Vantage Design
Find your perfect Vantage point
At Vantage, we’ve been getting to know the needs of homeowners, builders and architects for over 50 years.
Our locally made windows and doors are found in more New Zealand homes than any other brand, and we’re always refining and innovating solutions to meet changing needs.
Choose your windows, doors and hardware from one of our ranges, or mix and match to suit your project – it’s your build, your way, with Vantage.
Getting Started
Simple steps to choose the right windows and doors for you
Step 1
Consider how you will live in your home
What is the landscape/environment that you live in?
How do you need your house to function?
What life stage are you at? Do you have children at home?
Do you spend a lot of time using outdoor living or entertaining areas?
Step 5
Hardware
Explore your hardware options – what kind of look do you want to achieve?
Blending in or making a statement?
Contemporary or classic look?
Step 2
Create a pin board
Look at things like:
Living spaces
Colours
Styles
Textures
Visit vantage.co.nz/inspiration-gallery
Create online favourites account.
Step 6
Glass
Glass can enhance the way your home looks and feels, but it also adds to the warmth and thermal efficiency of your home
Consider performance glass options to optimise the warmth and comfort of your home.
Step 3 Step 4
Products
Look at our product ranges and decide what best suits your needs - consider thermally efficient products as well
The handy tools on our website will help you through this process such as perfect product: vantage.co.nz/perfect-product.
Colours
Consider the colour options that are available, how it ties in with the look of your home, and how it looks from the inside
Look at the latest colour trends.
Step 7
Ask the experts
Ask the experts about our products and surface finishes for the right advice
See our website for handy tips so you can ask the right questions: vantage.co.nz/ask-an-expert
Request a quote with an expert: vantage.co.nz/find-an-expert
See our website vantage.co.nz for more inspiration.
Which product fits my home?
Vantage Windows and Doors offer a comprehensive range of products to complement any project. Find the perfect format for your new home.
Other sizes are possible within each range, depending on wind zone and span requirements.
Contact your local manufacturer for further details.
Tip: Fixed or opening windows can be placed above these doors to increase the overall height of the unit.
RESIDENTIAL SERIES
2.1m high doors
Versatile mainstream range at an economical price.
Available with ThermalHEART® to reduce hot and cold transfer.
METRO SERIES
2.4m high doors
Premier contemporary range for use in demanding environments.
Available with ThermalHEART® to reduce hot and cold transfer.
APL ARCHITECTURAL SERIES
2.7m high doors
High performance range with architecturally styled homes in mind.
Ranges
What door and window types are available in our product ranges?
We offer a wide variety of window and door formats to suit almost any application, and custom-designed windows and doors are also an option. Most of the formats are available across all of our product ranges.
See the configurations page at the back of this brochure for further detail.
Awning, Casement and Fixed windows
Sliding windows
Bi-fold windows
Roof windows
Hinged and French doors
Sliding doors
Bi-fold doors
Entrance doors
Sliding door and picture windows in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Residential Series
Clean, contemporary lines, smooth surfaces and generously sized profiles – that’s the essence of the Residential Series.
A flat face frame with the ability to seamlessly mix and match with products from Metro Series or APL Architectural Series. It is our most economical, mainstream range of windows and doors.
Residential Series
Residential Series offers:
A complete portfolio of window and door types, including custom-designed
Expertly designed to cater for the majority of residential building projects
Recommended door height of 2.1m, however doors can potentially be higher depending on site conditions
Seamless transition using our flush sill sliding doors for the ultimate indoor-outdoor flow
Scope to choose specialised features – e.g. passive ventilation (page 60)
Available with ThermalHEART ® to reduce hot and cold transfer (page 32).
Sliding door in Metropolis Electric Cow Matt with Urbo colour matched hardware
3 panel bi-fold door in Matt Gravel with Urbo colour matched hardware
Stacker sliding window in Metropolis Electric Cow Matt with Urbo colour matched hardware
Sliding window in Matt Gravel with Urbo colour matched hardware
in Matt Ironsand with Urbo colour matched hardware
Awning window in DURATEC Platypus
Picture window in Matt Black with glass louvres
Residential Series ThermalHEART
® bi-fold door and awning windows in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Picture windows in Matt Metropolis Electric Cow
Stacker sliding doors and picture windows in Metropolis Coal Dust with Urbo colour matched hardware
A combination of products in Matt Metropolis Electric Cow with Urbo colour matched hardware
Stacker sliding doors in Matt Flax Pod with Urbo colour matched hardware
Metro Series
Metro Series is all about clean lines and a contemporary look. It is a stylish and heavy-duty range, suitable for residential and architectural applications.
