Heritage windows and doors restore an Orford School house

Heritage windows and doors

A stunning installation of heritage doors and windows in an Orford home, including external windows, French doors, bay windows and floor to ceiling fixed glazing.

We were asked by our customer to recommend and design window and door styles to restore their new home, formerly the village school, to its original character. Previous owners had undermined the building’s charm with unsympathetic alterations, including poorly designed plastic windows and doors. Research revealed that the school originally featured steel Crittall windows, which inspired us to specify our slim-framed, heritage-style Aluco range. A black finish was chosen to add a subtle contemporary twist.

The property is in the picturesque village of Orford and, given its location, the new windows needed to not only look great but also provide protection from the elements, namely the North Sea. As detailed in the specifications below, our Aluco collection met this brief perfectly with beautiful design and exceptional performance, particularly the marine-grade finish on the aluminium frames.

Referred to us by Aluco, the supplier of our steel look windows and doors, Mr & Mrs Grant met with Edward at the property, and then popped in to our Woodbridge Showroom in Notcutts Garden Centre, where they could see and feel the design and quality for themselves. We were thrilled they decided to work with us on their project.

Black Art-Deco Bay Windows

A beautiful feature of this property is the traditional bay window, with red brick pillars either side and wonderful character in the detailing above.

Our made to measure narrow steel frames inset into the openings perfectly, subtly complimenting the brick and giving an architectural feel.

On the inside, Mr & Mrs Grant opted for top openers on all sides, offering plenty of ventilation in the warmer months. Even with an opening sash, the site lines remain narrow and sleek, flooding light and views of the garden into the dining room.

Art-Deco Doors and Fixed Glazing

Perfectly combining traditional with contemporary is the tastefully vibrant kitchen area. Here our team expertly installed steel look black Aluco patio doors with side panels, creating an impressive wall of glass with views of the outside spaces. They too feature slim glazing bars that beautifully frame the garden whilst ensuring light fills the room, along with Art Deco handles. A popular feature is how they open outwards and sit flush against the glazed panels either side.

At the end of the kitchen is a fixed window, providing light from floor to ceiling and allowing the design to flow around the corner of the room.

Combining privacy with light – obscured glass windows

Adding to the stylishly striking monochrome feel in the bathroom, our slim framed outward opening window compliments the traditional checkerboard floor.

Here obscured glass creates privacy, distorting any view through the window, whilst allowing almost as much light through as clear glass. The sandblasted design chosen by Mr & Mrs Grant also adds to the contemporary look.

A single glazing bar provides a clean, sharp line through the centre of the window, and a trickle vent, colour coded to discreetly blend in with the top of the frame, allows for ventilation even with the window closed.