When Alison and husband, Mike, decided to create an open-plan living space, Origin folding sliding doors gave them the character filled space they wanted.
The couple had lived in their family home for over twenty years, and had always wanted to create a spacious and comfortable living space, with light filled rooms and easy access to the garden.
Having seen and heard about bi-folding doors on home renovating programmes, the couple quickly realised that adding bi-folding doors would be able to make this dream a reality and knew that this was the solution for them.
They knew that bi-folding doors would make better use of the living space in comparison to the sliding patio doors that were currently in place, and loved the fact that they were able to create a seamless link between the inside and out.
Being a structural engineer meant that Mike was already aware of the key benefits associated with aluminium bi-folding doors (durability, thermal efficiency and low maintenance), so decided that this was the optimum material to go for.
After a personal recommendation from close friends, Alison and Mike quickly got in touch with Origin, a leading UK manufacturer of bespoke aluminium bi-folding doors, meaning that the choice of picking a manufacturer an easy one.
Looking at the different styles, colours and options available, Alison quickly made up her mind of what she wanted and booked the installation. She loved the fact that Origin manufactures everything in its UK factory, so they have complete control over the quality of the product and that she was able to customise her doors, even down to the colour of the hinges.
Alison and Mike specified a five door set for the lounge, a three door set for the dining area and an additional three door set for one of their son’s bedrooms. All aluminium bi-folds were finished with dark silver powder coat to promote a modern fresh look throughout the home.
The five door set was fitted into an aperture of 5080mm with each door leaf measuring 969mm wide by a standard height of approximately 1971mm.
The three door set for the dining area was fitted into an aperture of 3290mm with each door leaf measuring 1047mm wide by a standard height of approximately 1986mm.
As you enter the lounge and dining area, you cannot fail to notice the abundance of natural light that fills the open-planned room, helping create a relaxed living space with a seamless transition into the garden.
“Opening up our space has also reduced our heating bills,” remarks Alison. “The doors are so thermally efficient, so much so that we no longer require the additional radiators we had installed a few years ago.” The new Origin doors completely blocked the draft the previous doors let in, and more importantly, they kept the cold out and heat in.
Design accents such as the wooden floors, cream carpets and soft period features, teamed with modern functional pieces against a back drop of painted white walls, have since been put in by Alison to create a bright, modern room where the family spend time eating, relaxing and socialising together. “It’s the best room in the house,” says Alison. “We’re in here all the time.”
A final three door set was situated in the ground floor bedroom, completing the integrated look with the outside garden. The bedroom is very bright and open spaced, with a three door set fitting into an aperture of 2400mm with each door leaf measuring 751mm wide by a standard height of approximately 2016mm.
As soon as the Origin doors were in, Mike was even heard saying “My goodness, we should have done this years ago!” She says that when friends and family members come round, they always complement the doors and are treated to a full demonstration of the doors and blinds.
With the successful installation of the doors, Alison and Mike had made-to-measure blinds, also from Origin, in Bali linen, to fit the exact specification of the doors. Origin’s bespoke electric roller blinds are discreetly tucked away in a colour-matched cassette within the reveal of the door, so they compliment the sleek design without adding thickness to the frames.
The bi-fold renovations started in May 2013 and were manufactured and delivered in 11 days and took around two months to complete, and it is true to say that the new doors have changed the family’s life. The once cold rooms with outdated patio doors have now been replaced, allowing the streamlined design of the doors to subtly co-ordinate with the interior, creating an open-plan living space and connecting the garden to the house.
