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A NJ Sunroom: Harmonious Blending of Inside to Out with Wood Framed Patio Doors

The Harmonious Blending of Inside to Out with Wood Framed Patio Doors By NanaWall Systems, September 3, 2025 Wood framed patio doors Some homes are designed to impress from the outside. This one was reimagined to breathe from the inside out with wood framed patio doors. For a family of music lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, the goal was about connection. Connection to each other, to the seasons, to nature, to sound, and to their lush backyard space for daily life and family gatherings. Designed by Jason Hanrahan of Mode Architects, the home features a thoughtfully placed NanaWall kitchen pass-through window and, later, wide bifold doors in the family sunroom. The design evolved in two phases to fit the family’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle perfectly. The result is a renovation defined by openness, light, and laid-back living. A Home Shaped by Light, Music, Wood Framed Patio Doors, and a Pass-Through Window Kitchen Renovation Opens Space to Light and Entertaining with a Pass-Through Window During phase one of the renovation, the existing kitchen was reimagined to replace a restrictive floor plan and outdated appliances. Central to its new design is a three-panel NanaWall SL60 folding window system—sized at counter height to serve as a flexible pass-through window for alfresco dining and entertaining. Custom divided lites were added to complement the home’s existing window styles. The window frames were finished in a warm, off-white on both interior and exterior, tying the kitchen seamlessly to the rest of the home and its façade. The result is a transitional space that connects the kitchen directly to the outdoor dining area, a seamless connection across spaces. “The countertop-height NanaWall system made the kitchen fit better into the family’s lifestyle,” says Hanrahan. “It supports hosting and day-to-day use without turning the kitchen into a full opening.” Designed for Living: Home Reimagined Around How the Family Connects After phase one introduced a NanaWall pass-through window in the kitchen, making serving, conversation, and time outside effortless, the homeowners returned to MODE to reimagine their older sunroom. The goal: a living room and music lounge that could open completely to the backyard. The solution was incorporating a full-height, five-panel NW Clad 740 wood framed patio doors. The Generation 4 folding glass wall offered the slimmest aluminum clad frames available, and therefore, was the ideal solution to achieve seamless connectivity. Outside, the frames were finished in a warm off-white to match the façade. Inside, solid wood frames seamlessly integrate with the mushroom wood paneling and millwork. The nearly 15-foot-wide system was customized with divided lites placed high up to add rhythm while preserving unobstructed views and keeping transitions seamless. “We wanted to maximize the opening size,” says Jason. “Not just to maximize light, but literally the opening as well. The family sunroom space became more useful.” A Living Sunroom That Folds Open to the Garden MODE centered the second half of the home renovation on the family sunroom, featuring wood framed patio doors to create a seamless transition from the interior to the garden. It’s the difference between “a room with a view” and a room that becomes the view. With the nearly 8-foot-tall system open, music spills outside; with it closed, daylight, acoustics, and comfort remain finely tuned. “You are sitting in the house with the family. The opening frames the view of the pond and the trees,” describes Architect Jason Hanrahan. “They liked how it connected them with their family when they were outside… it made it more cohesive.” Choosing Materials that Reflect Nature and Serenity According to the architect, the design aims to bring the outdoors in with an organic material approach. Inside, the room is wrapped in mushroom wood reclaimed boards, whose textured grain warms the acoustics and steadies the eye. Large-format tiles keep lines calm and maintenance easy. Outside, a long concrete tread and natural stone hold the grade without hard edges. Nothing shouts; everything contributes to a single idea: bring the outdoors in and the indoors out. Energy Efficiency Meets Everyday Living The systems’ energy-efficient and performance engineering make the sunroom a four-season retreat. The architect chose NanaWall wood framed patio doors to maximize the existing exterior opening, provide intuitive and easy daily operation, and create a threshold that feels like part of the floor rather than a barrier. T hese are hallmarks of NanaWall wood framed patio doors: engineered for durability and frequent use, precision-gliding panels, and performance-tested. To ensure year-round comfort, the NanaWall wood framed patio doors and pass-through window were specified with double glazed panels for optimal performance regardless of weather. Paired with the thermally broken Low Profile Saddle Sill, the bifold door not only offers energy efficiency but also a seamless, barefoot-friendly threshold to the outdoors. Final Thoughts From weeknight dinners to weekend music sessions, this is now a home that meets the family at the place they actually live, gather, and connect in. The kitchen pass-through window keeps everyday hosting effortless. The music room turns into a garden room in seconds, inviting breezes and conversation across one continuous plane. Here, NanaWall wood framed patio doors added versatile usable square footage and extended the soul of the home outdoors. By focusing on how the family truly lives, this home now opens in all the right ways: to light, to laughter, to nature, and to each other. Visit the NanaWall inspiration gallery to explore more homes like this, designed for connection, built for modern living!

