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22 | S P A C E S BY WENDY KING WIDE OPEN SPACES Top trends for windows and doors - Anders Brandstrom, owner of Green Brand Windows and Doors "A lot of people are wanting oversized eight-foot-tall and 42-inch-wide front doors." A re you ready for the happy feeling that comes with welcoming the spring sunshine and your favourite guests into your home? Anders Brandstrom, owner of Green Brand Windows and Doors (www.greenbrandsolutions.com), says you can make it happen with windows and doors that combine energy efficiency with big, bright beauty. Brandstrom points to the current trend in windows: a contemporary look with a high glass-to-frame ratio and few-to- no divided panes. "People see it in new homes going up in their neighbourhoods and they want that look for their older home," he says. Custom colour choices are unlimited. "I jokingly say that black is the new white in the window world," he says. "We would do 95 per cent white windows 10 years ago, and we're now doing a coloured product half the time — and the majority of that half is black or something similar." With eight colours to choose from, vinyl wraps are a cost- effective option for exteriors. Wood-look interior vinyl wraps boast zero-maintenance and a lifetime warranty. "We've put those in a lot of homes that have oak trim and customers are quite happy," he says. With industry improvements and innovations, his company is retro-fi ing more century-old homes with new windows that bring out character by mimicking the original windows. The trends for doors include functionality: multi-point lock systems are gaining traction. "It's a great system with one lever handle that engages three catches, locking it in three sections, and then a deadbolt to throw as well," he says. As for style options, it's choices, choices, choices. Brandstrom says people even bring in photos of what they want their door to look like. "Nine times out of 10," he says, "we can build that for you." Colourful doors remain a popular pick, he adds. "Something that's also very popular right now is a modern look with a stained door and a black frame to match the windows," Brandstrom adds. "We're seeing a lot of fibreglass doors with a woodgrain embossment in the fibreglass in multiple species like fir, oak or cherry." Also on trend are metal inlays and horizontal or offset glass door lights. Some are opting for commercial-style, full-length pull bars instead of a knob or handle. "A lot of people are wanting oversized eight-foot-tall and 42-inch-wide front doors," he says. "It's quite a showpiece when people walk up to your home."

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