Metro Series
Metro Series offers:
Clean, flat surfaces
Large-sized formats capable of handling a wide range of weather conditions, engineered to stringent strength requirements
Recommended door height of 2.4m, however doors can potentially be higher depending on site conditions
Flush sill tracks maintain the clean-lined theme, and assist indoor-outdoor flow for sliding doors
Specialised features available e.g. passive ventilation (page 60)
Available with ThermalHEART ® (page 32).
Stacker sliding doors in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Sliding door in Matt Slate with Elemental Black anodised pull handle
ThermalHEART® sliding window in Matt Gravel with Black anodised Elemental hardware
Hinged door in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Picture windows in Metropolis Coal Dust
ThermalHEART® sliding door and picture windows in Matt Gravel with Black anodised Elemental hardware
Picture windows in Metropolis Coal Dust
Picture window in Matt Black
Stacker sliding door and picture window in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Picture window in Matt Black
Sliding door in Matt Black with Urbo matched hardware and Matt Black aluminium louvres
APL Architectural Series
Targeted at architectural homes and apartments, the APL Architectural Series range of high-performance windows and doors are meticulously designed.
APL Architectural Series
APL Architectural Series offers:
Large formats suitable for most weather and environmental conditions
Square-edged shape and flush surfaces
Assured strength and versatility
Recommended door height of 2.7m, however doors can potentially be higher depending on site conditions
Flush sills and easy-glide panels available for sliding doors
Specialised features available e.g. passive ventilation (page 60).
Aluminium louvres in Matt Black
Bi-parting sliding doors in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Bi-parting sliding doors and picture windows in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Sliding door into a cavity with custom hardware and 125mm Structural glazed picture window
Over-the-wall sliding door in Matt Black with custom hardware
Over-the-wall stacker sliding door in Matt Flax Pod with Urbo colour matched hardware
Stacker sliding doors and picture windows in Matt Slate with Urbo colour matched hardware
Cavity sliding doors in Metropolis Electric Cow with Urbo colour matched hardware
ThermalHEART ®
Double-glazing is standard these days. But our innovative ThermalHEART® technology takes the fight against winter cold a step further with an additional thermal insulator stitched into the core of our aluminium window system.
Why choose ThermalHEART ® ?
Comfort: Choosing windows and doors that increase your family’s wellbeing makes perfect sense.
Warmth: Keeping cool temperatures out in colder months, and decreasing solar gain in warmer months assists in year-round warmth and comfort.
Health: ThermalHEART® reduces the risk of condensation forming, therefore reducing the risk of mould growth.
ThermalHEART ® offers:
Thermal performance up to 35% better than standard double glazed windows
A full range of window and door options are available
Recommended door height of 2.1m for Residential Series and 2.4m for Metro Series however doors can potentially be higher depending on site conditions
Dual colour is available within the Metro Series range – different colours on the interior and exterior
Doors with a thermal break built into them may experience slight temporary bowing due to the difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the door, especially when exposed to direct sunlight.
ThermalHEART® nylon barriers insulate the frame
Warm and cold areas are separated
Energy rating systems
For many New Zealanders, energy efficiency is top of mind, and increasingly a factor when it comes to making purchasing decisions. The same concern applies to windows and doors, given the impact that glazing can have on the comfort levels of your home. WEERS allocates between one and six stars to a job lot of windows and doors. This system has been adopted by the Window and Glass Association of New Zealand and uses its own star logo.
The more stars, the better the thermal efficiency. Look for the WEERS rating on your window quote or in a separate report from your local manufacturer.
Allows homeowners to see the precise rating for a job lot of windows and doors.
Endorsed by the Window and Glass Association of New Zealand.
Stacker sliding door in Klima White with Urbo colour matched hardware
Klima Series
If thermal efficiency is among your top priorities, Klima Series is the smart bet.
It may not yet be as familiar as aluminium, but uPVC joinery is set to become a popular option for Kiwi homeowners. How could it not?
Designed and manufactured here in New Zealand to suit our uniquely challenging climate, durable Klima Series windows and doors deliver warmth and comfort all yearround and are unbeatable for thermal efficiency.
Benefits of Klima Series include:
Thermal efficiency
A thermally efficient home can be up to $900* cheaper to warm every year compared to one built to code, as well as being more comfortable to live in and better for the environment. Clever house design is a key contributor, but you also need great products. Klima Series is perfect for the New Zealand climate, achieving a maximum 6 energy stars under WEERS (Window Energy Efficiency Rating) when used with high-performance glazing.
Healthier homes
Too many of New Zealand houses aren’t healthy homes. Klima Series represents an affordable investment to create a home that is healthier and more comfortable 365 days of the year.
Noise reduction
Excessive noise in a home can raise stress levels, affect concentration and sleep and generally undermine wellbeing. Klima Series not only keeps your home toasty, it offers excellent noise reduction.