Classic Entry Door | Glenview Haus | GD-611WDG

Glenview Haus – Custom Doors & Wine Cellars

The Glenview Haus Classic Collection of front doors provides solid wood doors with elegant, archetypal designs. The custom-made styles range from two-panel doors with elaborate raised moldings to beautiful glass doors with leaded patterns, adding beauty and grace to the home’s entrance. The artisans at Glenview Haus focus on enhancing the natural elegance of the high-end wood grains by using furniture quality stains and techniques.

Traditional Bilotta Collection in Rye

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

This expansive traditional kitchen by senior designer, Randy O'Kane and Architect, Clark Neuringer, features Bilotta Collection cabinet in a custom color. Randy says, the best part about working with this client was that she loves design – and not just interior but she also loves holiday decorating and she has a beautiful sense of aesthetic (and does everything to the nines). For her kitchen she wanted a barn-like feel and it absolutely had to be functional because she both bakes and cooks for her family and neighbors every day. And as the mother of four teenage girls she has a lot of people coming in and out of her home all the time. She wanted her kitchen to be comfortable – not untouchable and not too “done”. When she first met with Bilotta senior designer Randy O’Kane, her #1 comment was: “I’m experiencing white kitchen fatigue”. So right from the start finding the perfect color was the prime focus. The challenge was infusing a center hall colonial with a sense of warmth, comfort and that barn aesthetic without being too rustic which is why they went with a straight greenish grey paint vs. something distressed. The flooring, by Artisan Wood floors, looks reclaimed with its wider long planks and fumed finish. The barn door separating the laundry room and the kitchen was made from hand selected barn wood, made custom according to the client’s detailed specifications, and hung with sliding hardware. The kitchen hardware was really a window sash pull from Rocky Mountain that was repurposed as handles in a living bronze finish mounted horizontally. Glazed brick tile, by Ann Sacks, really helped to embrace the overall concept. Since a lot of parties are hosted out of that space, the kitchen, and butler’s pantry off to the side, needed a good flow as well as areas to bake and stage the creations. Double ovens were a must as well as a 48” Wolf Range and a Rangecraft hood – four ovens are going all the time. Beverage drawers were added to allow others to flow through the kitchen without disturbing the cook. Lots of storage was added for a well-stocked kitchen. A unique detail is double door wall cabinets, some with wire mesh to allow to see their dishes for easy access. In the butler’s pantry, instead of mesh they opted for antique mirror glass fronts. Countertops are a natural quartzite for care free use and a solid wood table, by Brooks Custom, extends of the island, removable for flexibility, making the kitchen and dining area very functional. One of the client’s antique pieces (a hutch) was incorporated into the kitchen to give it a more authentic look as well as another surface to decorate and provide storage. The lighting over the island and breakfast table has exposed Edison bulbs which hearkens to that “barn” lighting. For the sinks, they used a fireclay Herbeau farmhouse on the perimeter and an undermount Rohl sink on the island. Faucets are by Waterworks. Standing back and taking it all in it’s a wonderful collaboration of carefully designed working space and a warm gathering space for family and guests. Bilotta Designer: Randy O’Kane, Architect: Clark Neuringer Architects, posthumously. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

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Residential interior refurbishment

