areaumur's Ideas
4. Grow in styleThe window seat in this extension to an Edwardian house is part of a stepped structure that adds cupboard space as well as neat extra seating. Made from timber, the unit echoes the window frames and the bench seat base. Using wood in a window seat is also a simple way to link it with trees and plants in a garden beyond.
8. Reduce a footprintThe owners of this extension have plenty of space – and they wanted to keep it that way. So the answer to their requirement for relaxing seating was a bench under the window, which doesn’t eat into the floor area very much. Opting for a storage base that continues the style of the kitchen cabinetry – as here – makes the design less imposing visually, contributing to the airy feel.19 Standout Home Extensions
External shadingShading glass doors can reduce summer temperatures, improving comfort and saving on cooling costs. They can also protect floor coverings and furniture from fading in sunlight.Most Australian homes (apart from those in the far north) will benefit from shading on the northern side of the house where high-angle sun enters. East and west openings receive low-angle morning and afternoon summer sun. They typically need less shade in the morning when the sun is not too hot, but afternoons can get uncomfortable, in which case vertical structures, such as trees, shrubs or timber battens, can help screen light and heat.
Timber: the most traditional material for door frames, appreciated for its warmth and classic appearance.Timber frames are energy efficient and naturally insulate against heat and cold. Frames in this material are long-lasting, easy to repair and wind-resistant. However, they may require maintenance, particularly if exposed to harsh weather conditions.Timber can be polished, painted or stained, offering plenty of design flexibility.
9. Blur the line between indoors and outIn addition to opening up sightlines to embrace views of your neighbourhood, try doing the same with your own outdoor space if you have some. These floor-to-ceiling glass doors visually blur the line between this home’s interior and exterior to make it feel larger, but that’s not all. Notice how the long joinery element in this living space continues into the great outdoors, and how the timber decking runs in the same direction as the floorboards? These details all help take ownership of this outdoor space, which makes the adjacent indoor space feel larger.
2. They get out of the wayStacked to one side, bi-fold door panels are tidy once they’re open, so there’s nothing at all between you and the garden. To repeat the success of this design, consider frame size – a bulky frame wouldn’t stack so neatly. Think about the panel sizes that will span the opening too, as narrower panels equal more to stack.
So, is it truly over for bi-fold doors?The alternatives are full of merit, but should we bid farewell to bi-folds? What do you reckon to these 5 reasons for selecting them after all?1. They make indoors and out seamlessIf you want more space, what better way to create it than with an entire wall that opens up, so house and outdoor space are a continuous area? Here, the indoor/outdoor line is blurred further by the use of the same or very similar floor tiles in both spaces. Like the idea? Check with your tile supplier that your selection will stand up to garden temperatures and won’t become slippery in wet weather.Rooms With Indoor-Outdoor Flow
Could one of these solutions take the place of bi-fold doors? The alternative: Black steel-framed doorsWhy they’re a contender: They’re good-lookersSteel-framed doors may have seen their heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, but they have a strongly contemporary appeal. Pick them and your garden doors will be a feature in themselves, not just a way to open out a space. Complement their sharp lines with streamlined kitchen cabinetry and modern furnishings, or use them alongside industrial-style features and furniture.
Dream kitchen! Love the layout and how inviting the garden is
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