Sliding Doors: 10 Great Ways to Enable Indoor-Outdoor Living
Sliding glass doors can make all the difference when it comes to connecting indoor spaces with the outdoors
Laura Wheat
24 April 2017
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced in a handsome Edwardian semi on top of a hill.
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced... More
As we’re all searching for that illusive indoor/outdoor lifestyle, where our homes melt seamlessly into gorgeous gardens, it’s no wonder that exterior doors of all shapes and sizes continue to make attractive additions. While bi-folds have been the door du jour for a while, now Crittall-style frames and large sliding panels are giving them some competition. Each style has its merits; sliding doors will never give you a completely open facade, but they do allow for fewer frames when closed. Sliding doors also work brilliantly on a wider building where they can give a maximised view of the garden. These 10 admirable examples show how to use sliding doors and how to decorate to complement them. Take a look before deciding if this style is up your street.
1. Channel urban glam
Meal prep almost becomes theatre in this immaculately accessorised cook space with triple-panel sliding doors. The three same-sized panels create a great sense of symmetry and order, which is mirrored in the long dining table and peninsular unit.
Polished-concrete floors, marble benchtops, brass accents, deconstructed pendant lights, prehistoric palms and a gorgeous garden beyond represent clear kitchen bliss.
Meal prep almost becomes theatre in this immaculately accessorised cook space with triple-panel sliding doors. The three same-sized panels create a great sense of symmetry and order, which is mirrored in the long dining table and peninsular unit.
Polished-concrete floors, marble benchtops, brass accents, deconstructed pendant lights, prehistoric palms and a gorgeous garden beyond represent clear kitchen bliss.
2. Start a colour riot
Good luck feeling glum in this fun-filled fiesta of pattern and colour. The wall of glazing lets in full-throttle sunlight, and on cloudy days, the look remains sunny and cheerful thanks to the vivid brights and squishy sofa.
How to be confident with colour
Good luck feeling glum in this fun-filled fiesta of pattern and colour. The wall of glazing lets in full-throttle sunlight, and on cloudy days, the look remains sunny and cheerful thanks to the vivid brights and squishy sofa.
How to be confident with colour
3. Find your angle
Sculptural sophistication and a slick, spartan interior unite in this zinc-clad extension. Two sets of sliding doors snake around the corner of the rear, joining at the junction of a peaceful pond area. Huge roof lights mean that light is assured – without the need for a ‘glass box’ structure.
Sculptural sophistication and a slick, spartan interior unite in this zinc-clad extension. Two sets of sliding doors snake around the corner of the rear, joining at the junction of a peaceful pond area. Huge roof lights mean that light is assured – without the need for a ‘glass box’ structure.
emiliemauran.com
4. Court classic charm
This glamorous grey beauty proves that sliding glass doors can sit happily in a more traditional kitchen. Shaker-style cabinets with chrome cup handles are a classic choice, while a barely-there induction stove provides a touch of contemporary tech. Sliding doors are a prime pick for those who intend their interior decor and outside space to take centre stage, over architectural features.
This glamorous grey beauty proves that sliding glass doors can sit happily in a more traditional kitchen. Shaker-style cabinets with chrome cup handles are a classic choice, while a barely-there induction stove provides a touch of contemporary tech. Sliding doors are a prime pick for those who intend their interior decor and outside space to take centre stage, over architectural features.
5. Lighten the load
Slight metal frames give these sliding doors a delicate and unobtrusive appearance that’s in accordance with the clean lines of the kitchen. Slab-front cabinets and hypnotically veined marble benchtops create an understated cook space. An engineered-oak herringbone floor warms up the subtle grey and white scheme and meshes effortlessly with the room’s other naturalistic elements, including the leafy trees seen through the matching roof glazing.
See more sunny skylights
Slight metal frames give these sliding doors a delicate and unobtrusive appearance that’s in accordance with the clean lines of the kitchen. Slab-front cabinets and hypnotically veined marble benchtops create an understated cook space. An engineered-oak herringbone floor warms up the subtle grey and white scheme and meshes effortlessly with the room’s other naturalistic elements, including the leafy trees seen through the matching roof glazing.
