Alex Reinders
First impressions count but the way you live inside your home is just as important. Working to design the best layout of living spaces—and the transition between them—is part of the fun when planning a new build or renovation. Once reserved only for exterior applications, steel door frames are working their way into all areas of our homes to create zones for living, dining and entertaining without visually closing off space. This emerging trend in homes makes a seamless transition from indoors to outside spaces, while custom-made internal steel-framed doors are being installed as part of a fully resolved aesthetic to create spaces that are at once graceful and relaxed. Read on to explore seven homes where steel frame doors have elevated the design – giving a clear view of how to achieve the look.
Layered textures
Described by interior designer Emma Macindoe as “a relaxed take on a greenhouse”, this dining space opens to the outdoors via steel doors designed by interior designer Emma Macindoe and supplied by Planbuilt. A polished plaster finish on the walls, together with parquetry floors and a timber ceiling all soften the look and offer a subtle textural interplay.
Show-stopping style
The former home of Sam and Snezana Wood heroed steel frame doors at every turn. Sam and Snezana enlisted the help of architectural firm Castley McCrimmon to realise the potential of the property – a pretty Victorian-era house with soaring ceilings and original architectural features, punctuated by arched steel windows and floor-to-ceiling steel doors.
The beachy ease of homeowners Lou and Kev’s escape, shared with their teenagers Archie, Olive and Millie, reflects its coastal neighbourhood on Sydney’s northern beaches.
When mists roll through the grounds of Orchard Cottage, the fireside beckons. Radiating warmth and cosiness, the textures and tones of this space fall in line with Carol’s commitment to a modern-classic design and Alpine-inspired architecture. “At my core, I love neutral hues and homey spaces filled with beautiful, unique finishes and furnishings,” she shares.
When their attention turned to renovating their 1980s home three years ago, architect Alex Stewart created a space that showcases the outdoors from every turn. The vaulted ceiling in the living room is a nod to country barns without being overtly rustic, while the window above the sliding doors lets afternoon light stream in and puts Amber’s ponies in the frame. For similar armchairs, try the Amsterdam sofa chair from Xavier Furniture, while the Le Mans pendant light from Hamptons Home evokes the timeless style seen here.
“The steel doors are probably my favourite feature in the house,”
Christine, homeowner
Ingredients
European oak flooring, try Royal Oak Floors
Timber coffee table, Globe West
Floor-to-ceiling steel doors, Steel Window Co
Inviting textural sofa (custom-made), Edgeworks Upholstery
Handwoven rug, Bayliss Rugs
Method
1. Begin with a restrained palette on the walls and a neutral flooring choice of classic timber floorboards to bring warmth into a contemporary space
2. Make a statement with a custom set of steel-framed doors that allow for uninterrupted sightlines between spaces, the enjoyment of artworks in both rooms and the added bonus of heat retention
3. Introduce key furnishings in soft, fully upholstered textures to layer in colour and warmth – to the eye and the touch. Woollen fabrics in sofas, handwoven rugs in natural fibres.
4. Reflect timbers and other materials such as metal legs in occasional furnishings such as the coffee table and bench seat in the entrance.
“I’ve always admired them in other homes and wanted to incorporate them here. They bring in the light, yet allow you to close off the room when needed.”
Christine, homeowner
Room recipe: a classic Hamptons outdoor room
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