Windows & Doors

Consider the line between indoors and outdoors officially blurred in this home, thanks to an internal courtyard and wall size sliders

This new home optimises its heat-absorbing thermal mass in part via a sculptural north facing skylight window in the living area

When it comes to visitors, your front door is your first line of reception – a great way to make an impression, as exampled with this entry

This home with its prominent use of black steel and board-formed concrete walls has a semi-industrial vibe – why not a strong, simple front door to match?

This mid-level lounge opens up to its mountain and city views with wall size sliders – optimising the home's connection to nature

One way to refine shading/privacy options is to turn your thinking on its head – here, vertical blinds add flare as well as functionality

This sunken court complete with a sculptural olive tree acts as a light well – optimising daylight and, with sliders drawn back, ventilation

For this rather august rumpus room, giant doors facilitate cross ventilation in the hot Malaysian climate and let the furniture breath too

A large pivot wood front door opens from a wall of white stucco in this grand yet understated home – a material pairing continued throughout

This new home's front entry admits light as well as visitors – a wallpapered entry hall provides a refined welcome for the latter

Large overhangs and electronic slat actuator screens help to naturally cool, protect and expand the living quarters of this riverside home

No, no bouncer required, but rather this substantial pivot metal door swings open to a mountain home with a big difference

The front door to this home disappears into the wood work, literally – the access ramp is a clue to its whereabouts and even that looks a little like a drawbridge

A retracted sliding door connects this master bedroom to its own private terrace – the reward for stepping back the top level of the home

On a clear day you can see forever – but the minimalist Fairview Kazimir Stacking Door sliders seen on this beachhouse certainly help

This circular skylight captures views of the Mackenzie Aoraki Dark Sky Reserve and of the vast hazy skies where skylarks often circle overhead

This new home includes a forward box-like element that makes the most of the street and scenery – large windows naturally play their part

The skylight or clerestory window in this living pavilion is all about capturing the sun from its most effective direction – hence the one-way orientation

Crisp white windows and doors on this classic-look new home pop against the dark stained weatherboard cladding and timber decks 

An inverted pyramid roof allows this dynamic home to open up with clerestory windows, capturing mountain views that would otherwise be lost

Black window frames add to the modern aesthetic of this G.J. Gardner showhome, with cushions and furniture also picking up on the accent tone

Surprise reveal – it is only once you turn a corner and enter this home's living room that a tableau of the city, with the Auckland Sky Tower spiking up, emerges

Introducing just a single, double-glazed window on the south façade of this generally light-filled, modern home helps to combat heat loss

This home's solid front door and sculptural entry garden already have visitors expecting the best when that door swings open

Black steel sliders bring indoor-outdoor flow for this architect's own home – they also perfectly frame the verdant backyard outlook

A recalcitrant child might find that request a tricky one, given that this living space – with wall stackers rolling back – opens up to the outdoors and rolling hills

Santa Fe Shutters and Blinds' descriptor 'the shutter and blinds experts' is more than mere marketing, but rather a reflection of a 20-year journey with New Zealand homeowners

Only the handles really give the game away on these doors, subsumed as they are into the beautiful indigenous living room wallpaper

Shade, privacy, coolness, and winter warmth are the benefits of this operable screen fronting a unique eight storey home built in an industrial setting 

With wall-sized pocket sliders to left and right, cool breezes aren't a problem for this interior – part of a home that opens up to its canyon setting

This living/dining/kitchen features a wall of windows stretching right up to the gabled roof line – a deep roof overhang mitigates solar gain

Living spaces extend beyond this home's build envelope with giant glass sliders gliding away to make the modern indoor and outdoor living spaces one

Simple, clever design gave this house a spacious feel on the inside – part of this is the giant sliders that open up to the sprawling deck and scenery beyond

While here, a plethora of windows bring out the soul of this light-filled modern ranch house that shines like a welcoming lantern at night

As well as expansive outdoor living, this home's generous clerestory windows makes even the interiors feel at one with the landscape

