Opening up a restaurant in San Jose using an alternative to bi fold doors.

When ACI General Contractors, in San Raphael, and Allied Architecture, in San Francisco, decided to use Panoramic Doors in the Oryza restaurant project at the Westfieild Valley Fair Mall it was an easy sell to the owners because the cost was less than Nanawall's bi fold door system.

Another factor considered was that Panoramic Doors could easily build the panels above Nanawall's nine foot, six inch height restriction. Because the Panoramic Door system runs on the bottom track, the headers didn't need to be over engineered. This saved the owners more money on construction costs.

Allied Architecture chose Solarban 60 low "E" glass, by PPG, for the four huge folding patio doors. The "U" value is .30 and it gives better insulating value than Panoramic Door's standard Sungate 500 glass which has a .35 "U" value.

Because the Panoramic Door system is hingeless, the staff at Oryza can slide the panels around in different configurations to block direct sunlight or the breeze without having that accordion look or huge Z they would have gotten with partially open hinged bi-folds.

Allied Architecture came up with a great idea to use the Panoramic Door system as a pocket door. But not in the traditional sense of pocket doors. Traditional pocket doors slide parallel to each other and back into the wall. Because space was limited near the mall entrance Panoramic Doors made the panels a narrow 28" so all four panels fold into the small pocket you see in the bottom photo.

Everybody at ACI General Contractors, along with Allied Architecture, and USA AllGlass did a great job and the restaurant opened on January 12, 2012. John, the restaurant Manager, and his well trained staff turn out some amazing food like their buttermilk fried chicken. Stop in and enjoy some. The restaurant is in the Westfield Valley Fair Mall  located near Godiva Chocolate and Parking structure A on level 1 across from Valet Parking.

Our next project with ACI General Contractors is the new second location of Nopalito on 9th Ave. near Lincoln Way in San Francisco. The restaurant is scheduled to open March 2012. In the meantime check out Nopalito's first location near the panhandle.

How'd we get our retractable glass walls on HGTV'D with jamie Durie?

After the first episode of HGTV'D with Jamie Durie aired I got a question from Robert Hodgson of Ecore Contract.  Bob asked me "How'd you guys get your retractable glass wall on the show?" Well Bob, the Producers found Panoramic Doors online. Originally when they saw our system of floating panels they asked us to supply a closet door. We were thrilled HGTV'D asked us but we politely declined the offer because a closet door doesn't fit with what we do in retractable glass walls and french doors.  When the producers came back with a deck and garage conversion idea and those vertical gardens for the Barnes family, Panoramic Doors was grateful to be part of the dramatic transformation Jamie created.

The show will be repeating this week (schedule at www.panoramicdoors.com) so watch closely because they cram a lot into thirty minutes. Within a short time a garage is converted to an office and a stucco wall, on the back of the Barnes' home, is quickly replaced with folding glass walls. I love it, what a great way to showcase this growing trend of creative indoor/outdoor spaces.

Side Note: Bob teamed up with us recently to lead a project where we installed a french door in a home in Oakland California.  The couple who own the home wanted to replace an old aluminum slider that opened up to a deck. Bob took out the old slider and Panoramic Doors installed a three panel nine foot wide retractable glass wall system. Bob's team finished the door with stucco and trim.

Jamie Durie comes thru for the Barnes family of Hawthorne Ca with two retractable glass walls on HGTv'd

Jamie Durie and the crew at HGTV'D really came thru for the Barnes Family of Hawthorne, California. Jamie went over the top by going from a garage makeover to adding an incredible amount of creative spaces. Jamie uses retractable glass walls from Panoramic Doors, decking, and vertical gardens to make several creative spaces for Seth and Samantha Barnes.  Jamie gives the growing Barnes family more room to play and work by knocking out a huge wall of stucco and having Panoramic Doors install a retractable glass wall system. Jamie gives the growing Barnes family more usable space and lots of plants that Samantha Barnes can use to grow her food business. The vertical garden was genius and using it to divide the yard was creative genius from Jamie.

I agree with Samantha when she said "I'm never going on vacation again" she would rather stay and enjoy the creative spaces, plants, and outdoor kitchen that Jamie made. Converting the Barnes' garage  into an office and outdoor kitchen showed how adding another retractable glass wall to the Barnes' family garage transformed the space from dark and cluttered to light and airy.  Jamie estimated that the creative spaces he added will bring the value of the Barnes' home up $250,000.

Because Panoramic Doors' retractable glass wall can fit into an existing opening without the need for special engineering of the header we were able to install the door for Jamie's crew quickly. The crew  prepared the opening and our factory installers put both Panoramic Doors in on the same day.

For the garage conversion groves were cut in the concrete enabling the bottom track of the Panoramic Door to be flush. With the tracks at the same level as the flooring, this retractable glass wall system delivers clean lines and lots of view for the Barnes family. With Panoramic Doors installed in their home and outdoor kitchen the Barnes family can open the glass doors to let in the breeze and blur the lines between outside and in.

The team at Panoramic Doors is grateful to have been part of the "HGTVing" of Seth, Samantha, and the cutest new member of the Barnes family. Thank you Jamie and the crew of HGTV'D for recognizing Panoramic Doors' and our innovative retractable glass wall system.

Jamie Durie gives two retractable glass walls to Seth and Samantha Barnes on HGTV'D

We're thrilled that HGTV asked us to install two retractable glass wall systems into Seth and Samantha Barnes' home. The door system solves a lot of problems for homeowners at an affordable price. Having HGTV'D use our product is an honor that we're grateful for.

Tune in today because Panoramic Doors starts appearing on HGTV'D with Jamie Durie. See how the door is utilized to dramatically change the Barnes' home and convert their gargage into an office. You can go to PanoramicDoors.com to see show times in your area. The show will run from June 27th to July 4th, 2011.

What kind of problem does a retractable glass wall solve for homeowners?.

The retractable glass wall cools your home quicker by allowing even the slightest breeze to be felt indoors because you can open the whole door.

Retractable glass walls allow more natural light in because you have thin clean lines.

With the Panoramic Door system there's no need for special engineering of your existing opening. The door can be installed in most openings without the need to upgrade or alter the structure.

The system costs less because most of the hardware found on similar door systems is hidden or eliminated thru our patent pending design. All you see is clean lines.

Our new Vinyl product, called The Absolute, will be even more affordable then our price leading Panoramic Door in Aluminum or wood. Email for details at: Chris (at) PanoramicDoors (dot) com