Ben Aspinall, DoorCo’s IT & Marketing Manager explores the current trends in door glass with Total Fabricator Magazine – see the full article on P.30
A front door is more than just a door. It’s a focal point for the home that can really make a statement and add kerb appeal to a property. When it comes to the overall look of a door, there are a few factors that affect the level of differentiation customers can achieve – style, design, colour and glazing. As the market has got more sophisticated, glass and glazing has become an integral part of overall design and there’s a lot of choice available to the market for both traditional and contemporary tastes.
Growing the range
Last year, DoorCo did an important overhaul of our glass offering. From stocking a few designs on the shelf, to holding over 500 SKUs in stock that are available glazed or unglazed directly from DoorCo. As well as improving the supply of glass to our customers, this exercise also allowed us to introduce an exclusive range of DoorCo glass designs to help our customers stand out from the crowd. This year, the collection has been further enhanced by the launch of GLAZiNG to support the introduction of bespoke glass choices alongside our two new products: our solid timber core door engineered with GRiPCORE technology and FLiP, our revolutionary new glazing cassette system with Foam in Place technology.
GLAZiNG
The recently launched collection includes some unique designs – like Peak, Tectronic and Bold Pink – that were designed by our own Creative Consultant, Jeyda. There is also a choice of bevelled and etched exclusive designs to suit both contemporary and traditional doors. The range is right on trend, as you will see when we examine what our glass sales tell us below.
What’s on trend?
Clear and Obscure is, without doubt, our most popular range of glass. DoorCo offers four carefully selected Low-E toughened obscure glass options, the most popular being Satin and Stippolyte. They are versatile and suit any type of property and work in any type of door design. But also, the commercial/ volume markets, and social housing in particular, tend to favour these simple, standard designs. This is where volume tends to distort the true trends that are emerging, and these are clearer when you look at the decorative glass sales we have seen this year.
Decorative glass is key for that all important differentiation, and therefore favoured by the retail sector. Kerb appeal is becoming more important to the new build sector too. Whether traditional or contemporary in design, the most popular decorative glass choice currently are the bevelled designs with diamond or square detailing. Styles like Prestige and Trio Diamond for traditional tastes are favoured, and Louisiana and Lotus for more contemporary design. Last month, Monza II glazed with Lotus and FLiP Flat Grained was the bestselling designer choice.
The striking square or linear etched designs like Cubic, Artemis and Mercury are growing in popularity too.
Contemporary cross over
One of the most important trends that is concurrent across all areas of door trends we explore, is the cross over between traditional and contemporary that is emerging. Take the Belfry Farmhouse. A cottage style door, that was came in our top 3 best sellers last month with the modern Cubic glass and the FLiP Flat Grained cassette.
This is just one example of the cross over trend that has accelerated since the launch of FLiP. With FLiP, customers have three design choices now that have enhanced aesthetics and superior performance. We have the freedom to explore new ideas in door design, better control over the supply chain and because it’s made in the UK, good stock levels too. Plus, it is so quick and simple to install, and the Foam in Place technology delivers a superior seal, that we are all benefiting from the FLiP-effect.
UK property maybe more traditional in style, but the huge home renovation movement is seeing much modernising of space. Greening, energy efficiency and increased value are all drivers to creating a more comfortable space that homeowners can be proud of, and composite doors and the glass and glazing options within, have a big impact on all these reasons.
We’d like your feedback – let us know what trends you’re experiencing or forecasting when it comes to your door sales, whether retail or commercial via social media using the links below.
For more information call: 01625 428955 or visit: www.door-co.com/glazing
