Bifold Doors Add Wow Factor to Victorian Home

The extension and remodel of this semi-detached Victorian home saw the addition of folding doors to ensure a light-filled interior that opened onto the garden beyond.

A new playroom has been positioned off the dining zone, which can be partitioned off from the rest of the house. To the rear of this area, the homeowners added a downstairs cloakroom and utility room in order to accommodate the washing machine and tumble dryer, opening up more cupboard space in the existing kitchen.

On the ground floor, two sets of Kloeber’s aluminium Kustomfold bifold doors have been positioned at right angles. These were specified to be 2.4m, as opposed to the standard 2.1m, to complement the high-ceilinged Victorian rooms and to draw in the maximum amount of light from the courtyard garden.

Both sets of doors were manufactured in a three-unit configuration. Each features a single access door that can be used when occupants want to nip in and outside.

Inside, Kloeber’s timber Interfold bifolds were chosen for the new playroom. These were manufactured to the same height as the aluminium external doors to establish consistency.

As the clients were keen to create a flexible living area that could be adapted to suit the needs of the family, their panels can be drawn shut to zone off the room when less space is required. Obscured glazing screens the children’s toys from view.

Kloeber aluminium bifolds

The upper-storey of the extension accommodates an ensuite bathroom. A projecting feature window has been added to the bedroom, with a seat incorporated into the bay. Made from aluminium, this casement unit was supplied by Kloeber and matches the one in the utility area on the ground floor.

The upper-level window features a striking lead surround to add aesthetic interest to this elevation of the house. Aluminium frames were chosen for all of the new glazing products to offer easy maintenance, as well as to provide a contrast to the traditional appearance of the original property.

“Working closely with Harvey Norman Architects on a local project like this was absolutely perfect for us,” says Matt Higgs from Kloeber. “The contemporary design-led scheme was also well-suited to our range of aluminium products. The result is a clean, understated yet stylish property, with close attention to detail underpinning a high-end finish throughout.”

Top tips for choosing bifolds

Matt Higgs, sales director and co-owner of Kloeber, shares his expert advice on how to specify the right bifold doors for your project

When choosing your bifolds’ configuration, it is vital to consider how you use the room they’re going to be in, and how the entry point functions. An odd number of panels that stack to one side will automatically give you one leaf that operates on its own as a master door. This is usually the preferred arrangement to provide access from outside. If you install an even number of leafs that all fold one way, this will mean you can’t access the door from outside when it’s locked inside. You can still have a master door with an even number of panels, but this will need to open in the opposite direction to the rest of the units.
It is important to get the threshold right. The beauty of being able to open a large space up to the outside can be completely lost if this surface isn’t flush with the floor. Try to get the flooring inside and outside as level as possible to give you a seamless flow between inside and out.
Choose a frame material that suits your project. Whatever you specify could be based on something as simple as personal preference, performance or budget. However, generally, the more you spend the better the product you’ll get. Timber is solid, strong and a natural insulator. Aluminium is low-maintenance and slimmer frames are available because of its innate strength. Composite goods (timber inside with aluminium outside) are strong and require little upkeep – but bear in mind that they will be more expensive.

For more information about Kloeber call 01487 740044 or visit www.kloeber.co.uk