Crittall-Style Doors, Windows And Room Dividers

(Image credit: Michaelis Boyd)

By Lotte Brouwer 2020-05-12T13:30:42Z

There's no denying that Crittall-style has been staging a comeback – and not just as windows and doors, but as walls, rear extensions, room dividers and even shower screens.

Edgy and versatile, the sturdy, slim-profile frames tap into the current trend for all things industrial. It's no wonder Crittall-style has been dominating our Pinterest feeds. They have the ability to completely transform a space; not just by giving it a cool, modern edge, but also by opening up a space and letting in more light. Crittall style doors allow you to cleverly partition open areas to create different zones, without compromising on light or space.

Find ideas for beautiful Crittal-style kitchen extensions.

Striking but minimalist, the steel-framed grid-like doors complement other all sorts of styles, from mid-century modern to Scandi-style, whiletheir graphic steel frames feel contemporary and add a hint of industrial style.

Crittall doors can be used as internal partitions and connecting doorways, and they're great for dividing up and zoning spaces.There's no arguing that open-plan living has become increasingly popular, allowing for more space and light. But tearing down all the walls isn't always practical, and sometimes spaces still need to be divided up somehow.Crittall style is perfect here, and people are using these steel-framed partitions to create floor plans that feel both light and inclusive but retain an element of separation.

Check out these gorgeous Crittall-style shower screens.

Crittall doors are also perfect for framing courtyards, gardens and rear extensions, creating a seamless transition between inside and out.

But Crittall style is nothing new. In fact,It was in 1860 that Francis Henry Crittall, an ironmonger in Essex, first used this method to create steel-framed windows. Yet despite being around for nearly 160 years they still feel as contemporary as ever. Metal framed glazing has never looked so good.

Double Height

The materials palette in this property has been kept very simple. White walls, a mix of polished concrete and oak parquet on the floors, black Crittal windows and subtle details highlighted in brass. Get the look: Design by Guy Stansfeld of 23+GS/318 Studio

Double Height

Trick Of The Eye

Crittall doors in this hallway make it feel larger than it really is.

Bedroom Doors

Neutrals create a soft, cosseting vibe instead of a minimalist one. The room connects to the garden via slim-profile Crittall-style glazing. Get the look: Chest of drawers, Porada. Stool, Caravane. Lamp base, Pooky. Pendant light, Pinch.

Light & Breezy

Flow-through spaces, natural tones and contemporary art keep things open and easy. Everywhere in this home, materials are seen at their simplest and best – from the pitted surface of Victorian brickwork to the sections of smooth concrete in the dining area. This space leads on to a roof terrace, where the family eats in warmer months. Frondy plants and large-scale glazing add to the feeling of openness. The dining table was repainted to give it a crisp, dark silhouette. Get the look: Dining table, Ikea. CH36 dining chairs, Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn at The Conran Shop. Pendant, Cox & Cox

Half Partition

In this gorgeous living space designed by Turner Pocock, small Crittal-style room partitions are enough to separate the different zones, without taking up too much space.

new heights

The floor-to-ceiling glazed doors resemble a translucent wall. This serene space is all part of an extension, but thanks to a skilful co-design between the interior architect and interior designer behind The Vada Collective, it feels more like a grand salon. Get the look Find similar pink chairs at My Furniture. The painting over the table is by Brian Nissen. The Glass doors were made by Maxlight.

French Doors

French doors open to a small balcony with sweeping views over LA.

WINDOW WALLS

It took 15 months to transform the space, while retaining as many original features as possible. The owner preserved the duct pipes, restored the concrete flooring and replaced the aluminium windows with repros of the building’s original steel designs. Get the look For steel doors and windows like these, check out Clement.