Wood is widely celebrated in this home with a Japanese influence, timber window/door frames included – perhaps an echo of shōji screens

In this beachfront  home, the master suite pavilion and living pavilion share similar walls of glass – both extending up to the gabled roof forms 

This home office, part of a new rounded bedroom wing extension, has sliders that open it up to embrace the beautiful rural surroundings

20 times more efficient than your home, the haus.me Autonomous Off-the-Grid Smart House makes the most of its window walls on two sides

This home's expansive glazing embraces its natural setting at every turn – the master bedroom's floor to-ceiling windows are a clear example

Want to draw attention to your double height entry? Introduce an architectural feature that accentuates its lofty nature – in this case, an elongated window

Indoor-outdoor flow goes next level in this home where a sunken living room off the open dining space opens to the back patio and garden

Okay, no prizes for guessing – if you want a punch of colour on your exterior, why not make it earn its keep as a hard-to-miss wayfinder?

When the scenery is wild and so is the weather, a sheltered internal courtyard with through-room vistas to the landscape makes good sense

Passive control over your indoor spaces saves energy and makes your home greener. Energy efficiency was part of the brief for this home, with louvre windows, angled battens and fans (out of shot) all contributing

With a pitch black, cave-like interior, the home's windows naturally draw your eye to the colourful sea and land outlooks that by contrast shine all the brighter

The windows on this home perform double duty. The glass curtain window wall maximises views from the interior, and opens up the home from the outside 

Exterior doors on both sides of this kitchen can be pulled back to connect with the private pool courtyard on one side and spectacular sea views on the other 

Perched on a cliff, this home is ideally situated to enjoy spectacular views. However, the limited building footprint brought with it challenges of meeting a brief for a much larger site

Largely uninterrupted walls of glass ensure optimum connection to the verdant rural surroundings in this home by O’Neil Architecture, with interiors by Lume Design. Structural steel supports are disguised amongst the window fenestrations.

The living area in this family home by architect Tim Alt is a transparent structure inserted between the parents’ and the children’s wings. It looks out to the front yard on one side and a beautiful lake on the other.

Not every window makes a rectangle. This feature window echoes and accentuates the gable form of the living room wing it serves

Not sure how to clad your home? One effective way forward is to take local inspiration. This mountain home boasts geometric and angled larch rain screen upper cladding that references the site's many Kanuka trees

Whether it’s for more light with privacy, or you just want that particular angle of the sun across your kitchen or coffee table, clerestory windows are an unobtrusive way to go

Living areas on the first floor of this Mid-century Modern-inspired home sit in a light-filled, largely transparent volume. Windows wrap the house, allowing open and controlled views to the exterior tree-lined streets

When it comes to lighting your kitchen and your interior, one option is to let the architecture do the talking. On this home, a clerestory window runs the length of the building, bringing in natural light to all areas.

Interesting and varied window shapes, a facade that steps in and out, and cladding in Turkish marble, white plaster and bronze fins all combine to make this home visually appealing while also downplaying its size

Not everything that slides is made of glass. This home’s three mid-level bedrooms feature the same cedar sliders as the top public level – contributing to the natural aesthetic. 

A rear glass wall panel slides open to let this home’s open-plan living spaces connect with the rear deck, the pool, and seating area. All windows and glass doors are double-glazed in the exposed yet cosy home.

The shortest distance between letterbox and front door is best. Or is it? On this home zig zag steps provide visual interest and make the approach easier for older people. The steps have insets that imply floating stairs – breaking them down visually and allowing for concealed strip lighting under each tread.

If there are great views from your property, there’s nothing better than enjoying them as soon as you wake up. Large sliding glass panels to the front and side of this guest bedroom not only maximise views, they also increase natural ventilation.