See more sunny skylights
6. Take a cue from nature
This ethereal extension is part of a barn conversion. Rather than mirror the profile of the existing building, the new addition has been designed to sit to the side of the barn’s steeply pitched roof, iridescent in glass. With the garden visible on three sides, it’s easy inspiration for a calm colour scheme using elements of wood and hints of mauve.
This ethereal extension is part of a barn conversion. Rather than mirror the profile of the existing building, the new addition has been designed to sit to the side of the barn’s steeply pitched roof, iridescent in glass. With the garden visible on three sides, it’s easy inspiration for a calm colour scheme using elements of wood and hints of mauve.
7. Dig deep
Two pairs of sliding doors are set below ground level in this handsome Oxfordshire home, ensuring the interior is flooded with light. Tactile travertine flooring inside is matched with a coordinating exterior design for a seamless convergence. The green roof improves the build’s eco credentials, as well as providing a pretty patchwork to look upon from upper-floor windows.
Two pairs of sliding doors are set below ground level in this handsome Oxfordshire home, ensuring the interior is flooded with light. Tactile travertine flooring inside is matched with a coordinating exterior design for a seamless convergence. The green roof improves the build’s eco credentials, as well as providing a pretty patchwork to look upon from upper-floor windows.
8. Double up on dining spots
Although designed for all seasons, the convenience of ready-to-go alfresco dining is undeniable when dealing with the unpredictable authumn weather. Here, with the sliding doors opened up, the outdoor dining area is seamlessly linked to the kitchen for easy entertaining.
The muted mix of modern smoked-oak and cappuccino-coloured cabinets allows the verdant garden to really pop, while a gleaming glass splashback reflects extra light.
Eat out in a kitchen garden this autumn
Although designed for all seasons, the convenience of ready-to-go alfresco dining is undeniable when dealing with the unpredictable authumn weather. Here, with the sliding doors opened up, the outdoor dining area is seamlessly linked to the kitchen for easy entertaining.
The muted mix of modern smoked-oak and cappuccino-coloured cabinets allows the verdant garden to really pop, while a gleaming glass splashback reflects extra light.
Eat out in a kitchen garden this autumn
9. Think clearly
Making alterations to heritage listed buildings can be a long and arduous process, but a glass-box extension can present an unexpected but effective method of modernising, because, counterintuitive as it may seem, planning authorities often favour this approach. In this cottage setting, the glass extension didn’t impact on the original building, and sliding doors were chosen to allow easy access to the patio.
Making alterations to heritage listed buildings can be a long and arduous process, but a glass-box extension can present an unexpected but effective method of modernising, because, counterintuitive as it may seem, planning authorities often favour this approach. In this cottage setting, the glass extension didn’t impact on the original building, and sliding doors were chosen to allow easy access to the patio.
10. Try high contrast
This minimalistic kitchen extension juxtaposes a cool, close-to-clinical interior with warm and tactile cedar cladding. The polished-concrete floor transitions seamlessly to exterior paving, and Sky-Frame doors provide uninterrupted views of the garden from all angles.
Tell us
What kind of doors would you add to your kitchen extension and why? Tell us in the Comments below.
More
Take a tour of other interesting homes
This minimalistic kitchen extension juxtaposes a cool, close-to-clinical interior with warm and tactile cedar cladding. The polished-concrete floor transitions seamlessly to exterior paving, and Sky-Frame doors provide uninterrupted views of the garden from all angles.
Tell us
What kind of doors would you add to your kitchen extension and why? Tell us in the Comments below.
More
Take a tour of other interesting homes
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Turn an ordinary room into a modern, bright, living environment with the introduction of bi-folding doors and windows, within seconds a room can be transformed to create an impressive space to entertain or a place to simply relax with friends & family. Opening with ease, in mere seconds, they will enhance your lifestyle by offering unobstructed panoramic views and access to the garden, making them irreplaceable! Take a look at what our sister company Montpelier Joinery Ltd have to offer www.montpelierjoinery.com.