NO PANE NO GAIN

Glazed doors lead to an extension of the existing kitchen. The owners love to cook and needed a bigger space to prepare food – and to eat and entertain. Get the look The cabinetry and dining table were designed by Ofist. For a similar kitchen, try John Lewis of Hungerford. Go to Benchmark for a large dining table like this. These are Wishbone chairs by Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn. The Non Random pendants are by Bertjan Pot for Moooi.

good connection

This extension had already been added to the house, but new steel-framed windows and glazing were installed for a more modern edge. Get the look The window frames and doors were made by Fabco. These are Ercol Windsor chairs.

ROCK CHIC

The Crittall doors used here (pictured top) mean that the adjoining garage – housing custom motor bikes – is cleverly transformed into an innovative viewing gallery. Get the look The Crittall doors are custom-made. The photograph of Iggy Pop is by Roger Dagerman. This is an R nineT motorcycle by BMW.

dark and dreamy

A mix of flooring, including antique parquet, modern screed and traditional tiles, coexists happily with architectural elements, such as the steel and glass doors. Get the look The antique chandelier is from Aladdin’s Cave and was restored by Jolene Farmer. The Black Vigo floor tiles are by Bert & May. The steel and glass doors are from Clement Windows.

INDOOR OUTDOOR

This apartment was stripped back to its bones and the owner reworked the footprint to create a series of fluid zones, linked with the glass doors and juxtaposed by the eye-catching art that lines the walls. Get the look The wine rack and shelving was created by Tekne; for a range of reclaimed scaffold boards, as well as upcycled fixtures using the material, visit Rugged London. Find similar wood flooring at Element7. This is a vintage Stilnovo floor lamp.

tall order

The dressing area leads through to the en-suite. Statement steel framed glazed doors create a dramatic entrance. Get the look The bespoke whitewashed oak joinery with brass recessed handles is from AJ&B. The crittall-style doors are from Alu Nordic Timber.

pure and simple

A Crittall partition separates what was formerly a dark hallway from the reception room, while allowing light to flood the space. Get the look The walls are painted in Wevet estate emulsion and the banisters in Railings dead flat, both by Farrow & Ball. The Spot painting is by Damien Hirst.

SCREEN TIME

Steel screens separate this kitchen and dining space from the hallway. Get the look These modular steel screens are now available at British Standard.

In the frame

Metal-framed glass doors divide the bedroom and living room sections of the master suite. Get the look The walls are painted in Oval Room Blue, Farrow & Ball. The bed is by Schramm and the chandelier is the Zeppelin by Marcel Wanders for Flos. The build was by Galower Builders.

Dressing Room

This dreamy, spacious dressing room is divided from the master bedroom by steel-framed glazing. By day, it feels like one big space, with a flow of light from the front to the back of the house, but at night, the doors can be closed and the curtains drawn to make this master bedroom quiet and cosy. Get the look: The storage is bespoke by The London Joinery Co, using Alpheus poured panels by Solomon&Wu on the island. The glazing is by Govette Windows. This is the Modo chandelier by Jason Miller for Roll & Hill. The parquet flooring is from Element7.

Master Ensuite

Ribbed-glass Crittall doors separate the shower and WC from the basin, located in the bedroom. Painting ceilings in the same shade as the walls gives rooms a cohesive, cocooning feel. Get the look: The bespoke basin was made with a Béton Ciré finish. The 19th-century French oeil-de-boeuf (bull’s eye) zinc window mirror is from Anton & K. The walls and ceiling are painted in Felt IV flat emulsion by Paint & Paper Library.

Hallway Heaven

The ground-floor spaces have been opened up as much as possible, the old doorway replaced by wider, higher steel doors. Dark banisters create a dramatic zigzags up through the house’s core.

Dining Space

The garden can be viewed through steel-framed windows in the live-and-eat-in kitchen, with its leather, felt and hide furnishings. The dining area is in the new extension, which has opened out the interior, creating a fluid link between the inside and the garden, where the yew hedge has been scaled back to let in more light. Get the look: The flooring is by Dinesen. The bespoke dining table is by Benchmark. These are CH24 Wishbone chairs by Hans J Wegner for Carl Hanson & Søn at The Conran Shop.

