All Images Courtesy of Sarah Shields Photography
Often, less is more – especially when it comes to clutter and stress! But other times… Bigger is clearly better. This is particularly true when it comes to windows and doors. Larger solutions provide a host of benefits, from providing abundant natural light and blurring the lines between indoors and out to creating a stunning aesthetic that literally drops jaws.
A recent The Glass House Gallery project highlights the beauty, and functionality, of going big.
Welcome to Crooked Stick
The The Glass House Gallery team headed to the Crooked Stick neighborhood in charming Carmel, Indiana. No, we weren’t there to play 18 holes – though, the temptation was real. The Crooked Stick Golf Club is a Pete and Alice Dye-designed masterpiece, consistently ranked as one of the top 100 courses in the country. So named because, as legend has it, Pete Dye was walking the back nine when he found… you guessed it… a crooked stick.
Whether or not that’s actually true, there is no doubt that the course is a legend – and that properties in the community that surrounds it are in high-demand. Working with architectural designer, Gary Nance Design, and builder Hoss Homes, on one of these homes was just as exciting as birdieing on the sixth hole.
Think: Expansive
Crooked Stick boasts lush greenery, meticulously landscaped grounds, panoramic vistas, mature shade- and privacy- trees, and, of course, some of the most luxe homes in the area. Property owners expect to take full advantage of their surroundings, while infusing their own style and personality into their spaces.
To bring the vision for this home to life, we turned to Marvin Windows & Doors and thought outside of the box for some showstopping focal points. The front entry, for example, is a 6’ W x 13’ H pivot door from Italy. Unlike a conventional door with hinges on one edge that attach to an adjacent wall, a pivot door rotates vertically on spindles at the top and bottom for exquisite weight distribution.
Weight distribution may not sound “sexy” but it is crucial with a door of this size; operation is smooth, seamless, and easy – even when these homeowners have their hands full. In addition to offering elevated efficiency, durability, and security, the pivot entry door helps enhance the view by removing visual barriers between indoors and out. The finish on the interior and exterior sides are different (light inside, darker outside), yet in complete alignment with the overall aesthetic.
Another dramatic touch comes in the kitchen, designed by Conceptual Kitchens. Here, we sourced and installed a 14’W x 11’H window above the sink. This expansive “wall” is mesmerizing; doing the dishes (or pretending to!) may well become a prized pastime in this house.
Style – and Steel
“Bigger” oftentimes brings more complex considerations. The windows on the front-facing side of this Crooked Stick home, for example, are outsized… and dramatic. This, of course, maximizes natural light, views, and wow. When relaxing in the home, cozy and comfortable, it feels as if one is outside. Soaking in the sun, luxuriating in the landscape, breathing in a breath of fresh air. It’s a dream – but bringing it to reality was much more complicated.
Careful planning and technical expertise were essential. Given the scale of the windows, they required a steel structure during installation. While they look ethereal and weightless, trust us, this glass is all there. While a challenging aspect of the process, the results more than speak for themselves.
Your Go-To Partner
The Glass House Gallery is passionate about serving as the go-to partner for architects and builders. We’ve been fortunate enough to work with both Gary Nance and Hoss Homes on other projects and look forward to continued success together.
The real winners of these strong partnerships, though, are the clients. The owners, who, like this family in Crooked Stick, are able to bring their dream of home to fruition. To see how our team can help yours, connect with The Glass House Gallery.