Durability
Put to the ultimate test under a desert sun, Klima Series came through with flying colours, showing no signs of degrading or discolouring thanks to the highly durable nature of uPVC.
*A thermally efficient 8 star Green Star house can be up to $900 cheaper to warm than a house built to code. Source: NZGBC.
See our Klima Series brochure for further information vantage.co.nz/klima-series
AluClip system
Klima Series products are available in white, but can also be supplied in other colours using the AluClip system.
It is a powdercoated aluminium facing clipped on to the exterior frame. As a result, your exterior colour choice becomes virtually unlimited.
Awning windows in Klima White with Urbo colour matched hardware
Smartwood
The best of both worlds: Smartwood composite windows and doors combine the natural glow of wood on the inside, with the durability of aluminium outside.
Features include:
Thermal efficiency: Good thermal properties, helped by internal timber facings.
A wide range of timber options: including cedar, jarrah, kwila, American white oak, and others.
Comprehensive range: of windows and doors, plus a host of enhancements.
Recommended door height of 2.4m in very high wind zones.
Hinged door in Cedar with Miro hardware
Bi-fold windows in Cedar with Miro hardware
Picture windows in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Custom windows
Tailored to suit your preference.
A wide range of shapes, sizes and configurations are possible, from curved tops to angular windows and aluminium, glass and timber louvres.
Aluminium louvre windows in Matt Black
Picture windows in Metropolis Coal Dust with Urbo colour matched hardware
Roof windows
Designed to be thermally efficient, Vantage roof windows include a thermal break, and incorporate AGP’s industry-leading glass technology with a Solux-E® low-E coating.
Roof window can be customised, and are available in dual colour to match the interior and roof colours
Its flush edges means no ponding of water and allows window to be installed to low roof pitches
An auto rain-sensor feature can activate closing
Can be fixed, or hinge-opening with control by manual winder, toggle switch to open and close electronically, or with remote touchpad with four open/close options.
Opening roof window in Matt Ironsand
Opening roof window in Matt Ironsand
Residential Series ThermalHEART® in Matt Gravel with a Glass Plasma Entrance Door in Grey Friars
Entrance Doors
A good entrance door is the defining feature of your home.
See our Entrance Door brochure or visit our website for further information. vantage.co.nz/entrance-doors
Note – Configurations are subject to change. Also, dark colours may not be suitable for doors that are exposed to prolonged direct sunlight. Consult your local manufacturer or view our Entrance Door brochure for further information.
Latitude
Tongue and groove planks, in either a vertical or horizontal version with a sturdy frame around the door panel.
Plasma
Flush, flat surface finish with different options available, including horizontal negative detail lines. Slimline Plasma and Commercial Grade Plasma options available.
Axis
Vertical tongue and groove panel design with clean, straight lines.
Classic
Designed with rectangular patterns in either scrolled or contemporary edgings for a traditional look.
Aquila
A combination of horizontally stacked tongue and groove boards, with a chunky modern frame.
Glass Plasma
Clad in 5mm toughened glass sheets with a minimal aluminium edge.
Lindo
Highly personalised design using a plank system.
Finishes
You can never have too many options, which is why we offer a comprehensive range of entrance door colours and finishings.
Mannex
A low sheen surface finish highly resistant to marking and scuffing specifically for use on entrance doors. There are a wide variety of colours available. Please ask your manufacturer for a colour brochure to see our full range of Mannex powdercoat options.
Please note that the finish of the Mannex powdercoating will look slightly different to the powdercoating on your aluminium joinery.
Intensity
There are six bold bright colours in this Dulux DURATEC range, ensuring excellent colour retention and exceptionally hard wearing.
Fading and Bowing
Dark colours may not be suitable for doors that are exposed to prolonged direct sunlight as this may cause the colour to fade, so careful consideration needs to be made when choosing your entrance door colour/s.
Doors with a thermal break built into them may experience slight temporary bowing due to the difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the door, especially when exposed to direct sunlight. We stress that this is only a temporary effect and the door will revert back to its normal shape as the aluminium cools. This may occur primarily with dark colours, so can be minimised by selecting lighter external colours or increasing cover over the door area.
See our Entrance Door brochure or visit our website for further information. vantage.co.nz/entrance-doors
Hardware
The Vantage range of hardware gives you choice in shape, function and finish, all with secure and convenient locking features and options to colour match to your joinery.
Urbo
Urbo is all about fine lines, clean shapes and a combination of square and radiused edges, delivering a lighter look without compromising on strength.
Lever door handle
Offers multi-point locking, and when the handle is lifted upwards it activates locking rods at the top and bottom of the door for added security.
Small - 120mm x 22mm with a base plate of 212mm h x 32mm w
Large - 150mm x 30mm with a base plate of 292mm h x 44mm w
Pull handle
Lock is fixed separately to the door, and is activated by a key or interior turn knob. A four-point locking system is available.