Terrace

The rear of this house was extended up and out. The builders went back about three metres and up half a storey. A big terrace now creates a seamless connection between inside and out. It is a south-facing sun trap and the home owners use it all year round. Tough, weatherproof furniture stays outside all year round. Get the look: The furniture is from Danish company Cane-line. The terrace and steps are made from York Stone and were laid by English City Stone, which also installed the railings. The steel windows are from Clement Windows.

Stairwell

Crittall doors open out from the living area to the stairwell, where the La Volière pendant hangs. Get the look: This is the La Volière pendant light by Mathieu Challières at The Conran Shop. YES Glazing Solutions supplied the Crittall doors. The faux flamingos were found at The Red Dot Gallery.

Front Door

A glazed entrance makes a striking statement and allows for light to pour through – though there's no hiding from whoever's at the door. Get the look: The concrete deer are antique from a Paris dealer. The metal plants pots were from multiple antique dealers in the Hamptons. The wood cladding is in Brazilian teak.

Dining Space

A wall of Crittall-style windows allows light to stream throughout this entire open-plan basement living area, reaching this inner hallway beyond the dining space. Get the look: The trio of framed artworks is by Boston artist Jonas Woods. The photograph of the ventriloquist’s dummy is from Matthew Rolston’s Talking Heads series.

Cosy Corner

A grid of über-chic Crittall-style glazing is a masterstroke in this living room. They exude a feeling of modernity that gives older heirlooms and vintage finds a bit of a “lift”. In the summer, these doors tend to stay wide open for most of the weekend, but on cooler evenings, they’re brilliant at keeping the house warmly insulated. The ordered mood of the black-framed glazing is matched by the clean, sleek lines of the super-wide floorboards. Get the look: The windows are by Steel Window Service. The sideboard is vintage Ercol, bought on eBay. The flooring is from Jordan’s Wood Flooring.

Bedroom Divide

This glazed wall screens off both the en-suite bathroom and a dressing area beyond. Get the look: Find original Yves Klein artwork at Istdibs.com. The bedside table is by New York’s Stephanie Odegard Collection.

Wet Room

This luxe, spacious bathroom has a wet room separated by a chic glazed steel divide. Get the look: The steel and glass wall is by Space Exploration Design. Try Mosaic del Sur for similar floor tiles. The cabinets are bespoke. The taps and shower are by Barber Wilsons & Co. The bath is vintage – try The Albion Bath Company for a similar style.

Open Plan

This modern kitchen extension flows onto a terraced seating area with grassy garden beyond. A love of strong, industrial design is written all over the kitchen, with its exposed brick walls, brass taps, vast steel windows and salvaged supporting pillar. Get the look: Wall light is from Lampe Gras. The marble for the worktops came from Marble City. The table is from Belgian company Heerenhuis. The moulded plywood chairs are by Eames for Herman Miller, bought in the US and shipped over. The island is painted in Off-Black eggshell by Farrow & Ball. The Heidi stools are by Sebastian Wrong for Established & Sons.

Rear Extension

The inside and outside merges in this new extension, where the comfortable window seat is an ideal spot to perch and chat. Furnishings are spare, but not spartan, with pieces – such as the vintage leather sofa and the bench designed by Pinch – chosen for warmth and texture. Get the look: Amara has a range of cube footstools. This is Blu Dot’s Free Range coffee table in Marble from Heal’s.

Industrial Style

This kitchen has an industrial edge, with hard surfaces and simple, practical fittings. Get the look: The Honed Petite Granite floor tiles are from Integrated and the Grove wall tiles are by Waterworks. The mahogany kitchen island with its white Carrara marble worktop came from Fullscale Woodworking Inc, while the drawer unit and white oak shelves and brass brackets were all custom made. The Tolix bar stools are from Antiquaire and the large pendant Candy Shop light, made from industrial parts, is by John Ogden from John Derion.