A small basic house previously divided into two small flats is totally transformed into a contemporary inner-city townhouse

Sophisticated apartment interior also has a relaxed beachfront vibe in keeping with the seaside setting

An industrial modern home for a family of eight cleverly caters for everyone to be together or in their own individualistic spaces

A glass partition wall between living and media rooms creates separate spaces but celebrates the rooms' combined volume in visual terms

Here is a golden arch that's really worth waking up for – this NY penthouse bedroom has a uniquely framed perspective on Manhattan

This home takes indoor-outdoor flow to the next level with a wall-sized sliding door that glides right back beyond the envelope of the home

Classic never goes out of style for a reason – this first-floor drawing room features large, romantic French doors opening onto a balcony

Hidden in a sea of Lume Green wall tiles, the green entry door to this bathroom has a classic grooved finish, more often seen on exterior doors 

Elegant black fenestrations on the back door to the rear of this kitchen elevate it from utilitarian to eye-catching 

Want a sense of separation and connection between kitchen and dining? This internal 'window' offers one design solution

This reworked ground floor family room has a new central window – all the better to take in the refurbished family pool environment

The window you have when you're not having a window – frosted glass turns a public window into a private ambience for this bathroom

Compartmentalising space without losing light or a sense of spaciousness is made possible here with an operable slat wall

This renovated home includes a modern mesh screen over the new addition – on the interior, this creates options over privacy and temperature

Kitchen to al fresco dining is a breeze with this bi-fold servery window at the ready – it also leaves no excuse for melted ice at that garden party

This reinvented, artist-owned home maximises natural light from skylights in the new roof – a reeded glass divide admits light while maintaining separation

Without straying too far from its original charm, this home’s updated facade is enhanced by some modern notes – colourful front door welcome included

Remember when your back door was small and stuck when it was damp? Cut to today – this 'back door' opens up the interior to the outdoors

The use of sliding glass panels for this bedroom maintains the sense of the space's greater dimensions – a strategy carried through the wider interior

Or perhaps, in the case of this bedroom with a front row seat to the ocean it's the frameless glazing that creates the scenic drama

These mirrored windows reflect on the home's beautiful garden while maintaining privacy for the occupants of the bathroom extension

The existing roof structure was very low between trusses, so a decision was made to introduce a new roof and structure – exposed trusses and a unique clerestory window resulted

Ever wanted more from your bathroom window? At the press of a button, this 4m wide window disappears upward into a cavity while the lower section of privacy glass un-frosts for views to the ocean

These glass shutters provide air, natural light and also degrees of privacy – they are also manually operated – with the touch of a finger

This renovation sees a two-level modern addition to a classic home – so where did the master ensuite ended up? The classic windows are misleading but the views tell the tale

One minute this interior's bar area and accompanying seating are flying under the radar – next minute it's drinks and cushions all round 

The defining feature of this modest house is a curved glass courtyard corner accessed by sliders – the curve is echoed on an interior wall

A large central skylight informs the entry/living spaces of this home – as the sun travels over the skylight, the lighting atmosphere changes

At first glance there seems a privacy issue with this bathroom – however one way reflective glass means all passers by see are flowers

Love fresh air but equally your privacy? A tall louvred window fulfils both needs for this family bathroom, while also adding a chic accent

A substantial gate/door provides the courtyard entry to this reinvented home while wood-framed sliders connect indoors with out

Outdoors becomes indoors with the flick of a louvre switch for this al fresco conversation/dining space within serving distance of the kitchen

From warm wood welcome to access to handy ablutions with the touch of a slider – this hallway presents two faces, one for visitors calling and one for the call of nature

The warmth of pine is a feature of this renovation, seen here on the ceiling and skylight directly above a widened staircase – optimising natural light on the floor below

This outdoor living space was inspired by sleek, low-lying American West-Coast Modernism – the pavilion's skylights allow natural light to inform the al fresco space

Making an entrance need not stop at the floors and walls – here an artistic villa's reception skylight appears to capture koi in 'flight'

This study adjoins a formal living space but is separated by sliding glass door leaves – retracted here – giving the space privacy when needed

