This is Nottingham --BI-fold doors are the must haves of the moment. Thanks to their ability to fold away concertina-style, they are rapidly becoming a design favourite with home owners and designers.
We spoke to one Notts home owner who has just transformed her home.
Dr Emma Hemmingway, a university lecturer, has used bi-fold doors to introduce an air of Hollywood glamour to what was previously an ordinary 1930s house.
She says: "I moved into this house in Mapperley in February and although it had lots of potential, it really needed something to bring it to life.
"Bi-fold doors were the perfect solution. I'm a very keen gardener, as well an enthusiastic interior designer and these doors gave me the unique opportunity to create a seamless connection between the inside and the outside of the house."
Nottingham company Window Concepts manufactured and fitted Emma's doors.
The company's managing director, Paul Burghart, says their rapidly-growing popularity is a sign that home owners are becoming more adventurous in their design projects and that confidence may be starting to return to the property sector.
The company is now focusing on promoting the benefits of bi-fold doors to domestic buyers. Before the property crash of 2008, a previous incarnation of the company was a supplier to a major national house-builder.
Then came the collapse and Paul has spent the past five years rebuilding its fortunes, dealing directly with home owners, renovators and self-builders.
Paul said: "Emma's bi-fold door project demonstrates vividly just how much they can improve almost any home."
As Emma explains: "There were basically two fittings. In the main one, the tired old 70s-style sliding doors were taken out and the whole side of the house was opened up. It looked rather like a doll's house – where a wall can be taken out to reveal the interior.
"Now there is simply no division between the lounge and the garden. The concertina-style doors fold neatly out of the way to give a wide open space. When they are closed, you can still see a wonderful 'picture' of the garden. They are beautifully insulated to keep in the heat and they are totally secure. When they are closed, there is absolutely no way to gain access to the house.
"The second fitting was to the kitchen. Again, the older doors were taken out and a new, smaller bi-fold was fitted in the space.
"There is now another seamless connection between the inside dining area and the table and chairs on the patio. It really is like having a fabulous extra room on the house. It has transformed an ordinary 1930s detached home into a house which now has an amazing wow factor – admired by everyone who sees it.
"My friends who come round say they feel like they're on holiday."
Paul said: "The lounge shows the doors at their stunning best and the kitchen shows how they can easily be used to transform a smaller space.
"It gives you the flexibility to open the whole of the rear of the house – with an exceptionally high level of security when they are closed. They are made out of aluminium with all its strength – as well as good looks.
"The fact that we manufacture in Nottingham means buyers here are able to support a local enterprise.
"We are a family firm and place a very high premium on the level of our customer service and support.
"You can come in, see the product in our showroom, see where it is being made and meet the people who are making it.
"We also do a supply only service, which we offer to many window companies around Nottingham.
"There's no such thing as an average installation but our prices start at around £3,000. We have just done half a house in Banbury for £35,000.
"We have carried out more than 50 installations this year in everything from small terrace homes to the new library at Brackenhurst Agricultural College, at Southwell." Reported by This is 16 hours ago.