Turning the Page A Decades Journey to New Beginnings

If you’ve been a loyal reader of my blog for years, you’ve likely caught glimpses of our old sliders in countless photos, both showcasing the interior and exterior of our house. For a full decade, these doors were a constant challenge, subtly detracting from the beauty I worked so hard to create. Their condition was not merely an aesthetic concern; it was a daily battle with functionality and comfort.

Whenever I photographed the rooms adjacent to these doors, I meticulously tried to frame my shots to exclude them. Why? Because they unapologetically displayed all 52 years of their existence. The rot in their wooden frames was a constant reminder of their age, the glass was perpetually fogged and pitted, obscuring the beautiful outdoors. They no longer slid with ease, demanding considerable effort, and had lost all semblance of being airtight, leading to uncomfortable drafts and higher energy bills. But from a decorating perspective, the absolute worst offender was the presence of interior black screens, which clashed dramatically with my preferred light and airy white decor scheme.

While black screens aren’t inherently bad in a house, especially one with a darker, more contemporary aesthetic, they stood out like a sore thumb in my white-themed spaces. They created a visual disruption, jarring the serene balance I strived to achieve in every room. Every time I looked at them, I saw a stark contrast that simply didn’t belong, diminishing the overall appeal and cohesiveness of my home’s interior design.

The journey to new doors wasn’t without its own set of challenges. Back in November, we scheduled the installation of our new sliding glass doors. However, after the contractors carefully removed the old living room slider, they discovered an unexpected problem: the new doors were too short for the existing openings. This setback meant a temporary solution had to be implemented, with wood filling the gap above the improperly sized door. This makeshift arrangement remained in place throughout the holiday season, a constant reminder of the unfinished project. Thankfully, the contractors returned last week, armed with the correct size doors, and completed the installation over two incredibly cold days. Despite the large openings being exposed to the frigid outdoors for several hours, I bundled up inside, embracing the temporary chill for the promise of a warmer, more beautiful future. The three doors – for the living room, kitchen, and my multi-purpose studio/office – were finally put into place, marking a monumental step in our home’s transformation.

A Decade of Discontent: What the Old Doors Looked Like

When we first moved into this house a decade ago, the original sliding glass doors, including the three on the first floor, were crafted from stained wood, and, as mentioned, featured those prominent black sliding screen doors on the inside. It always puzzled me why the first-floor doors had interior screens, especially since the three sliders on the second floor of the house were designed differently, with their screens conveniently placed on the outside. This key difference served as a constant reminder that external screens were indeed a possibility, fueling my desire for a similar, less intrusive setup on the main living level.

Shortly after settling into our new home, one of my first major DIY projects was to update the interior aesthetics. I embarked on the ambitious task of painting all the doors white, a project that instantly brightened the interior and brought a fresh, cohesive look to our living spaces. This transformation was significant, but it couldn’t fully mask the underlying issue.

Even after the doors themselves were painted a crisp white, the black screen doors remained stubbornly in place. Their dark presence continued to disrupt the light and airy feel I was cultivating. Determined to find a solution, I ordered white screen doors from Home Depot, hoping for a perfect match. However, after a few weeks, my order was unexpectedly canceled due to unavailability. Despite continuous searching, I was never able to find suitable white replacement screens that fit our existing doors. Given our love for keeping the doors open to enjoy the refreshing lake breezes on pleasant days, having functional screens was a necessity, so I reluctantly continued to live with the black ones. This compromise, though minor in isolation, contributed to the persistent feeling that our doors were holding back the full potential of our home’s design.

The exterior of our home also underwent its own evolution over the years. Originally, the exterior trim on the house and doors featured a vibrant teal color, a bold choice that reflected a different era of design. While charming in its own way, it wasn’t quite aligned with our vision for the house.

About seven years ago, we decided it was time for a more contemporary and harmonious exterior palette. We had the entire exterior painted in a beautiful shade called Khaki Bronze from Glidden. This neutral, earthy tone transformed the house, giving it a sophisticated and timeless appeal. However, the old sliding doors, despite their new coat of exterior paint to match the trim, continued to deteriorate, a persistent weak point in an otherwise refreshed exterior. They remained in that state, visibly aging, until their long-awaited replacement last week.

The Intensive Search for Our New Sliding Glass Doors

Please note, this is not a sponsored post; my enthusiasm comes purely from a place of genuine satisfaction. Last fall, my husband Ed and I realized it was time to get serious about replacing these problematic doors. The urgency stemmed not just from their physical deterioration, but from the fact that they were actively sabotaging one of our home’s greatest assets: the exceptional lake view. The pitted and fogged glass, a cloudy veil over nature’s masterpiece, was frankly ruining the very reason we fell in love with this house.

Our quest began by contacting four different window and door companies, diligently gathering quotes for the replacement of our three sliding doors. To say Ed and I were shocked by the estimated costs would be an understatement. The figures were daunting, threatening to push this essential home improvement project far beyond our initial budget expectations. The financial implications alone added another layer of complexity to an already challenging decision-making process.

