The popularity of earth tones in architectural design continues to grow, rooted in a need for comfort, simplicity, and connection within our everyday spaces.
How does this trend extend to window and door designs? How can we thoughtfully incorporate browns, beiges, tans, and related colors and textures into their construction? And how successfully do earth tones frame a treasured view or interact with common materials in and around an opening?
With Kolbe, the possibilities are vast and surprising, much like nature itself. You are sure to find inspiration as you walk through these twelve examples.
1. In Contemporary Contexts
Earth tones effortlessly adapt to the characteristics of today’s homes. Here, a Bronze finish outlines the bold Forgent Series openings of this contemporary design, from the sharp casements below to the dynamic geometric direct sets near the roofline.
2. Back to Basics
Nature-inspired colors of course begin with natural elements—like wood. This Ultra Series door with matching sidelites displays the traits of this timeless material beautifully. The extruded aluminum-clad exterior features a custom walnut-style finish while the interior shows off knotty alder with a double clear coat finish.
3. Creating Memories
The color of wood can be further adjusted to your preference without losing its signature patterning and texture. These Ultra Series Sterling double-hung windows have a pine interior with a Coffee Bean stain, bringing together a cozy kitchen space that is ripe for family gatherings.
4. Across Styles
Beyond the expected homes of today and yesteryear, earth tones also contribute to more specific styles. A simple outswing door from Kolbe’s Ultra Series serves as a point of contrast on the façade of this Mediterranean-inspired home. The refined grayish-brown exterior is called Truffle.
5. Cabin Complements
In the right setting, these colors are an intuitive connection between modern features and rustic details. Here, an extruded aluminum-clad window exterior in Truffle serves as a transition from the expansive glass to the charmingly rugged wood siding.
6. Outside and In
Sometimes, selecting the right colors for the exterior and the interior can be drastically different tasks. Kolbe’s Forgent Series is used here, showing off an exterior in Bronze and an interior in Sahara. While the Bronze makes a statement on the outside, the Sahara takes a backseat on the inside to let the dark wood throughout the space be the focus.
7. Luxury Look
Bronze, Truffle, Sahara, and comparable colors have a rightful place in coastal-inspired spaces, as well. Here, Ultra Series direct set radius picture windows with a rich, earthy finish—appropriately called Rustic—overlook a lush pool space.
8. Beyond Home
In commercial settings, wood colors and textures are approachable and welcoming. These are surely desirable traits for a restaurant! Here, a Heritage Series folding window unit embraces vertical grain fir wood. The result is a space in which you can easily imagine relaxing for a coffee and brunch.
9. Wood Today
The warm familiarity of wood further redefines contemporary conventions. In this dining space, a white oak wood interior with a custom clear coat finish frames out remarkable views of a Canadian forest. The soft, organic color keeps the focus on the vibrant landscape, while the verticality of the material echoes the trees themselves.
10. Part of the Landscape
Beyond trees, these browns, beiges, and tans may evoke the very terrain upon which a structure stands. Even with its massive glass expanses, this residence seems to emerge from the hillside. The Dark Bronze anodized finish on the exterior of the windows and doors further establishes this sense of belonging.
11. Major Highlight
Earth tones are indeed prime for blending into the landscape, but they can also push windows to serve as focal points. A custom configuration of VistaLuxe WD LINE windows is amplified by a Truffle finish on this contemporary home, which also features a subtle Sand color on many of its other, smaller openings.
12. Always in Style
There are many reasons to employ a variation of brown in a custom window or door. Among them is the history and precedent of such colors and textures in design. The all-wood Heritage Series windows and doors of this home combine Rustic sash and panels with Natural Cotton frames, paying tribute to the traditional style while embracing today’s design flexibility.
Earth tones can bring unique purpose to your custom windows and doors and—in turn—new meaning to your project overall.
For a full exploration of Kolbe’s color options, start with our Style & Design overview.