Double Height

By creating a double-height, glazed façade and linking it to the main house, an awe-inspiring new kitchen was created. The chandelier in the kitchen came with the house but was painted bright pink for a modern look. Get the look: The kitchen units are from Krieder and are finished in sprayed lacquer, with worktops in Corian and banana leaf veneer. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Charleston Gray estate emulsion. These are Argento Larch porcelain planks from Mandarin Stone. This is the Josef armchair from Swoon Editions. These are Jerry dining chairs by Habitat.

Window To The Courtyard

Crittall-style doors look out onto the home's courtyard and swimming pool.By placing a modular sofa in the centre, a dynamic lounging area is created in which you could watch TV on one side, or warm yourself near the fireplace on the other. The double-sided sofa provides a flexible island for lounging, and gets around the problem of looking at the back of a sofa. Get the look: The painting above the fireplace is by Ronald Lee Anderson from 1960. These are custom-made steel-framed glazing windows from Crittall Windows. The TV is concealed in floor using a lift from Inca. This is polished concrete flooring with a light grey matte finish.

Cohesive

Wrap-around Crittall doors create a cohesive feel. Get the look: The painting above the fireplace is by Ronald Lee Anderson from 1960.The concrete poodles are antiques from the Fifties. The vintage Fifties telephone was a New York flea-market find. The Excite speakers in the ceiling are from Crestron. These are custom-made steel-framed glazing windows from Crittall Windows. The TV is concealed in floor using a lift from Inca. This is polished concrete flooring with a light grey matte finish.

Courtyard Appeal

Crittall-style windows look out into this home's pretty courtyard. Get the look: These are Tom Vac outdoor chairs by Ron Arad for Vitra. The concrete table is embedded with pebbles and was created by British artist Rachel Schwalm.

French Doors

The kitchen has Crittall-style French doors that open on to a paved garden. Get the look: The Kenta table and benches were custom-made by Lombok. The ballroom chandeliers are from Abigail Ahern. The plant pot is by marthasturdy.com. The kitchen units and island were custom designed, made in Poland via architect Waind Gohil. For this inset stove, visit Fisher & Paykel. The Singing bowls are by Donna Karan.

Light Well

Crittall-style doors open onto a downstairs light well. A Victorian-style spiral staircase leads up to the garden. Get the look: Premier Basements carried out the basement conversion The reclaimed floor tiles are from Bert & May.

Curtain Call

The dining room is sectioned off from the bedroom and the rest of the apartment via Crittall doors – with curtains giving essential privacy when needed. Get the look: The steel-framed glass wall was designed and built by MADE. This is the Himmeli pendant by Jason Miller for Brooklyn-based design house Roll & Hill. The table is a collaboration between Jane Schulak and MADE, using a 3cm-thick slab of Bianco Ondulare marble sourced from Walker Zanger in New York. The vintage Thonet armchair is from Holler & Squall in Brooklyn; the rest of the dining chairs were found through US retailer bauhaus2yourhouse.com.

Sky Light

A glazed Crittall-style roof on the side return and a glass floor on the first-floor landing both filters light through to the living area beneath. Get the look: The Terence Woodgate sofa is upholstered in a Kvadrat fabric. The Crawford coffee table and Corona oak side table are from Swoon Editions. The artwork behind the sofa is Exodus IX by Marcus Lyon.

Pivot

This lower ground floor is a surprisingly light space, with iconic design shapes set against pale timber cladding and flush cabinetry, black-framed glazing and seamless terrazzo flooring. A pivoting door leads out into the garden and helps provide end-to-end natural light, while designer lights add illumination. Toys, games and the stuff of family life are stored in the run of handleless cabinets. Get the look: The table is a bespoke design by Clayton Cabinets. The Mobile chandelier and Tube wall light are by Michael Anastassiades. The dining chairs are vintage Mart Stam for Thonet. The concealed storage is by Tamzin Greenhill Designs, made by Grovecourt.