- 255mm h
Large - 323mm h
Surface mount sliding door handle
An all-in-one handle and lock for sliding doors or windows. Snib or keyway installed in the body of the handle.
180mm h x 95mm w
Small
Self-latching sliding door lock
The self-latching sliding door lock can latch doors easily, especially where two panels meet in a bi-parting slider configuration.
90mm h x 28mm w with a base plate of 56mm h x 22mm w
Bi-fold handle
This swivel operator activates locking rods in the top and bottom of the door or window panel.
220mm h x 25mm w
Flush pull
The flush pull is ideal for lighter sliding panels where a robust hand grip is not required.
220mm h x 44mm w
Window fastener
Closes against the window frame with no visible flap or wedge. Also available in a low profile option.
110mm w x 33mm d
Venting window fastener
A venting option of the window fastener is available which allows the window to be fastened in a partially open position for passive ventilation.
110mm w x 33mm d
Architectural window fastener
The window fastener with separately fixed wedge is suitable for the APL Architectural Series.
110mm w x 40mm d
Miro
The Miro range of die-cast handles is a contemporary classic, characterised by elegant, ergonomic curves.
Lever door handle
Offers multi-point locking, and when the handle is lifted upwards it activates locking rods at the top and bottom of the door for added security.
Handle length - 117mm
Baseplate - 210mm
Pull handle
Lock is fixed separately to the door, and is activated by a key or interior turn knob. A multi-point locking system is available.
Surface mount sliding door handle
This all-in-one handle and lock for sliding doors or windows has no separately installed snib or keyway.
175mm h x 54mm d
Bi-fold handle
This swivel operator activates locking rods in the top and bottom of the door or window panel.
153mm h x 24mm w
Window fastener
Combines a sure hand grip with clean lines. Available in a low profile option.
h x 39mm d
Venting window fastener
A venting option of the wedgeless handle is available which allows the window to be fastened in a partially open position for passive ventilation.
100mm w x 39mm d
Architectural window fastener
This window fastener has a separately fixed wedge, and is suitable for the APL Architectural Series and Smartwood.
100mm w x 48mm d
100mm
Icon
New Zealand’s first fully integrated range of 316 grade stainless steel hardware for aluminium windows and doors.
Lever door handle
Offers multi-point locking, and when the handle is lifted upwards it activates locking rods at the top and bottom of the door for added security.
Small
Handle length - 110mm
Baseplate -210mm
Large
Handle length - 150mm
Baseplate - 290mm
Pull handle
Lock is fixed separately to the door, and is activated by a key or interior turn knob. A multi-point locking system is available.
Sliding door flush pull
The flush pull is ideal for lighter sliding panels where a robust hand grip is not required.
Window fastener
This fastener for Residential Series awning and casement windows blends square-edged and radiused looks. Closes against the window frame with no visible flap or wedge. Also available in a low profile option.
230mm h x 43mm w
110mm w x 31mm d
Bi-fold handle
This swivel operator activates locking rods in the top and bottom of the door or window panel.
170mm h x 25mm w
Architectural window fastener
The Icon window fastener with separately fixed wedge is designed for high specification window systems - including APL Architectural Series.
110mm w x 36mm d
Elemental
As its name implies, the Elemental hardware range strives for simplicity. Elemental is a unique range of hardware that is made from extruded aluminium.
Available in anodised colours: Silver, Black, Champagne, Light Bronze, Medium Bronze, Dark Bronze.
Lever door handle
Offers multi-point locking, and when the handle is lifted upwards it activates locking rods at the top and bottom of the door for added security.
Small
Handle length - 125mm
Baseplate - 221mm
Large
Handle length - 140mm
Baseplate - 292mm
Pull handle
Available in two sizes - large or small, but can be made to any length by special order. Lock is fixed separately to the door, and is activated by a key or interior turn knob. A multi-point locking system is available.
Small 250mm h
Large 325mm h
Flush pull
The flush pull is ideal for lighter sliding panels where a robust hand grip is not required.
269mm h x 44mm w
Bi-fold handle
A sleek swivel operator that activates locking rods in the top and bottom of the door or window panel.
Espagnolette window fastener
Single hand, robust operation drives a two-point latch mechanism in the window which includes a secure venting position.
Window fastener
Closes against the window frame with no visible flap or wedge. Also available in a low profile option.
110mm w x 35mm d
Venting window fastener
A venting option of the window fastener is available which allows the window to be fastened in a partially open position for passive ventilation.
160mm h x 34mm w
110mm w x 35mm d
Surface Finishes
Powdercoating
You can never have too many options when it comes to choosing a colour for joinery – which explains why powdercoating is such a popular surface finish for Kiwi homeowners.