Deik

Project: Residential interior refurbishment Site: Kensington, London  Designer: Deik (www.deik.co.uk) Photographer: Anna Stathaki Floral/prop stylish: Simone Bell We have also recently completed a commercial design project for Café Kitsuné in Pantechnicon (a Nordic-Japanese inspired shop, restaurant and café). Simplicity and understated luxury The property is a Grade II listed building in the Queen’s Gate Conservation area. It has been carefully refurbished to make the most out of its existing period features, with all structural elements and mechanical works untouched and preserved. The client asked for modest, understated modern luxury, and wanted to keep some of the family antique furniture. The flat has been transformed with the use of neutral, clean and simple elements that blend subtly with the architecture of the shell. Classic furniture and modern details complement and enhance one another. The focus in this project is on craftsmanship, handiwork and the use of traditional, natural, timeless materials. A mix of solid oak, stucco plaster, marble and bronze emphasize the building’s heritage. The raw stucco walls provide a simple, earthy warmth, referencing artisanal plasterwork. With its muted tones and rough-hewn simplicity, stucco is the perfect backdrop for the timeless furniture and interiors. Feature wall lights have been carefully placed to bring out the surface of the stucco, creating a dramatic feel throughout the living room and corridor. The bathroom and shower room employ subtle, minimal details, with elegant grey marble tiles and pale oak joinery creating warm, calming tones and a relaxed atmosphere.

LINWOOD RENOVATION 2025

ABBA Construction Group

A contemporary modern white kitchen combines clean lines, minimalist elegance, and functional sophistication. This design features sleek white cabinetry that offers a bright, airy feel, perfectly complemented by solid surface quartz countertops in a soft white or subtle veined pattern. The countertops provide durability and a seamless finish that elevates the overall look. A black matte faucet and matching black hardware create bold visual contrast, adding depth and a modern edge to the space. Stainless steel appliances — including a French-door refrigerator, built-in oven, and range hood — offer a polished, professional finish while enhancing the kitchen's functionality. Overall, the space reflects a refined yet inviting atmosphere with a focus on clean aesthetics, premium materials, and practical design — ideal for both everyday living and stylish entertaining.

Modern Ipe Wood Backyard Staircase | Multi-Level Yard Transformation in Bay Area

Rivolty

When we first arrived, the existing staircase was outdated, worn out, and no longer safe. The property sits on two levels, and accessing the upper yard required navigating an unstable structure - far from a space you could comfortably use or enjoy. Our goal was to create a safe, functional, and visually cohesive transition between the two levels, while upgrading the overall look of the backyard. We designed and built a custom outdoor staircase using premium Ipe wood - known for its durability, strength, and natural beauty. The new structure not only provides a solid and secure connection between levels, but also enhances the entire outdoor space with a clean, modern aesthetic. The result is a seamless transition that feels natural within the landscape and significantly improves how the backyard is used. This project is just the first phase of a larger transformation. In the next stage, we will be developing the upper level into a private backyard office - a quiet, functional space designed for focus, relaxation, and connection with nature. A backyard should work for you - not against you.

