Complementing a building
with timber components
Edited by Leon Louw
FEATURES
In two parts, Timber iQ will look at different types of wooden doors, window
frames blinds and shutters, focusing on the design, latest trends and
maintenance requirements.
Timber doors, windows and blinds each play different
roles in a building, and complete the overall look of a
building. It is most unlikely to find a building without a
single window or door. It is also unusual to find an entire
building with completely bare windows that don’t have blinds
or shutters.
LATEST MARKET TRENDS
Market trends are always changing; something that is in demand
today, might not be in demand in a few months or weeks. Window
shutters are ideal for various reasons including the provision of
privacy, controlling sunlight that enters a room and to enhance the
looks of a building. Shutters typically consist of a frame of vertical
stiles and horizontal rails. Anthony Mederer, managing director at
Taylor Blinds & Shutters, explains that current trends are leaning
more towards lighter colours. “White painted timber is still the
most popular finish, however there is an increasing trend to light
wood finishes such as oak and grey washed effects,” he explains.
According to Swartland’s in-house architect, Arno Britz, market
research over the years has indicated that people choose wooden
windows and doors because of their beauty. With that comes
various trends divided into various categories explained by Britz
as follows:
1. Transitional living
A major drive in architectural design today is merging the indoor
and outdoor spaces.
This trend is redefining home design, and many homeowners are
looking to fenestration solutions to incorporate transitional living
into their homes. Here, the general rule of thumb is that the bigger,
the better, and in this regard, aluminium windows and doors
provide the perfect frame. Arguably, one of the main benefits of
aluminium windows and doors, from an aesthetic point of view, is
that they boast really slim sightlines. This means that the glazing
surface is increased.
TAYLOR BLINDS & SHUTTERS
Shutters typically consist of a frame of vertical stiles and horizontal rails.
www.timberiq.co.za // OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020 15