transitions
The door here reaches vertically to touch the ceiling. It's clearly larger than it needs to be functionally, and thus is playing by a different set of rules. Notice that it matches precisely the proportion of the glazed opening. I particularly like that the solid mass of the island contrasts the glazed opening, while the open walkway leads to the solid door. These reversals and contrasts are complex and engaging experiences enhanced by the bold door choice.
Andrew Snow Photography Large sliding doors span floor to ceiling and move completely clear of the opening to create a seamless connection between indoors and out. The color and frame size of the doors match the window system above. It's hard to distinguish what is wall, what is door and what is window, because each is treated as part of a compositional whole. By increasing the height of this door to match the ceiling height, the architect has hidden the sliding track of the door elegantly within the floor thickness above, effectively dissolving the boundary between inside and out. Many types of spaces can benefit from thinking about the elements of buildings as part of a larger system. Doors specifically tailored to room dimensions are strong statements of intent in design.
By contrasting the frame of this door with the entry hall it presides over, the architect has signified this as an important threshold linking inside and out. The scale denotes "front door" and, more important, sets up the experience of the space beyond. (The project is appropriately named Sunset Overlook.) The glazed entry door becomes a frame for the views that unfold upon entry. In a home full of layered axial views and transitions, the front door sets the stage for this experience.
these elements together. The designer has treated this passage door much like the cabinetry: as a fine furniture piece. Whether open or closed, this door feels like part of the overall composition of the shelving unit. Integrating passage doors into walls of cabinetry establishes a common language between elements. This is an advantage in spaces where many disparate elements are closely positioned.
Moroso Construction This door becomes another planar element in the room's composition. Note how everything in this space supports this treatment: The cabinetry spans wall to wall, floating above the floor; the mirror fills the alcove; the plane of the floor is a contrasting material. Each element is treated as a plane that extends to an adjacent plane. These gestures, while simple, all work to reinforce one another. The floor-to-ceiling pocket doors effortlessly change the nature of a space. When they're open, space and light flow freely between rooms. When they're closed, the large pane of etched glass provides privacy while remaining luminous.
Simple closet doors conceal storage and clutter here. But because they've been extended from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, and have no trim, they form clean planes that fit with the aesthetic of the room. When closed the doors become a warm, wood accent wall. Small spaces, where each surface carries greater weight, can benefit enormously from this treatment.
Here's another example of a sliding door functioning as a wall. The architect made a conscious decision to conceal the sliding track in the ceiling to allow the proportions of the room and the adjacent stone wall to dictate the panel size, rather than the opening its meant to conceal. So the wall panel has become another tonal element in the architectural material palette, along with the wood floor and stone wall. It's rendered here in wood, but a sliding door panel such as this could be almost any material — cast glass, perforated metal, etched stone — and function as both a sliding art object and a door.
The structure here dictated the scale of the pivoting door. A door sized to the proportion of a person would've meant more divisions in the wall and more separation between inside and out in this design, which relies instead on breaking down those barriers. Care has been taken to match the size of the stone threshold to the size and reach of the pivoting door, lending the open panel a natural point of repose.
Commercial and industrial door systems are excellent devices for changing perception of scale. In this shower wall, small mullion divisions stack to make this space seem taller than it is. Bringing an exterior window and door system inside has created an interesting public counterpoint to a very private space. The door here is one part in a larger ordering system, and the system itself lends a refined industrial flair to the space.
Roundabout Studio Inc.Save to IdeabookEmail Photo Coming and going. Finally, and this may be the most important one, every family needs systems for entering and exiting the house. Every member should have a home for his coat, shoes, hat and gloves, backpack or purse, papers in the case of students, and keys, wallet and phones for adults. It will take some trial and error to find a spot for everything. If you don’t have a gorgeous mudroom, that’s no excuse. Hang a row of hooks and buy an inexpensive boot tray. Teach everyone to take off shoes at the door. This habit alone will eliminate the daily adrenaline rush of a child yelling, “Where are my shoes!” as the bus idles out front. Tip: Designate a hook or two for each family member. This enforces the idea of “a place for everything and everything in its place.” This simple habit of hanging one’s coat and backpack and taking off one’s shoes in a specific spot is powerful.
Save to IdeabookEmail Photo Establish a place for papers. The flood of permission slips and forms is incredible. Create a safe spot for kids to place their papers for you to go over at your convenience. Get in the habit of checking it after dinner, and then take the necessary steps (fill out the form, write a check, scavenge for cash) right then so it’s all ready to go for your child to pack during his evening routine. Tip: Don’t get hung up on trying to make things cute. First establish a system, and then doll it up if you’d like.
Gabion walls. Gabions, which are fabricated metal cages filled with rocks or even chunks of colored recycled glass, combine materials in new and interesting ways. Consult a design professional if you are considering such a wall, as proper welding and weight loads are of primary importance. This garden is a study in juxtaposition. The metal cage and rocks of the gabion are in high contrast, adding drama. The cage speaks to the fabricated steps in color and texture, as well as to the terrace furniture in shape. The color of the gabion rocks is also repeated in the furniture. good for rock wall planter
Concrete fiberboard. This underused material, also known as backer board, is manufactured for use as a substrate for tile floors and shower enclosures. It consists of concrete, fiberglass mesh for reinforcement and Styrofoam for weight reduction. Several types of concrete board are available. Be sure to pick one that does not contain paper. Its low price, light weight and availability make concrete board a contender for a variety of outdoor applications. It can be cut with a circular saw that’s been fitted with a diamond blade. Be advised that the application of a good concrete sealer will increase its longevity outdoors. Concrete board is useful for building privacy screens and small non-load-bearing walls. A simple frame of outdoor-grade lumber can be clad with this material, creating a unique and beautiful garden structure. The texture and color striations of concrete board mimic granite cliffs in the application shown here.
An edgy water feature. There is something to be said for the tranquil beauty a natural-looking waterfall adds to a woodland garden. Perhaps, however, you live in an urban environment or just want something unique. Consider a trough (spillway) installation, such as the one shown here, made of metal or perhaps even thick cast glass. This water feature provides the relaxing sound of falling water that we all enjoy, but does so in a very contemporary, industrial way.
Upgrade the necessities. My current mantra is this: Why be ordinary when you can just as easily be unique and spectacular? Consider this custom water diverter. Every dwelling needs an efficient way of moving water away from its foundation. This one is a real eye catcher compared to the rectangular blocks of concrete or plastic most people have.
Don’t forget the details. It is frequently said that both the beauty and the devil are found in the details. Why use a standard gate hinge from a big-box store when you could use a custom piece such as the one shown here? Hinges, oversize lag bolts and door handles are all fair game in the quest to create a truly beautiful and unique garden.
With common ceiling heights in the 8- to 9-foot range, these doors act as apertures in wall planes — framed openings, touching neither the ceiling or adjacent walls. While this size of door functions well, allowing us to bring in our groceries, keep cool and warm air inside or outside, and have both openness and privacy — doors can be so much more. Dick Clark + Associates Subtly shifting our thinking about doors as just apertures or openings to thinking about them as wall elements that pivot or slide can create myriad design possibilities. These possibilities can transform the proportions of spaces and more seamlessly integrate the humble door into the architecture of a space. Onyx fills a thick steel frame that spans the entire entryway here, challenging the very notion of what a door can be. Pivoting hardware sets the door in the floor and ceiling, which suggests passing through a secret wall. One can imagine that when closed, the door functions as an elegant, luminous art object.
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