No other treatment offers such a diverse palette. And when it comes to Vantage, colour is just one of the alternatives to mull over. Matt finishes, for example, have been introduced as an alternative to satin for many colours, offering a more consistent look.
And there’s also a Mannex finish that creates a low sheen surface highly resistant to marking and scuffing – perfect for entrance doors. For the majority of residential developments, the highly popular DURALLOY powder grade will be more than adequate.
However, for buildings in particularly exposed locations, such as coastal holiday homes vulnerable to salt spray, additional protection makes sense. Premium grade DURATEC powder offers more advanced weathering capability and a superior warranty, and has proved popular for high-end houses and apartments near the beach. (It may well be required, in fact, depending on where your building project is located in relation to coastal corrosion zones. Please see our Care and Maintenance brochure).
Finally: When you are choosing your aluminium joinery colours, always assess swatches in natural light.
View our popular colours brochure for further information vantage.co.nz/brochures
Anodising
Anodised finishing is a highly popular choice for architectural projects, and is a durable and colour fast technology that offers an alternative to powdercoating. Vantage offers matt finish as standard.
As for colours and film thicknesses, there are plenty of options: Silver, in 12 and 25 microns. Bronze in light, medium or dark, 12 and 25 microns. Black, 25 microns only. Champagne, in 25 microns only.
For properties in coastal, industrial or other corrosive environments, 25 microns is recommended, and may even be required to qualify for a warranty. (Note: the anodised coating has a 10 - year warranty for 12 micron anodising, and 20 - years for 25 microns.)
Anodising is unavailable in Residential ThermalHEART®
Silver
Champagne
Light Bronze
Medium Bronze
Dark Bronze
Black
Residential Series ThermalHEART
Sliding door and sliding window in Metropolis Porpoise with Icon hardware
Passive Ventilation
Vantage have a range of passive ventilation options available – from the straightforward Sashvent and Aerovent systems, to the sophisticated Ventient system.
Benefits of Passive Ventilation:
Introduces fresh air into the building envelope
Makes homes healthier, by improving air quality
Easier and more efficient to heat, reducing energy consumption.
Sashvent
An effective background ventilation system through the bottom of an opening window
Installed into bottom opening windows (awning)
A manual slide allows the vent to be open and closed
Insect mesh barrier ensures only fresh air is allowed in.
Aerovent
Improved airflow with less visual intrusion
A cover on the inside also acts as a manual slide for opening and closing
Air movement is directed upwards to prevent draughts
Ideal for cross-ventilation and air flow
Internal insect mesh barrier ensures only fresh air is allowed in.
Ventient
Naturally automated trickle ventilator suitable for high-end residential and commercial projects
Has an internal device, which automatically opens and closes in response to outside air temperatures
Installed in Metro Series or APL Architectural Series windows or doors
Mesh prevents insect entry to the aluminium Ventient box, and dust and pollen filters may also be incorporated.
Cross sections showing air flow
Glass Options
Glazing choices are an important option to consider. Glass can enhance the way your home looks and feels, but it also adds to the warmth and thermal efficiency of your home.
It’s a good idea to work through your options to find the right glass for your home. With options to reduce UV, minimise heat loss, and increase year-round comfort, your decisions can have a significant impact on the performance of your glazing.
Some factors to consider and discuss with your manufacturer are the orientation and shading of your home, the climate and noise around where you live.
There are a variety of performance glass options to suit most requirements. Here is a quick overview of the most popular options to consider.
Double glazing
Double glazing offers year-round thermal advantages. Benefits include significant reduction in UV light and good retention of internal heat. As a bonus, it also dampens sound.
Low-E
Low-E (the ‘e’ stands for emissivity) glass is a virtually invisible coating incorporated into your double glazing, improving the level of insulation in your home. The Low-E coating is applied to the inside surface of the exterior glass pane, protecting it from the elements.
Thermal spacers
A thermal spacer reduces heat transfer through the glass edge and improves the seal that is key to genuine doubleglazing. A thermal spacer holds the two glass panes of your double-glazed windows and doors apart and creates a seal to hold in the gas fill. This keeps warm and cold areas separated, reducing heat loss around the outside of your glazing.
Gas fill
Inert gases such as argon and krypton can be used as an insulator in double glazing to create an additional barrier to heat loss and heat absorption, improving thermal performance. The efficiency of a gas fill is enhanced when paired with a thermal spacer.
What
Retains heat
Low-E reflects the warm air in the home back into the house rather than escaping through the glass. This reduces the energy needed to keep the home warm in cooler months.
Blocks excessive heat
Reduces fading
Low-E lets the sun’s visible light pass through but reflects the ‘sun heat’ back out again. With less heat entering your home, there’s less need for air-conditioning to keep it cool.
Low-E helps protect furnishings in the home from fading by reducing the amount of UV light that enters through the glass.
