Architecture
What's Your Garage Door Style?
Garage doors may have once been an afterthought in home design, but no longer! Here's how to make them a worthy addition to the facade
A front door has always been a standout piece in a home, but why has the garage door often been overlooked? After all, it’s bigger and bolder than almost anything else on the house. Once a functional but unexciting element, the garage door has now found its feet, thanks to a range of new materials and technological advances. So, stop ignoring this big, beautiful structure – here are some great examples that treat the garage door as a work of art.
2. Designer lines
Simple but beautifully executed, this contemporary home with an eye-catching garage door, designed by Swell Homes in Perth, has a real modernist edge. While the orange strip is hard to miss, the garage itself has a real ‘wow factor’, utilising stacked rectangles that embrace both Japanese design and Mid-century Modern sensibility.
Simple but beautifully executed, this contemporary home with an eye-catching garage door, designed by Swell Homes in Perth, has a real modernist edge. While the orange strip is hard to miss, the garage itself has a real ‘wow factor’, utilising stacked rectangles that embrace both Japanese design and Mid-century Modern sensibility.
3. Long-lasting materials
Technology has come a long way when it comes to garage doors. Doors can now be powder coated to resemble the look of natural wood. This alternative is a real cost saver and you don’t need to worry about deterioration, even in a coastal area.
Technology has come a long way when it comes to garage doors. Doors can now be powder coated to resemble the look of natural wood. This alternative is a real cost saver and you don’t need to worry about deterioration, even in a coastal area.
4. Mixing different eras
Designed by Bagnato Architects, this converted church and extension mixes past and present. For continuity, the two sections utilise angled rooflines, and while the box-like garage has a dark, understated effect, it is still a significant part of the design and is framed by two statement lights. The tones of white, metal and charcoal pop up on both sections of the house, creating an almost ethereal effect.
Designed by Bagnato Architects, this converted church and extension mixes past and present. For continuity, the two sections utilise angled rooflines, and while the box-like garage has a dark, understated effect, it is still a significant part of the design and is framed by two statement lights. The tones of white, metal and charcoal pop up on both sections of the house, creating an almost ethereal effect.
5. Natural continuity
Some of the most attractive garage doors don’t look like garage doors at all. Instead, they appear like an extension of the building itself. This house is a typical example – the garage is virtually cut into the property, providing a seamless effect. As a finishing touch, the golden-brown timber adds warmth and texture to the residence.
Some of the most attractive garage doors don’t look like garage doors at all. Instead, they appear like an extension of the building itself. This house is a typical example – the garage is virtually cut into the property, providing a seamless effect. As a finishing touch, the golden-brown timber adds warmth and texture to the residence.
6. Sharp detail
While the colour palette of this house by Bayview Design Group has a muted effect, it’s the sharp lines, particularly in the garage door panels, that add visual impact. Also known as a sectional garage door, it utilises heavy-duty Symonite (aluminium composite cladding) in ‘Altnum Bronze’ that’s long-lasting and easy to clean.
While the colour palette of this house by Bayview Design Group has a muted effect, it’s the sharp lines, particularly in the garage door panels, that add visual impact. Also known as a sectional garage door, it utilises heavy-duty Symonite (aluminium composite cladding) in ‘Altnum Bronze’ that’s long-lasting and easy to clean.
7. Mid-century Modern style
The low-lying design of this home signals Mid-century Modern chic and utilises retro Besser Blocks for a touch of fun and whimsy. To complete the look, the bright, breezy garage door takes centrestage. And, unlike the olden days when cleaning was a real chore, this pristine garage door utilises modern materials that make it durable and easy to clean.
The low-lying design of this home signals Mid-century Modern chic and utilises retro Besser Blocks for a touch of fun and whimsy. To complete the look, the bright, breezy garage door takes centrestage. And, unlike the olden days when cleaning was a real chore, this pristine garage door utilises modern materials that make it durable and easy to clean.
8. Sculptural door
A nod to the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this garage door is almost too stunning to be opened and hidden. Fortunately, the opaque-glass unit provides plenty of light inside the garage during the day. Turning a garage door into a sculptural work of art involves passion and fearlessness, but this feature is mimicked in various forms throughout this property.
A nod to the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this garage door is almost too stunning to be opened and hidden. Fortunately, the opaque-glass unit provides plenty of light inside the garage during the day. Turning a garage door into a sculptural work of art involves passion and fearlessness, but this feature is mimicked in various forms throughout this property.
9. Standout material
A timber garage door adds real impact to this otherwise minimalist box-style house. Evoking a warm tropical feel, the door’s thin wooden slats pay homage to a bamboo fence. As a bonus, the honeyed tones of the timber soften the stark grey and white exterior.
A timber garage door adds real impact to this otherwise minimalist box-style house. Evoking a warm tropical feel, the door’s thin wooden slats pay homage to a bamboo fence. As a bonus, the honeyed tones of the timber soften the stark grey and white exterior.
10. Introducing panels
A lovely example of traditional style, this durable steel garage door, in a series of long panels, complements the house’s floor-to-ceiling windows. While similar garage units can include built-in windows along the top of the door, this would have looked cluttered in this home. As many designers point out, less is more.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
What’s your garage door style? Share a photo of your great designs and don’t forget to tell us which of the doors above you love the most.
MORE
5 Garages That Dare You to Dream
Weekend Project: Easy Ways to Organise Your Garage
It’s Time to Address Your House Number
A lovely example of traditional style, this durable steel garage door, in a series of long panels, complements the house’s floor-to-ceiling windows. While similar garage units can include built-in windows along the top of the door, this would have looked cluttered in this home. As many designers point out, less is more.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
What’s your garage door style? Share a photo of your great designs and don’t forget to tell us which of the doors above you love the most.
MORE
5 Garages That Dare You to Dream
Weekend Project: Easy Ways to Organise Your Garage
It’s Time to Address Your House Number
Take a peek at this stylish beach ‘shack’ on Sydney’s northern beaches. It’s quite tricky to make a solid garage door work with the cruisy beach style. But the designers at Mackenzie Pronk Architects, having pulled it off here. The timberwork evokes a casual look – on both the garage door and the first-floor screen. In fact, the garage door is quite disguised within the large wall of timber screen that turns this house into a warm and intriguing property.