Custom-Built for an Inside-Outside Connection
Centor
For the first ‘ proper house ’ they ’ ve ever owned together , Justin and Heather have set the bar high . They ’ ve created an exceptional home near Portland – and they couldn ’ t be happier with the outcome .
The couple moved to Oregon to enjoy the lifestyle that it had to offer . “ We love the slower pace and friendly feel here ,” explains Justin , who previously lived in the area . “ People in Portland have a very different quality of life and also a different view on life .”
Justin and Heather loved the plot as soon as they saw it – surrounded by mature evergreen trees and adjacent to an area of woodland . They quickly realised its potential to fulfil their dream of a beautiful open space that helps them to feel connected with the natural world around them .
The couple designed and built their home from the ground up , working closely with local firm Olsen Group Architects . “ It ’ s a
42 - www . refurbandrestore . co . uk completely custom-designed house ,” says Justin . “ We walked into our first meeting with a 138-page Keynote presentation of design inspiration and things we like to see in a home . The large glazed doors were a big piece of that research .”
Heather adds : “ We spent months researching different doors . We do get a bit of rain here , and we saw a lot of doors that weren ’ t as robustly weatherproof as Centor Integrated Doors . And in our opinion , they just didn ’ t seem as well considered as the Centor doors from a design perspective . And that ’ s a big thing for us .”
The couple had challenged their builder to meet an exacting list of requirements . They wanted doors with a screen , which ideally provides some shade ; they wanted the doors to be fully open and operational ; the doors also had to survive the rigours of the Pacific Northwest winter ; and they also wanted a smooth transition between inside and outside floor levels .
“ It was a pretty tough brief , but Centor Integrated Doors delivered on all fronts ,” says Justin . “ They offer an easy , flush transition . The weatherproofing is great . They have the built-in screen and also a shade , so we didn ’ t have to compromise on an unsightly secondary system . And the doors open up the whole way .”
“ The design of the doors was also important to us ,” adds Heather . “ Because of the height of the glass , we wanted to have slim frames and stiles for as few visual distractions as possible . We didn ’ t want our views to be divided in any way .”
So the decision was made . And the couple are hugely pleased with the look and feel of their new home .
“ The insect screen is particularly great ,” says Heather . “ Some mornings , I ’ ll just open two panels of the door , slide the screen across and the whole house benefits from a free flow of fresh air . It ’ s not intrusive at all .