Please contact your local manufacturer for
Residential Series Sliding door in Metropolis Electric Cow with Urbo colour matched hardware
Customer Stories
Metro Series cavity sliding doors and sliding windows in Metropolis Coal Dust with Urbo colour matched hardware
Visit vantage.co.nz/site-for-sore-eyes to see more images and video on this house feature
Site for Sore Eyes
This clifftop stunner is the ultimate in indoor/outdoor flow
The site of Cathie and Jono Staines’ home on the clifftop above Murray’s Bay, with its sweeping sea views across to Rangitoto and beyond, is so prized by the couple that, rather than move, they simply rebuild.
The 361sqm modern home of precast concrete and dark painted Accoya cladding is the third incarnation on the site they have called home for 27 years.
Living here so long meant they were the experts and could tell architect David Giles exactly where the best views were for this latest home in which they’ve now lived for two and a half years. “We knew exactly what would work,” says Cathie.
Jono loves nothing more than opening the Vantage sliding windows in Metropolis Coat Dust from the main bedroom to fully appreciate those vistas.
They’ve raised their five boys on the property and now look after their 11 grandchildren from here. “It’s a very family-friendly house. The grandchildren, aged from 18 months up to 11, are here most days,” explains Cathie of the four-bedroom home.
But it is the resort style of living that visitors to the house are quick to notice and Cathie can attest to, fondly recalling regular cocktails by the pool during the first lockdown.
This relaxed, resort feel is in large part down to the seamless flow from the open-plan interior living space to the expansive outside deck, fireplace, ample entertaining areas and, ultimately to the pool. When the couple open the APL Architectural Series cavity sliding doors standing three metres tall on two sides of the living space, inside really does become outside and vice versa, meaning the children can safely come and go as they please. “Once they’re open, indoors and outdoors really does become blurred.”
Cathie is a fan of modern interiors and the soft neutral tones of the home, furniture and impressive leathered granite kitchen island set off by dark stained oak cabinetry inset with brass hardware is a testament to this. “I love modern but not stark and it has to be childfriendly,” says the grandmother who installed coloured LED lighting in the media room because one of her granddaughters thought it would be fun.
Now that the couple have their version of paradise, the Staines are pretty sure they will not be building again, so have made it a smart home to be able to open blinds and curtains, control the music and alarm system remotely. They have also future-proofed the house by installing a lift, although the only ones to have used it so far are the grandchildren.
Metro Series cavity sliding doors in Metropolis Coal Dust with Urbo colour matched hardware
Metro Series sliding windows in Metropolis Coal Dust with Urbo colour matched hardware
Metro Series sliding windows in Metropolis Coal Dust with Urbo colour matched hardware
Metro Series cavity sliding doors and sliding windows in Metropolis Coal Dust with Urbo colour matched hardware
Visit vantage.co.nz/natural-selection to see more images and video on this house feature
Natural Selection
When a builder and an interior designer created their own home, the result was a considered house rich in details
For such a handsome home, the entrance to Bronwyn and Bruce Turton’s Horsham Downs place is not an example of letting all your fireworks off at once. Okay, maybe one bang on approach – the Palm Springs-style cedar covered drive-up – but that’s to keep guests dry in wet weather. However, the door isn’t an extravagant oversized affair designed to instil shock and awe into guests.
Instead, the house has been designed to put people at ease, says Bronwyn. “I love the way it’s always welcoming and warm. I didn’t want it to feel precious and it’s nice to create a space people feel comfortable being in.”
There is, however, an “Oh my God” moment, says Bronwyn, when visitors pass through the entrance and catch sight of the central outdoor room in the middle of a Japanesestyle garden of stones and maples. The eye then goes to the floor-to-cathedral ceiling bank of gridded picture windows and through to Waikato’s green rolling meadows beyond. Bang and bang.
For the most part though, it is a house that reveals itself gradually to you. It is designed
as a series of interconnecting pavilions that invariably guide you to the outdoor room through Vantage’s large Metro Series large sliding doors.
There are opportunities to turn corners and make discoveries, such as the small courtyard that can be viewed from one of the bathrooms, or the large cafe window from Bruce’s part of the kitchen (where the coffee machine and wine cellar are) that opens outwards on gas struts. Or the Festoonlit, acoustically perfect high brick-walled courtyard son Brad got married in, just off the guest pavilion.
The couple, with two grown-up children, bought the land complete with four paddocks back when their daughter Emma was competitively riding. Now she’s having her own children, the generous stables and dressage arena don’t get the use they once did, although the horse and naughty pony still enjoy sheltering in the stables when it’s raining.
From the outset, the couple knew they wanted a “very grounded home”. And that
was the brief to Tane Cox of Hamilton’s Red Architecture. “We wanted to incorporate a lot of natural materials, such as steel and timber but didn’t want an industrial look – although we wanted a nod to the industrial. And we particularly liked brick.”
