Open the Possibilities
Story by Cheri Woodsmall
Imagine this. Looking out onto your backyard through stunning floor-to-ceiling glass doors and with a touch of the hand, you become one with your beautiful outdoor living area. By extending the living space and seamlessly connecting the indoors to the outdoors, scenic doors create vibrant areas for entertaining and delighting in the joys of nature all year long.
Photo courtesy of Panaromic Doors
These sliding and folding door systems bring the outside inside. They enable the backyard to become an architectural element for the interior of the home. Scenic doors bring the outdoors in by elegantly and effortlessly connecting your inside space with the surroundings found right outside your doors.
With the trending popularity in large glass panels, these spacious openings have become not only possible but more and more commonplace in new custom homes, as well as in renovations. Enter the multi slide patio door and the folding glass door.
“The most common area of the home for the installation of these doors is in the back of the home. Hardscape is big and they are continuing the living space – having the outside being part of the inside. Some homeowners just want the view, especially those with lakefront and riverfront properties,” explains Troy Beeler, General Manager of Kansas City Millwork who carries Marvin Windows and Doors. “Customers love being able to bring the beautiful seasons “indoors”. It’s like a large part of their home is a work of art.”
Photo courtesy of Kansas City Millwork/Marvin Scenic Doors
Just as Kansas City offers homes in styles to fit your personality, scenic doors come in styles to complement your home; sliding doors, bi-fold doors, lift and slide. Sliding open to afford a panoramic view of the outside; Marvin multi-slide doors smoothly slide open and can either stack at one end or pocket, where they slide into a wall opening, disappearing from view. Their bi-fold doors are a simple, elegant solution for indoor/outdoor luxury living. With options of two to eight panels, there are many ways to open up your view. Available with openings up to fifty feet wide and twelve feet high, Marvin’s lift and slide doors with recessed or flush sills allow for a seamless transition between the exterior and interior. Panoramic Doors operating systems are hingeless and the panels move independent of each other, offering a variety of design options.
Photo courtesy of Panaromic Doors
“The trend really began in the commercial space about 15 years ago. Restaurants and cafés wanted an inviting environment that allowed customers to enjoy the nice weather, while still experiencing the ambiance of the restaurant space itself,” says Charles Eisenmann, Director of Sales with Panoramic Doors Kansas City. “In the past six or seven years, business has exploded in the Kansas City metro and we have been seeing increases for these doors from both builders and homeowners looking to remodel.”
Artistry isn’t the only benefit of these beautiful doors. With so many colors to choose from such as a brass system, copper coat or silver finishes, which gives more of an industrial look to the home, the design choices are endless. Many go with white to complement the windows on their home. There are also natural wood options available.
Photo courtesy of Kansas City Millwork/Marvin Scenic Doors
When it comes to the considering replacing your current windows and doors, there’s no denying you’ll be faced with a multitude of design and pricing options. “When making this kind of investment, it’s important to do your research to ensure you get the highest quality product and biggest bang for your buck, and in the look and style you want,” says Beeler.
