doors which creates too many door swings in the room. A sliding barn door creates privacy when needed along with providing interest on the wall.

Sliding Barn Doors - Interior Walls Designs

image via Dillon Kyle Architecture

 

Knowing that space can sometimes be a necessity, the solution can be to add a pocket door in some cases or a sliding barn door if the wall space permits. For a bath, sometimes space is limited due to cabinetry and such, therefore a sliding door is a great solution. Make it eclectic and use an old, natural wood door in a clean, contemporary room.

 

Sliding Barn Doors - Interior Walls Designs

Sliding Barn Doors - Interior Walls Designs

 

 

What can make these doors interesting is the material that you select. Old or natural wood is a great option while anything painted can add color. You may consider glass to lighten the area and keep it feeling open and spacious.

 

 

Interior Walls Designs - Sliding Barn Doors

 

Sliding Barn Doors - Interior Walls Designs

 

 

 

Sliding Barn Doors - Interior Walls Designs

 

 Sliding Barn Doors

 

These barn doors also can be used as pantry doors in a kitchen, a door to a wine cellar, or even a laundry area.

 

Sliding Barn Doors

images via pinterest

Sliding Barn Doors

image via House Beautiful

The Painted Door

There are numerous ways to enhance any room, hallway or entryway. The quickest and easiest method would be to add paint. Consider painting just the door alone, and you have added dimension and color in an instant.

The Painted Door - Interior Walls Designs

image via Designer Katie Ridder

When painting any area of the home, make sure you test that color in that space. Do not rely on the fact that your friend used this color or even that you may have used this color in another room of your house. Each area will read differently depending on the lighting in that room. Be sure test the paint on the actual door or paint a piece of white poster board with two coats of paint.

The Painted Door Interior Walls

The Painted Door Interior Walls Designs

The Painted Door

The Painted Door - Interior Walls Designs

images via pinterest

Buying new doors for your home can update your home instantly and bring value to the home. When considering a new door, look at ones with decorative trim. Painting the decorative trim a contrast color adds that extra detail. Changing out the hardware is another way to bring that door to life!

The Painted Door - Interior Walls Designs

image via pinterest

The Painted Door

Designer S.R. Gambrel

Hidden Doors & Concealed Rooms…Ingenious!

Many homeowners strive for a focal point on a particular wall, hallway or stairwell. Sight lines need to be considered in any space or room in your home. A sight line is the line from your eye to the object you are viewing. In other words, what you see from that particular vantage point. Consider the possibility of taking a typical door or doorway and creating this hidden room. The wall then becomes a more interesting element in the room and can add visual interest and character.

Hidden Doors & Concealed Rooms

Hidden Door & Concealed Rooms

 images via pinterest

My clients in this Atlanta home opted for a decorative wall treatment to hide the door to the fifth bedroom. From the view on the staircase, it appears to be a wall of decorative moulding. For the homeowner, it is the entrance into the guest bedroom. Actually, the appraiser for the house missed this room completely when writing his report. He had to return to the home and have another appraisal done for he had it listed as a four bedroom home, not a five bedroom home.

Hidden Doors & Concealed Rooms

 images via Interior Walls Designs

Storage is also a factor for any home. Bookcases allow one to display favorite books, objects and accessories but they also add visual interest. Think about turning a bookcase into the actual door to the room.

Hidden Doors

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