Bronwyn’s attraction to natural materials is almost genetic. “My parents were rock hunters. I hated it because our holidays weren’t to Whangamata; we went gemstone-hunting in the Coromandel. My love of stones comes from them.”
She and Bruce know their building materials. Bruce is a builder with his own company who spent 18 months building the house alongside son Brad, and Bronwyn is an interior designer and principal of Turton + Oliver Interior Design.
Both are also details-obsessed and enjoy sourcing new materials that will stand the test of time, as well as finding practical solutions and innovations. Working with her trusted collaborators she sourced Belgian bricks (“they’re a smaller shape to the New Zealand ones, have an earthy tone and an aged appearance”), pink Brazilian quartz for the bathrooms and kitchen benchtop.
European hand-sawn oak for the flooring throughout, dark stained oak in the kitchen and cedar for the exterior
and interior walls and ceilings. Using natural materials means you don’t need a lot of decoration she says.
“When you design it’s about the detailing that people don’t notice but they know it looks all the better for it.”
They’ve forged close connections in the construction industry and been involved with many collaborations. In this project, they worked with landscape designer Lee Burton, Stellaria (for bricks), and Huntly Joinery (which Bronwyn has worked with for the past 30 years) for the extensive Vantage joinery used throughout.
An example of the details becoming the decorative elements are the anodised extruded hardware from Vantage’s range. It’s thinner and has a more bespoke appearance.
There are so many of these to enjoy: the boardwalk looping around the house and the oversize fireplace with exposed flue offset against those raked windows and the window seat with exaggerated framing.
Bruce and Bronwyn’s attention to detail and their carefully chosen materials have ensured these features are the home’s true heroes.
“It also means the house won’t date.” Bang. Bang And bang.
Visit vantage.co.nz/work-the-angles to see more images and video on this house feature
Work the Angles
This Bowentown bach combines the owner’s love of nature and great architecture
The approach to David Beattie and Cindy Bradley’s bach is unassuming. Passing a mix of modest baches and the more grandiose plaster holiday homes of Bowentown, south of Waihi Beach, and the dramatic proportions of their home suddenly stands out from its seaside neighbours.
“We wanted a dramatic, striking, earthy house that was simple but bold. We didn’t want it to ooze money,” says David. The street-facing, oiled cedar exterior’s stark geometry, seeming absence of windows and fortress-like appearance belies what is to come inside the house – and from the seafacing side of the home.
David likes the starkness of the house from the street. And the absence of windows along the right side of the home means their privacy won’t be sacrificed should they choose to subdivide.
Through the Vantage Matt Black Plasma entrance door, up the hand-sawn macrocarpa stairs and the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house opens up to breathtaking views of the sprawling sand dunes, which eventually gives way to the sea.
“At the front we’ve got suburbia and at the back we sit in raw nature.”
“It’s like balm for the soul,” says David of the feeling of being in nature. It’s something the couple and their two children, Emma, 24, and Adam, 22, reflect on whenever they can get away from their Auckland base.
David makes the most of the activities the area offers such as fishing and surfing, while the couple love taking long walks along the coast. But it’s also the architectural features, such as the ply walls and ceilings, he spends time contemplating when he’s here.
The couple believe strongly in the power of good architecture and asked Hamiltonbased firm Edwards White Architects to design something for the piece of land they bought several years ago.
The response was a triangular design with its enclosed entrance but, once inside the interior is light-filled with vistas across those windswept sand dunes.
The open-plan kitchen, dining and living has raked Matt Black Vantage windows from Metro Series, that extend beyond
the ceiling and across the width of the living space, allowing a close connection to the environment. Double-glazed with a low emissivity coating for better heat control, the wall of windows also has low awning windows of solid powder-coated aluminium, an architectural feature that the couple delight in.
The awning windows also function as natural air conditioning. “The neighbours told us in summer the heat would melt candles.” Accordingly, they ensured plenty of ventilation. When the bi-fold doors on to upstairs deck are opened, along with another low awning window opposite the wall of windows the draft is most welcome.
The house may be architecturally designed but David maintains it’s still a family bach and as such, they’ve filled it with whatever they could get their hands on. “We have an eclectic mix of furniture we’ve acquired from family. It has that bach feel where you find what you can.”
Admittedly, the furniture isn’t your usual hand-me-downs, it’s seriously good mid-century pieces. The pedestal dining table with matching chairs, as well as the sofa and chairs, both upstairs and downstairs were chosen by Cindy from her father’s estate. An American architect, his taste in furniture was secondto-none, as was her grandmother’s, a serious furniture collector. The original Tiffany lampshade suspended over the dining table was hers, as was two of the handmade quilts on the beds. There are also three framed early 20th-century photographs of the area, taken by David’s pioneering photographer grandfather hanging proudly on a wall.
