Smart Shopper
Windows and doors.
Abeautiful window or door does more than provide access or let in a breeze – it can boost your indoor-outdoor connection, frame a view and even reduce your home’s overall energy consumption.
Windows, in particular, have undergone a serious upgrade in recent years. “Many people don’t realise how impressive they have become,” says Victoria-based architect Rebecca Naughtin. “And we’re talking more than just energy efficiency; the latest highperformance windows can help regulate noise, provide security and privacy, and even minimise cleaning time.”
Doors, meanwhile, have moved beyond the purely functional, and are making a bold visual statement in contemporary homes – think interior doors clad in exotic wood veneers and super-sized pivoting front doors with surfaces in metal, concrete, terracotta and stone.
“Architects and interior designers are increasingly using personalised designs in doors to make them as much installation art as a functional piece,” says Kris Torma, managing director at Axolotl. “Nickel is trending right now
– it has a warm, grey hue and isn’t as bold as bronze or copper.”
Our passion for a seamless indooroutdoor flow and uninterrupted views has resulted in ever-larger windows and exterior doors. “Architects are removing more wall space and designing larger glass panels that go from floor to ceiling and span the full width of an opening, which can be up to 4.5m wide by 2.6m high,” says Michael Canturi, director at Vitrocsa Australia. “They’re loving huge panel sizes, minimal frames, and flexibility in design and configuration.”
Christine Evans, director of marketing at Stegbar, concurs, adding: “While bifolds are still popular and allow
a greater opening, we’re seeing more sliding and stacking doors because they’re streamlined and easy to operate. Cavity stacking options, which disappear into a wall cavity, are also appealing.”
Versatility is key: the latest windows tilt and turn, wrap around room corners and offer multiple opening options, while external doors slide around corners, can be opened from left or right, or lift up and disappear from view altogether. According to Evans, other window styles gaining traction include louvres, which are great for air flow, and sashless windows that feature two frameless, moving panels of glass for an unobstructed view.
Automation is making window control easier than ever, especially in hard-toreach spots. “Powered louvre, awning and casement windows can be opened or closed using a switch on the wall or an app on your phone, providing a cleaner, more streamlined look,” says Athina Solomou, marketing director at Trend Windows & Doors.
Frame styles are embracing both ends of the spectrum. “Minimalist window frames and tracks, which blur the lines between inside and out, are trending,” says Naughtin. At the same time, Evans reports a surge in the popularity of bold profiles and chunky frames. Choose from timber frames, which have a warm, natural appeal; low-maintenance aluminium styles; and composite frames, which combine wood (inside) and aluminium (outside). Or opt for black steel, with a refined industrial feel.
While vast swathes of glass might be perfect for capturing light and views, poorly chosen or fitted windows can add significantly to your heating and cooling costs. According to the government’s
Your Home website, up to 40 per cent of heat energy can be lost through windows.
To compare the latest energy-savvy designs, it helps to understand U values. These measure how well windows retain heat in winter and keep heat out in summer; the lower the U value, the better the performance. “New developments include soft-coat low-E [low emissivity] as part of double- or triple-glazed panes, with wide air gaps that help lower U-values and increase energy efficiency,” says Tony Paarhammer of Paarhammer Windows & Doors. “The latest product is sun-activated tinted glass that automatically increases shading and lowers energy consumption.”
Doors and windows don’t come cheap, so you’ll want to allocate a decent portion of your renovation or build budget – about 5 to 7.5 per cent – from the get-go. The end result will be well worth it.