Paul and wife, Mandy, had their hearts set on Origin black internal doors from the moment they started to plan their dream self-build home.
Originally from the south coast of England, the couple purchased a plot of land on the Black Isle and embarked on a two-year journey to create a home designed around its stunning coastal views. Building your own home from the ground up is no easy feat and Pinefield Glass was delighted to play a part in bringing their vision to life.
We recently spoke with Paul and Mandy about the project, their experience working with Pinefield Glass and the impact the finished doors have had on their home.
Can you tell us more about the project?
“It was a new-build house on the Black Isle, right near the sea. It was a two-year process from purchasing the land right through to the finishing touches.
“The house is all about the view and we’ve got a lot of windows too. One of our main ideas when building was to be able to see the sea all through the house when you approach the front door. We also always wanted for the middle of the house to be a hallway that was mainly glass – something more of a design feature rather than just basic windows.”
How did you discover Pinefield Glass?
“We actually had Origin bi-fold doors in our previous home and they were quite a feature of the house. We started looking at more of Origin’s products and to see if there was anyone in Scotland who was an agent for Origin, and that’s how we came across Pinefield.
“It was when we visited the Pinefield’s Elgin showroom that we were able to see the Origin doors in the flesh rather than just in a brochure.”
What made you choose the aluminium black internal doors?
“We always knew we wanted that space to be glass-sided, but we didn’t know exactly what. We had something more of a design feature in mind, and that Crittall-style look was something we always liked. Having had Origin products before, we knew that the quality was excellent and when we saw they also did these internal doors, we said, ‘Let’s go for that.’
“We had a lot of discussion about what colour the frames should be. In the end we settled on black because we wanted them to stand out. It was a statement, so let’s make the colour obvious rather than trying to blend it in.”
How was your experience working with Pinefield Glass throughout the process?
“Pinefield were happy to work with us throughout what was quite a long process. A lot of that was us keeping them up to speed on where we were with the build. The measuring and installation process all went very smoothly.
“Also, when you’re building a new property, you don’t pay VAT on qualifying materials, so we had to provide Pinefield with the necessary paperwork to confirm the property was a new build, which allowed them to supply the doors VAT-free. This meant we didn’t have to pay the VAT and reclaim it later, which was really appreciated and definitely helped us out a lot.”
Were there aspects of the service that stood out to you?
“The fitters were very professional, they really cared about what they were doing and they did an excellent job. It wasn’t a quick, rushed installation. They were there for a good two and a half days and still had to work around builders finishing other parts of the house but they just fitted in working with everybody else.
“Pinefield was one of those companies that were absolutely brilliant to do business with. They made what was a very difficult thing feel much easier.”
What difference has the finished work made for your property?
“Those particular doors are now a core feature of the house. The quality is excellent and it’s amazing how many people comment on them.
“There are two or three architectural features in the house that give us a little bit of joy every day, and the doors are one of those things. They’re one of those features that you look at and think, ‘How do normal people like us live in a house like this?’
“When you’re building a house, there has to be something that emotionally connects you back to why you did it – and these doors are one of those things for us.
“One of our main builders saw the finished doors and was seriously looking at getting some for his own house afterwards. Even when we showed Martin, the domestic sales director at Pinefield, the finished look, his response was simply ‘Wow, wow, wow’ – and he must have seen a lot of these doors.”
What makes Pinefield Glass stand out compared to other companies you’ve worked with?
“There were a gazillion people that helped us deliver our vision, and it’s so good when you come across a company that’s just so easy to work with. It was a trust-based relationship all the way through.
“There were so many suppliers and people involved in the build. Some we’d never use again, but Pinefield were in the list of people we would absolutely do business with again.”
For Paul and Mandy, the Origin internal doors were far more than a practical addition to their new home. They became a defining architectural feature that perfectly complements the property’s open design and spectacular coastal views. From the initial showroom visit to final installation, Pinefield Glass helped bring their vision to life.
Inspired by Paul’s self-build project? Explore our range of stylish internal glazing solutions and discover how they can transform your home: https://pinefieldglass.com/doors/internal-doors/