1980s Hi-Rise Condo Goes Mid Century Modern in Houston's Museum District

InnovationLand

Houston Interior Designer Lisha Maxey took this Museum District condo from the dated, mirrored walls of the 1980s to Mid Century Modern with a gallery look featuring the client's art collection. "The place was covered with glued-down, floor-to-ceiling mirrors," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer for Homescapes of Houston and principal at LGH Design Services in Houston. "When we took them off the walls, the walls came apart. We ended up taking them down to the studs." The makeover took six months to complete, primarily because of strict condo association rules that only gave the Houston interior designers very limited access to the elevator - through which all materials and team members had to go. "Monday through Friday, we could only be noisy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and if we had to do something extra loud, like sawing or drilling, we had to schedule it with the management and they had to communicate that to the condo owners. So it was just a lot of coordination. But a lot of Inner City Loopers live in these kinds of buildings, so we're used to handling that kind of thing." The client, a child psychiatrist in her 60s, recently moved to Houston from northeast Texas to be with friends. After being widowed three years ago, she decided it was time to let go of the traditionally styled estate that wasn't really her style anyway. An avid diver who has traveled around the world to pursue her passion, she has amassed a large collection of art from her travels. Downsizing to 1,600 feet and wanting to go more contemporary, she wanted the display - and the look - more streamlined. "She wanted clean lines and muted colors, with the main focus being her artwork," says Maxey. "So we made the space a palette for that." Enter the white, gallery-grade paint she chose for the walls: "It's halfway between satin and flat," explains Maxey. "It's not glossy and it's not chalky - just very smooth and clean." Adding to the gallery theme is the satin nickel track lighting with lamps aimed to highlight pieces of art. "This lighting has no wires," notes Maxey. "It's powered by a positive and negative conduit." The new flooring throughout is a blended-grey porcelain tile that looks like wood planks. "It's gorgeous, natural-looking and combines all the beauty of wood with the durability of tile," says Maxey. "We used it throughout the condo to unify the space." After Maxey started looking at the client's bright, vibrant, colorful artwork, she felt the palette couldn't stay as muted anymore. Hence the Mid Century Modern orange leather sofas from West Elm and bright green chairs from Joybird, plus the throw pillows in different textures, patterns and shades of gold, orange and green. The concave lines of the Danish-inspired chairs, she notes, help them look beautiful from all the way around - a key to designing spaces for loft living. "The table in the living room is very interesting," notes Maxey. "It was handmade for the client in 1974 and has a signature on it from the artist. She was adamant about including the piece, which has all these hand-painted black-and-white art tiles on the top. I took one look at it and said 'It's not really going to go.'" However, after cutting 6 inches off the bottom and making it look a little distressed, the table ended up being the perfect complement to the sofas. The dining room table - from Design Within Reach - is a solid piece of mahogany, the chair upholstery a mix of grey velvet and leather and the legs a shiny brass. "The side chairs are leather and the end ones are velvet," says Maxey. "It's a nice textural mix that lends depth and texture." The galley kitchen, meanwhile, has been lightened and brightened, with white quartz countertops and backsplashes mimicking the look of Carrara marble, stainless steel appliances and a velvet green bench seat for a punch of color. The cabinets are painted a cool grey color called "Silverplate." The two bathrooms have been updated with contemporary white vanities and vessel sinks and the master bath now features a walk-in shower tiled in Dolomite white marble (the floor is Bianco Carrara marble mosaic, done in a herringbone pattern. In the master bedroom, Homescapes of Houston knocked down a wall between two smaller closets with swing doors to make one large walk-in closet with pocket doors. The closet in the guest bedroom also came out 13 more inches. The client's artwork throughout personalizes the space and tells the story of a life. There's a huge bowl of shells from the client's diving adventures, framed art from her child psychiatry patients and a 16th century wood carving from a monastery that's been in her family forever. "Her collection is quite impressive," says Maxey. "There's even a framed piece of autographed songs written by John Lennon." (You can see this black-framed piece of art on the wall in the photo above of two green chairs). "We're extremely happy with how the project turned out, and so is the client," says Maxey. "No expense was spared for her. It was a labor of love and we were excited to do it."

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Columbus, OH

Mary Shipley Interiors34 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 10x Best of Houzz

UES Bathroom Reno

A to Z Renovations

This bathroom remodel features a clean, modern design with a focus on white and bright finishes. The plumbing fixtures include a ToTo Drake toilet , a Kohler Entity 60"x30" alcove bath with a left drain , and a Kohler Clearflo Brass toe tap bath drain. The shower is equipped with Brizo plumbing items, including a 7" linear round wall mount shower arm, a 5" linear round single-function wall mount shower head, a tub spout assembly, a classic round H2Okinetic multi-function handshower, a pressure balance valve with an integrated 3-function diverter trim, and a classic round slide bar with hose, all in a Brilliance Brushed Nickel finish. Bathroom accessories include Odin 18" towel bar, tissue holder, and single robe hook. Lighting is provided by a Winston 46 1/4" wide polished chrome LED bath bar. The design incorporates surface-mount medicine cabinets. For tiling, Carrara Gioa matte finish 12x24 tiles are used for both walls and floors, with Laticrete 1644 Bright White unsanded grout. Schulter tile trim in aluminum bright white is used on wall edges and the top of the tile base molding. A recessed shampoo niche is included on the interior wall, with a ledge and door saddle made of Vivid White Cesarstone. The walls are painted with Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace 2121-70. The vanity features a La Cava solid top surface countertop and an Aquagrande sink, with a widespread lavatory faucet in polished chrome.