Once, a barn door would have been seen mainly on a barn, not so today with the chunky, rolling door style becoming a popular interior feature

Falling from a ceiling-high pelmet, well above the window frames, these drapes add elegance and also accentuate the height of the interiors

This renovation brings a second storey and a light filled stairway to get to it – courtesy of a series of skylights in the sloping roof above

Need natural light but not prying eyes? This contemporary bathroom features a frosted glass window which fulfils both requirements

This shower complete with uniform finger tiles leads the eye up to the sky, the illusion encouraged by a curvaceous skylight overhead

Fancy something a little different for your privacy screen, well how about an aged-brass hanging chain curtain – here separating shower/toilet and looking incredible

You can never have enough natural light and natural warmth – here, a triangular clerestory window achieves just that for this ancillary living space

This rear deck includes a sky hole which adds visual interest and solar penetration – part of a renovation tied to the character of the original home

A custom sculptural skylight looks down unblinkingly on the users of this otherwise windowless but now light-filled bathroom

A doll's house view of this reinvented kitchen space shows just how open to its environment it is, with black bifold doors bringing the outside in

For this renovation, the back of the house was re-imagined into one volume that stretched the width of the site – mirror-sided skylights add to the sense of space 

Entries to both the ensuite and walk-in wardrobe disappear into the floor-to-ceiling panelled woodwork in this reorganised master suite

Almost every room in this coastal home connects with the scenery – this bedroom has glass sliders trained on the living spaces with the blue of the ocean beyond

This bathroom's unusual layout comprises a central glassed entryway/shower stall, which also opens left and right to his and her spaces

Is it? Even with sliders pulled back, this kitchen is always sheltered by the enveloping architecture of its two-wing, central courtyard home

Stacker doors to the left, stacker doors to the right – this entertainment space opens up on both sides to become one with the outdoors

Wood cabinetry and steel frame doors with fluted glass bring a refined presence to this dressing space which also boasts a herringbone floor

This panoramic window becomes a panoramic splashback in a design that is all about optimising the New Zealand bush location

This study's vertical louvred window brings views, natural light and – with a touch of a lever – a cool breeze and scents of the garden

The flooring and ceiling of this outdoor room was designed to match the interior palette to create seamless indoor-outdoor flow. With the retraction of two substantial sets of stacker doors the space instantly doubles 

This kitchen balances a timeless look with modern functionality – accent features include the brand-new, yet classic look window fenestrations by Lepage

Part of an astute renovation is realising what has to stay – here, a circular bay window was retained and restored in the master bedroom

A dedicated servery window to the side of this kitchen means brunch arrives at your al fresco gathering warm and that ice-creams don't drip across floors

Standing within the glass walled shower enclosure, this perspective shows the glorious (and operable) glazed outlook for the occupants of this ensuite 

This kitchen includes a slatted side element that admits natural light into the back of the kitchen and the butler’s pantry – giant sliders stack back alongside

Oh contraire! Unless the ideas of filtered, diaphanous light and relaxed daytime privacy are also out of favour. A sheer wall has a different meaning in this bedroom

The days of 'shut that door, do we live in a tent?' are behind us and indoor-outdoor flow is the all – this renovated home brings the outdoors inside in style 

This new rear addition is home to contemporary entertainment spaces including a convenient kitchen servery window to the outdoors

Together with the curvaceous allure of the shower stall, this bathroom features a strip of light and breeze bringing louvres

Designer: "The Torrance Steel windows and doors were quite expensive. We felt they were an important investment, as they made the house elegant and distinct."