Compounding the sticker shock was another significant frustration: only the most expensive company among our initial inquiries offered the specific aesthetic combination I desired – a pristine white finish on the interior and a coordinating khaki tan color on the exterior. I was adamant about not having white on the exterior, as it simply wouldn’t harmonize with the existing Khaki Bronze paint color of our house. My vision for a seamless exterior and a bright interior was non-negotiable, and it felt disheartening to learn that this seemingly simple requirement came with such a hefty price tag.

Refusing to compromise on my “white interior and khaki tan exterior” vision for our new sliding glass doors, I delved deeper into online research, turning to more extensive Googling. It was during this persistent search that I stumbled upon a local window and door showroom that carried ProVia doors. I hadn’t heard of them before, but quickly learned they were an Amish-owned company based in Ohio, known for their quality craftsmanship. This discovery felt like a ray of hope.

I promptly called the showroom and scheduled an appointment to see their offerings in person. Upon visiting, I was immediately impressed. Seeing the doors firsthand, feeling their solid construction, and engaging in a lengthy discussion with the knowledgeable owner, who patiently answered my numerous questions, solidified our decision. We discovered that ProVia offered exactly what I had envisioned: beautiful white interiors combined with a specific exterior color called “Desert” that perfectly matched our house’s Khaki Bronze exterior. We were sold, not just on the aesthetic customization but also on the competitive pricing – they were, surprisingly, the least expensive option we had found.

The fact that the doors were made by skilled Amish craftsmen also resonated deeply with us. Knowing the tradition of quality and meticulous attention to detail associated with Amish workmanship, we felt assured that these doors would not only look fantastic but would also be built to last, providing enduring performance and comfort for years to come. This combination of affordability, aesthetic match, and trusted craftsmanship made ProVia the undeniable choice for our home.

Unveiling Our Beautiful New ProVia Sliding Glass Doors

Capturing the true beauty of these new doors in a photograph can be challenging, especially since this side of my house receives bright, direct sunlight throughout the day. Despite the glare, I’ve done my best to illustrate the remarkable transformation. This first image shows the new ProVia Endure 3-Panel Slider in our kitchen. The most immediate and striking improvement is how effortlessly it glides open with just one hand. This is a stark contrast to the old doors, which required both hands and all my strength to budge. The ease of operation alone has dramatically improved the daily flow and enjoyment of our kitchen space.

Next, we move to the living room, where the impact of the new doors is equally profound. While I didn’t capture a separate photo of the door in my studio/office, rest assured it mirrors the elegance and functionality seen here. These doors are truly stunning: crisp white on the inside, perfectly weather-tight, and featuring super-clear glass specifically designed for southern homes. This specialized glass technology is engineered to significantly cut down on glare and prevent the intense heat of the sun from penetrating the interior, keeping our home cooler and more comfortable, even on the brightest days. The clarity of the glass is exceptional, offering an unobstructed, panoramic view of the lake that we haven’t truly enjoyed in years.

What truly brings me the most joy and satisfaction with these new Provia sliding glass doors is the exterior transformation. The “Desert” color of the door frames perfectly matches our home’s Khaki Bronze exterior paint, creating a harmonious and polished look that truly elevates our curb appeal. Furthermore, the sliding screen panel is now intelligently positioned on the outside, a feature I longed for and is now beautifully realized. The difference is remarkable; you can hardly even discern the screen doors, providing an almost invisible barrier that maintains our connection to the outdoors without visual distraction. This subtle but significant design choice has a huge impact on the overall aesthetic and functionality of our home.

Another fantastic feature that enhances both convenience and security, and one I failed to mention earlier, is the upgraded locking mechanism. Our old sliders, once locked, could not be opened from the outside, creating a minor inconvenience in certain situations. With our new Provia doors, we now have the flexibility to lock them and, crucially, open them with a key from both the outside and the inside. This small but significant detail offers enhanced peace of mind and makes accessing our outdoor spaces much more practical, especially when we’re enjoying time on the patio or entertaining guests. It’s these thoughtful design elements that truly make these doors a superior upgrade.

This means a significant shift in my approach to photography for blog posts. From now on, I will no longer feel the need to strategically minimize or crop out the doors when capturing images of our rooms. The intrusive black screens, which once disrupted the delicate color balance and overall scheme of our interior spaces, are gone. Now, these beautiful white-framed doors with their virtually invisible exterior screens seamlessly integrate into our decor, enhancing rather than detracting. They truly complete the vision for a bright, open, and harmonious home, allowing every photograph to showcase the true essence of our living environment without compromise.

I am just so incredibly happy to bid a final farewell to the old rotting wood frames, the days of needing both hands and considerable effort to open a door, the frustratingly foggy and pitted glass that obscured our beautiful lake view, and, of course, those visually disruptive black screen doors. The transformation has been monumental, replacing years of minor frustrations with daily moments of pure joy and appreciation for our home.

Now that our view is crystal clear and unobstructed, I have a new, albeit pleasant, task: keeping these beautiful new glass panels spotless. This means stocking up on glass cleaner! I typically rely on reliable brands like Windex or Invisible Glass to maintain their pristine condition. However, I’m always open to new ideas and expert advice. Do you know of any other exceptional brands of glass cleaner that deliver streak-free results, or perhaps have some clever glass cleaning tips or tricks that I might not be aware of? I’d love to hear your recommendations to ensure our cherished lake view remains perfectly clear, always.