Glenview Haus Classic Entry Door Gallery | GD-301PW 2SL

Glenview Haus – Custom Doors & Wine Cellars

Glenview Haus Classic Collection of front doors provides solid wood doors that are elegantly styled with archetypal designs. These custom-made wooden front doors feature elaborate, raised moldings. Showcasing two-panel and one-panel door styles, clients can choose which time-honored look will better suit their home. The Classic Collection of front doors can additionally be customized with intricate and beautifully unique jointed and lead patterns to better fit the personalities of the individuals who live inside. The artisans at Glenview Haus focus on enhancing the natural elegance of the high-end wood grains by using furniture-quality stains and techniques.

Louisville Home Remodel

TVL Creative Ltd.

44 Photos · Updated 3 hours ago Our Louisville clients were proud new home owners who were excited to move into their home and start personalizing! We created a transitional design for their home that incorporates modern touches and classic lines to tie the spaces together. Our primary focus was to update the home and keep things feeling clean and fresh while making it comfortable for everyone in the family. We started by painting every room in their home, replacing all of their interior doors, and updating all of their light fixtures. One of the most transformative elements was the updated flooring throughout the home. We removed the oak floors and replaced them with a wide plank solid hickory which removed the yellow undertones and gave them a clean backdrop for the rest of the design. The clients really wanted to freshen up their kitchen and incorporate new appliances without starting from scratch, so we rearranged a few of their existing cabinets to make room for their new stove and range hood. We also lowered the original bar-height counter to make the kitchen feel more open to their family room. We then painted all of their cabinets a crisp white, replaced the crown molding, updated the hardware, replaced their counter top with a marble look quartz, and used a soft green mosaic tile on their backsplash. This home has a large family room, and the original fireplace was far too small and seemed to disappear under the 20 foot ceilings. So we removed the old square fireplace, replacing it with a linear gas fireplace and a floor-to-ceiling tiled surround with a custom wood mantle. This created a real focal point and helped to anchor the space. We then brought in a cozy blue sectional and a soft new rug to make this the perfect place for a family movie night. The clients have a real love of music, and wanted to create a space where they could lay back and enjoy their vinyls. So in their family room we created a custom stereo wall with floating cabinets and shelves to house all of their audio equipment and showcase a few of their favorites. We then furnished the room with clean and classically inspired pieces to tie in with the aesthetics in the rest of the home.

Louisville Home Remodel

TVL Creative Ltd.

Back of House Hardie Siding Overlay

Deskins Group LLC

In the Champions area, this home didn’t need a full exterior overhaul—just strategic, high‑value improvements. The original real‑wood fascia and soffit were still in great condition overall, so instead of replacing everything, we focused on repairing only the few sections showing deterioration. This preserved the home’s character while keeping the project cost‑efficient. On the back garage wall, the bottom two feet of siding had taken on moisture damage over time. We removed the compromised material and installed new smooth Hardie siding as an overlay, creating a clean, durable upgrade that blends seamlessly with the existing exterior and adds long-term protection against Houston’s humidity. To complete the transformation, we painted the entire house and garage with Sherwin‑Williams Latitude, a premium exterior coating engineered for Houston’s heat, UV exposure, and sudden storms. The result is a fresh, uniform finish built to last for years. A smart, targeted approach—repair what’s solid, upgrade where it matters, and finish with a high‑performance paint—gave this Champions home a renewed look without unnecessary expense. If your home in Champions or Northwest Houston needs exterior repairs, siding upgrades, or a full repaint, contact Deskins Siding & Exteriors today. Let’s protect your home and elevate its curb appeal with solutions built for Houston’s climate.

Modern Kitchen, Warm Woods

Creekside Cabinets

Desigen by Mindy at Creekside Cabinets, Photography by Archie Lewis/Smart Focus Photography
Minimalist kitchen photo in Other with stainless steel appliances