New-age doors with no frames

Today, doors have left behind their frames so that they can blend in seamlessly with the surroundings. Parushni Aggarwal sheds some light on these stunning, contemporary design elements.

Modern doors provide homeowners the opportunity to make an individual statement with the entryway to their homes. Currently, doors have become a personal signature, that can express the unique character and style of those who live in it. They have moved away from being a pleasant-looking entrance to a true feature that not only complements the home decor, but stands out as an
element in its own right.

People are looking for modern, chic, contemporary door styles these days.  Catering to these features perfectly is a frameless door. These ingenious doors are highly recommended by architects and interior decorators for all styles of homes.

As the name suggests, frameless doors have no outer framework. This lack of framing makes any space look bigger. They have myriad advantages. Apart from making an uber-stylish style statement, they are strong, safe, secure and maintain the aesthetic appeal of your living space.

Frameless doors made of glass are both, durable and functional. These cutting-edge doors can be manufactured to fit any space perfectly and can be customised to your exact specifications. If you are looking to add class and elegance to your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or to a room that leads outside, then a frameless glass door is your ideal choice. Frameless doors are also known for their safety factor. As they are made of a thicker, tempered glass, durability is guaranteed.

Some of the options available in the market currently include clear glass doors, coloured glass doors, patterned glass doors and frosted glass doors. Semi-frameless enclosures that are bypass, bi-fold and pivot are also available. Bypass doors, also known as sliding doors, slide back and forth to allow entry to the space. Bi-fold doors also slide, but are made of more than one glass panel and fold at least once as they move. Pivot doors open like an ordinary door on a hinge. Frameless enclosures with bypass or bi-fold doors may be best for smaller spaces where there is less room to swing a door open. With such a wide selection to choose from, you can easily find the perfect look for your space.

See through the beauty

Frameless glass sliding doors are both, sleek and modern. When installed along the exteriors of any property, these doors provide an unobstructed view of the great outdoors, even when closed. The same applies if they are used as dividers or
partitions between rooms. This is particularly useful and attractive if used to separate a kitchen from other parts of the house.

Whether you are building, renovating or just trying to find some extra living space, adequate storage facilities will always increase the value of your home. Thus, you can also personalise your open or wall-fitted wardrobes with frameless sliding doors. It can be a bold design statement that is both, elegant and functional.

Frameless doors have also replaced those age-old aluminium-framed doors in the bathrooms. The aluminium frames aren’t just unsightly; they also pit and
corrode over time, creating rough places that can cause injuries and hard-to-clean spots. Frameless shower doors, on the other hand, eliminate any kind of frame usage.

Instead, thick glass panels are fixed to support the track and header, while the sliding or swinging glass panel provides the opening. Silicone gel is used to treat and seal the glass edges. This creates an ultra-smooth surface and also provides a water-tight seal where the door meets the fixed panel.

If you have a tub or shower in a unique or unusual design, you can invest in a
customised frameless shower door. Choose from square, rectangle or even octagonal-shaped doors . You’ll be amazed at what a huge difference frameless doors can make to the appearance of your bathroom.

Things to keep in mind
lInstallation of a frameless door is a fine art with extremely small chances for any mistake. While providing a leakproof glass enclosure, even the slightest error could result in gummy caulking and ugly gaskets. Hence, it is not recommended for DIY projects. Also, the slightest chip in the safety glass can cause it to shatter, leaving you with a very expensive mess to clean.

To keep your glass free of potentially damaging water spots, use a squeegee on a daily basis. It is the simplest and fastest way to avoid water spots and mineral deposit build-up on doors.

Using a surface protector, such as Rain-X, to protect your door is highly recommended. A surface protector can repel water off the glass, but is not intended to replace the use of a squeegee.

Non-ammonia glass cleaners can be used for the hardware on the glass as it is the only cleaner that is safe to use on hardware. Remember, ammonia can damage your hardware over time.

(The author is owner and creative director at Studio Creo)