Drama and Impact: The Rise of Scenic Doors

The term “scenic doors” is being used a lot in the world of building and remodeling. What do you think of when you hear those words? 

You're really talking about doors that allow you to bring the outside in and the inside out. The growing trend is the desire to have more open space, more access to the light and scenery from the outside. Windows have gotten bigger. Doors have gotten bigger. And architects have figured out a way to really open up entire walls to create a unique living experience that wasn’t always available in the past. 

It seems like scenic doors have an almost emotional impact on homebuyers. Why do you think that is? Is it about the architecture or design?

In my mind the architectural aspect of it is a means to an end. And the end is really the view. You want your doors to frame the view, and that’s the rationale. If you can get the doors to contribute architecturally to your sightlines, that's where the emotional wow factor comes into play.

Do you see that kind of reaction extending out to other products or materials?

I do. Marvin Skycove^®, Skylight and Awaken^® Skylight really touch on that as well. They’ve been increasing year over year. Getting yourself closer to or having a direct line of sight to the outdoors has become much more common. 

Some of this reflects changes in home architecture. Ceiling heights have grown over the years. I think 75% of homes will now have ceiling heights of nine feet or above. Of course, eight feet was the standard for many years. As ceiling heights grow your windows and doors should grow with them. Home buyers and homeowners are appreciative of that.

Do you see the role of the home itself changing for today’s customer? 

I really think it's more of a philosophical change. There’s a greater focus on happier, healthier living that allows us to think about these things and come up with ways of answering that question. Since the pandemic, we are simply thinking differently about our homes, and I think this is going to be a shift that is going to play out for a long time. 

People are spending more time in their homes and using their homes for more than just sleeping, changing clothes, or getting a quick meal.  Things like scenic doors are no longer simply a luxury. They connect with people in a way they probably didn’t five or six years ago. And that’s part of the Marvin mission – to help people make space for what matters most by building quality, beauty, and simplicity into their everyday lives.

For a long time, it seemed like homeowners had two distinct choices when it came to doors –hinged and sliding. From a product design perspective, that’s changed a bit, hasn’t it? 

Yes. No question. Our Elevate Bi-Fold door has components of both. It’s a multi-panel door, but for easy access one panel swings open. When you want to clear the other panels away and open up the space, they fold up neatly. 

Again, that's one of those larger, impactful products – but one that glides and stacks open so you can enjoy a scenic view and increased airflow into your home. It certainly has a statement impact to it, but the thinking behind it reflects why we’re in the business of scenic doors in the first place. You want products that look great and perform. That’s why people choose Marvin.

Scenic doors are now available for a wide range of home styles now, aren’t they?  

Absolutely. At Marvin, we made sure the Elevate Bi-Fold door wasn’t just for luxury custom homes. It makes perfect sense in those projects that are a little more mid-market and in remodeling applications as well.