Personalize Comfort with Customized Windows and Doors

Personalize Comfort with Customized Windows and Doors

September 07, 2022

Create ideal living conditions and a sense of well-being with windows and doors.

Comfort is a deeply personal experience. What is comfortable for you may not be for another. Everyone has different tolerances, bodies and abilities. We each respond differently to outside influences based on our upbringing, experiences and tastes. Because comfort is so subjective, designing a universally comfortable living environment is an almost impossible challenge.

Often, the best course of action when trying to design a comfortable home is to personalize the experience as much as possible. Comfort must be customized according to each person’s wants, desires and preferences. Comfort is about creating ideal environmental conditions and a space that feels right to an individual. By looking at design choices holistically, you can balance the physical and emotional aspects to make a house into a home.

VistaLuxe WD Folding Door
[Source]


Windows on Well-Being

Windows and doors play a significant role in creating and maintaining a sense of well-being and the ideal human living conditions in a space. No matter what one finds comfortable, a baseline can be established by first avoiding discomfort, usually caused by adverse physical conditions.

The windows and doors of a home greatly affect the physical environment through lighting, thermal performance, acoustics and air quality. They also add visual comfort to a home, and provide a connection between our space inside and the world around us. Biophilic design principles embrace our connection with nature by using organic materials like wood windows and doors that offer panoramic views and immerse us in sunlight.

TerraSpan lift & slide door
[Source]


Daylighting is an essential property and beneficial attribute of window and door systems. Narrow framing, sash and mullions allow for larger daylight openings. A well-illuminated space with views outside helps reduce eye strain and associated headaches. Research shows this enhances concentration and creativity, and can improve our mood and morale. Our exposure to natural light during the day also influences the quality of our sleep at night and our ability to wake feeling rested.

Ultra Series geometric direct sets, direct sets and crank-out awnings
[Source]


Perfect Temperature

Establishing an ideal interior temperature is about more than just setting the thermostat. Windows and doors can help us to maintain a comfortable temperature in all climates and conditions. High-performance customized options – such as Low-E coatings and triple-pane glass – also can reduce the energy needed to heat and cool our homes.

For optimal results when selecting energy-efficient windows and doors, start with a site-specific approach appropriate for the Climate Zone, then consider each exterior elevation and each interior living zone. Your location’s Climate Zone will guide the thermal performance requirements as measured by U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). When making selections, remember that a lower U-factor indicates better thermal performance, while a lower SHGC means poorer solar control.

VistaLuxe WD LINE direct sets, casements and outswing doors
[Source]


With Kolbe’s window and doors, you can be assured your performance is built in, not added on. Key components that can be adjusted for improved thermal performance include the:

  • Number of glass panes
  • Coatings applied to each pane
  • Spacers and gas infill used between the panes
  • Framing materials
  • Thermal separation and insulation between framing members
  • Weather stripping
  • Door panel materials

VistaLuxe WD LINE direct sets, corner direct set, and  casement windows
[Source]


Quiet Time

If your home is on a busy road, near a school, by an airport or train tracks, or simply close to your neighbors, a quiet interior is a “must” for comfort. As with thermal performance, you also can finetune your windows and doors for acoustic performance and a serene interior experience.

Windows and doors with laminated, insulated glazing units are generally the preferred products for noise control. These glass units are up to 1-3/8 inches thick and can weigh more than 200 pounds, so window sash and hardware must be sized appropriately for dependable operation and ease of use.

There are two metrics used for evaluating the acoustic performance of windows and doors: Sound Transmission Class (STC) and Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC). Both are measured in decibels (dB). The higher the STC or OITC rating equates to better sound attenuation.


Forgent Series casement windows and complementary sliding door with transom
[Source]


Fresh Air 

Doors and operable windows provide more than a visual bridge between indoor and outdoor spaces. They open up our homes to welcome family, friends and guests, as well as to invite in a breath of fresh air. Like natural light, natural ventilation can have a positive effect on our indoor comfort.

Operable windows also can contribute to sustainable, energy-efficient heating, cooling and ventilating as part of a passive home design strategy. American-made windows and doors for an entire passive house project are available from one manufacturer. Kolbe offers a wide range of windows and doors verified by the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS).

VistaLuxe WD LINE awnings and direct sets
[Source]

Operable casement windows maximize ventilation. Double hung windows can vent from both the bottom and top to let out hot air and let in cool air. Awning windows allow for ventilation even in light rain. Tilt-turn windows provide secure ventilation. Even direct set windows have their place in a ventilation scheme where airtight products are required.

Folding, sliding and pass-through windows and doors can create even more expansive openings in a home, blurring the line between outside and in, to fully ventilate an interior space.

VistaLuxe WD LINE geometric direct sets and Ultra Series TerraSpan lift & slide doors
[Source]


Peace of Mind

Strong, well-built windows and doors go a long way toward making us feel comfortable, safe and secure in our homes.

For some people, privacy is the priority. Tinted, colored, patterned and custom art glass present alternatives to blinds and window treatments. For those in high wind and hurricane-prone regions, impact resistance and structural integrity can be critical to life-safety protection. Your impact products don’t need to look like a bunker. You can have the same beautiful appearance without unsightly brackets or visible rods, and without extra locks to fasten when evacuation is imminent.

Ultra Series push-out casements and swing doors
[Source]

For day-to-day security, hardware options can automate locking and connect to monitoring technologies to notify you when doors and windows are opened. As we age, other hardware automation and customization support our comfort. Long lever handles and push-button operation can aid us in opening and closing windows. Biometric locks can give us entry with one touch. Wider entry doors and low-threshold sills make it easier to pass in and out using wheelchairs, walkers and mobility aids.

For those with compromised health, young children and other wellness needs, material choices may be an important factor. Windows and doors are readily available with non-toxic components and low-emitting finishes. Health-conscious homeowners frequently seek sustainable products, too. Along with energy-efficient glass choices, Kolbe’s wood species selection includes those certified with Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Chain-of-Custody (FSC® license code FSC®-C019541). Look for our FSC®-certified products when specifying your windows and doors.

VistaLuxe WD LINE direct sets and casements

[Source]

True Comfort

Beyond just creating a baseline living experience on a physical level, true comfort is connected to experience and emotion. These qualities are entirely subjective and unique to each of us. A breadth of customizable options for windows and doors allow you to create a personalized design and provide total home comfort.

VistaLuxe WD LINE direct sets
[Source]


Working together as designer and client, you can prioritize what defines comfort for your home. Kolbe Windows & Doors offers endless options to blend with your design intentions. For example, our VistaLuxe® Collection has numerous customizable features that can be easily combined to achieve the multiple advantages of comfort, performance and beauty. These windows and doors showcase an incredibly slim frame to maximize openings for daylight and views. Energy-efficient and acoustic performance requirements can be blended with passive house and biophilic design strategies. Operable, fixed and specialty windows complement expansive door configurations that swing, pivot, fold, and slide. Choose between high thermal performance all-aluminum framing in select finishes, or extruded aluminum exteriors in a multitude of finishes, paired with warm wood interiors in a wide variety of species and stains.

Building on your vision, we look forward to crafting windows and doors tailored to your comfort, your personal expression and your ideal living experience.

We're for the visionaries.®

Find your local showroom and be inspired.

Find Your Local Showroom