With this home's public spaces located upstairs to maximise sea views, it leaves the bedrooms just a sliding door away from sand and surf

Indoor/outdoor connection is all important in modern homes – these examples, from bifold doors to stacker sliders, are sure to inspire

The exterior of this home has been transformed with new skylights sensibly facing upwards to maximise natural light on the interior

This luxurious apartment soaks in the views and could potentially bake under the sun's rays, too – enter in-ceiling drop down blinds for total control

A double stacked door opens up master bedroom to master ensuite, saving space and introducing views of the garden beyond when the blinds are up

This ocean-facing master bedroom has a curtain-clad wall – for a soft aesthetic and to help with sound control in a space with hard floors 

Want to divide your spaces? Have you considered your soft options? A light curtain separates living and sleeping zones in this NY apartment

Post renovation, this cottage has many interesting design moments – such as this dedicated window seat that looks out to the rear garden 

Making the most of its setting, this interior opens up to the outlooks like a viewing platform – light-filled entertaining spaces are the result

A new kitchen occupies what was once a garage. The low ceiling was removed for drama while adding skylights turns things from dark to light

There's maximum flexibility from variable weather on this covered terrace, including concertina glass doors that can enclose the space 

How do you deal with privacy issues when your home is on a busy street? Fibreglass screens are the solution for the two large new windows on the second floor of this renovated inner-city home

This renovation could have lacked natural light. However with a roof section removed and a skylight in its place, the home takes on a light-filled air

Frosted glazing in this reinvented bathroom maximises natural light over the tub without compromising privacy

Windows that frame magnificent trees, extended canopy-like, cantilevered eaves, and fully pocketing glass exterior walls trained on wooded surrounds – this home lets you feel like you're in the great outdoors

Subject to a major makeover, this home is painted in the colours of a nearby forest. Much has been redesigned with only a central supporting wall and stair left on the ground floor

What started as a simple renovation of a workers cottage turned into a substantial, multi-year project. The results are impressive

This dramatic home has been transformed by design duo Cortney & Robert Novogratz – collectively The Novogratz. Here they also share some effective interior design shortcuts that informed the project

Designing in the clouds – this 418m² apartment on Manhattan's Billionaire's Row looks down on Central Park. The lavish interior design includes artworks, many bespoke, by celebrated artists together with exquisite settings, furnishings and furniture chosen by one of the top interior designers in the world

Shaped to an extent by governing zoning requirements, this family home has dramatic, flowing interiors that connect with the generous outdoor space 

Mid-Century Modern gets a new twist in this suburban home. The exterior boasts a strong composition while the interior features light-filled volumes 

You can't add space to an apartment – but could you make better use of the existing space? That's exactly the outcome for this clever rethink of an existing dated layout.

So you live next to the sea, but why not get closer? This renovation facilitates open connections to the water and also celebrates hand made

The entry to this home features serene shoji-like, dark-framed frosted glass doors, contrasting white walls and a wall sculpture by artist Don Service.

With extensive glazing and exterior materials running into the interior, this living space has the feel of an outdoor room. Above the fireplace, a bedroom wing is clad in the same cedar panels as the exterior. Concrete floors and steel elements also appear indoors and out

This kitchen/entertainment space is already generous – but wait, there's more. Large sliding glass panel doors will turn your indoor and outdoor areas into one large open flowing space

Babe Ruth once walked the floors of this apartment but it's unlikely he would recognise it now. A transformative interior design interwoven with exotic wall treatments and artworks has given this riverside eyrie a rich, opulent air

Take a classic log cabin and add a contemporary addition – on top! See how the architects approached this tricky renovation move. The outcome speaks for itself

After years of muddled renovations and ad hoc alterations, Bijl Architecture stepped in to overhaul this inter-war cottage

A classic sandstone cottage is opened up at the rear with a complementary yet contrasting extension in this light-bringing, sustainable renovation by Sanctum Design

Internal glazing at the entrance to this bedroom means that natural light can spill into the adjacent corridor. A curtain can be pulled across when privacy is required in the bedroom

Sitting behind this former shopfront facade is a new three-storey addition that prioritises sustainability and natural light 

On a compact suburb site, this extension to a 1920’s bungalow seeks to provide new north-facing living space and a master 'retreat' area to a landscaped courtyard.

When your windows need to maximise stunning outlooks, yet provide understated ventilation then the approach taken in this design might well be the best solution

There are many ways to accentuate a double-height space at entry, and this tall narrow entrance hall window does just that – with a side advantage of optimising natural light

We'll know if it rains. Or will we? Glass walls that draw back and operable louvres that admit sun but not rain create this flowing indoor-outdoor, all-weather environment

In this bathroom by Detail by Davinia Sutton, a tall frosted window has been placed to the side of the bath to bring ample natural light into the space

Introducing bathroom windows to an exterior wall at street level doesn’t need to be at the expense of privacy. Slender frosted glass windows in this master suite ensure privacy on what is the front of the home, while a skylight adds more natural light

The new living room of this renovated home is bookended by two bifold doors to create the most seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Click to find out more about this major makeover project

In pursuit of maximum natural light, this kitchen has unobtrusive clerestory windows on high

A contrasting element can throw as much attention on the predominant material as the accent – this rustic wooden door highlights and enriches the bathroom's predominating use of Carrara marble

Can you have too much natural light in a bathroom? Not really. Light from this window is balanced by a skylight at the other end of this reworked master bathroom

A long slot window in this shower stall allows the owners to take in the home’s dramatic water views beyond the bedroom or even just watch the television

A good window is an opening window. Well, not always. Here a fixed window brings light and views into this elegant master bathroom without adding another security point on the home

Classic drapes add to the elegant formality of this reinvented Victorian cottage. The designer's aim was to pay homage to a traditional grand home within a limited footprint

The beautiful curve of windows in this master suite extension more than does justice to the views beyond. Curved walls can be expensive – but check out how this look was achieved relatively economically here

Need more window space? Well don't stop at your wall plane. This window climbs the wall and turns up on the ceiling too

More than a window on the world, this pivot glass door in a cottage extension opens out to the garden. Get easy access to great ideas at the Trends Windows & Doors Hub

Drapes? Blinds? Drapes? Blinds? This master ensuite includes a window that turns to frosted and back to clear with the push of a button

Stacker doors open up the living zone of this extension by Studio Prineas to the rear yard and outdoor dining area.

Large sliding glass panel doors will turn your indoor and outdoor areas into one large open flowing space. 

For this 5th Avenue apartment turned modern home, the use of sliding glass panels maintains the sense of the interior's greater dimensions 

This sustainably minded two storey extension includes deep eaves for sun-shading, air flow, and seamless indoor/outdoor living

A modernising redesign at the rear of this traditional house opens it up to a large covered deck, with steps down to a swimming pool

Along with a new guest house, this home has been comprehensively reinvented with only accents and the original floor slab retained. The new home boasts space, light and a character all its own

Following on from an upstairs rethink, this renovation opens up the ground floor of the home front-to-back with a deft reworking of the existing rear spaces

Ruby red brick and oh so pretty but if the ceilings are low and outdoor links limited then a solution is called for. Who would have thought removing a floor could add so much more?

This expansion offers material and aesthetic links to the existing home – but while a rear addition toes the line form-wise, the new front wing does not

Love that heritage building but unsure whether it could ever be fit for modern purpose? Constraints can bring out the best in architectural thinking as this elegant cottage transformation reflects

Okay, so you've got a row of skylights but how to share the resulting natural light through the home – well internal glass partitions offer one way

When choosing blinds for commercial premises, safety is as key as sun control and privacy. Luxaflex commercial blinds conform to the NZ Building Code's stringent fire regulations

Operable louvres turn a weatherproof roof into a window on the stars – all part of a thoughtfully designed home where the views and outdoor living spaces go on forever 

Set on high with stunning beach views, this home reflects a minimal, raw material palette which is echoed in the interior design. Italian and New Zealand signature pieces contribute to the elegant, relaxed ambience

This bathroom – part of the architect's own home that he also designed – serves as an ensuite, main bathroom and a guest bathroom. Modern and minimalist, it includes a secret entrance when used by guests