Downstairs, two further Metro Series sliding doors open to the courtyard deck and the narrow deck that runs the width of the house facing the sand dunes. Instead of well-tended lawn, David did his own landscaping, a mass of bunny tails and tangle of native flaxes so you step off the deck right into that rugged landscape.
It doesn’t get much better for the couple than this combination of nature and good architecture. “I wish I’d come down here 30 years ago,” says David.
Metro Series sliding door in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Plasma entrance door in Matt Black with Windsor Polo pull handle
APL Architectural Series sliding doors in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Visit vantage.co.nz/matarangi-cabins to see more images and video on this house feature
Happy Campers
The boundary between inside and out is blurred in this holiday home
There are no fences to speak of at The Pines a bach community at the end of the Matarangi sandspit, in the Coromandel. Boundaries are vaguely defined, paths meander under the trees for which the subdivision is named. Set back from the beach under those tall pines, the sections are large - half an acre, at least.
It was that combination of elbow room and beach settlement casualness that sold Brian Michie and Michele Austen when they went looking for a place to build a bach five years ago. Compared to the near-suburban density of other Coromandel holiday spots, The Pines was somewhere they could build the place they had in their heads, a property that would function like an encampment, with a couple of linked cabins and plenty of land for family and friends to pitch tents. The fact that Matarangi is a relatively young settlement was also liberating.
“It meant we didn’t feel we had to build in the New Zealand vernacular,” says Brian. “With a sandspit and an old plantation forest of exotics, we felt we could build in a slightly more international style.”
The brief they put together for architect Chris Holmes of Auckland-based CAAHT Studio
referenced cabin-like holiday homes from Scandinavia and the Pacific Northwest, both places where Brian has spent time. The forms were simple and solid, with sharply pitched roofs and the aesthetic was straightforward and robust.
Chris responded with a design that ticked all the boxes. A pair of dark-stained cedar cabins combine raked windows and bi-parting sliding doors by Vantage Windows & Doors to open the northern end. The cabins are linked by an ‘outdoor room’, with a Japanesestyle shoji sliding door a the southern end providing shelter from the wind, while the northern end opens to a long tongue of decking. The western cabin houses a guest bedroom, bunkroom and a bathroom that can be accessed from outside by campers; the east cabin includes kitchen, dining, living and Brian and Michele’s bedroom. Decks to either side blur the boundary between inside and outside, and there’s no formal entrance. On summer evenings, people gather around the big fire on that central covered deck.
It’s an instantly calming place to arrive at, says Brian. “We do a lot of cooking, sitting around reading books, going for swims and taking the dogs for walks.”
A key element in creating that environment was the choice of joinery. Rather than traditional doors, they’ve chosen over-the-wall sliding doors from the APL Architectural Series for the bedrooms, bathrooms, the bunkroom and the hallway. To create that camplike flow between indoors and outdoors they’ve used massive spans of sliding glass - in the case of the opening between the east cabin and the outdoor room the sliding door spans a full five metres.
“We can open up everything in the summer and get a seamless relationship with the outside,” says Brian. “The decks become very much an extension of the house.”
Conversely, in winter when it tends to be just the two of them staying, they can happily shutter the rest of the place and just use the east cabin, which has its own log burner.
With three adult children out in the world and one teenage daughter nearing the end of high school, they plan to spend longer periods of time at Matarangi in the near future. The garden’s thriving - “we’ve got fruit trees, passionfruit, feijoas and a pretty good avocado tree”but there’s always more to plant. And the beach is just a stone’s throw away.
Idyllic, really. “It’s very relaxing,” he says.
APL Architectural Series cavity sliding door in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
A combination of APL Architectural Series products in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
A combination of APL Architectural Series products in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
APL Architectural Series stacker sliding door and over-the-wall sliding door in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Visit vantage.co.nz/in-detail to see more images and video on this house feature
In Detail
Smart joinery choices create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces
A visitor to Robyn and Graeme Ballard’s NZIA Award-winning Waikato home once confessed to some confusion. “He was standing outside talking,” says Robyn, “and he suddenly stopped and said, ‘Oh, I’m outside! I thought I was inside.’”
The anecdote illustrates just how successfully this home dissolves the threshold between inside living and multiple outdoor spaces. And given the setting, why wouldn’t you want to bring the outside in? Sited on a slight promontory above farmland in Gordonton, north-east of Hamilton, the property has boundless views to the distant Hakarimata Ranges in one direction and the Kaimais in another.
There’s no clue to this blurring of worlds when you arrive. Instead, you are struck initially by the sculptural quality of the building, with unadorned concrete forms set against an impressive expanse of dark vertical shiplap cedar, immediately followed by an impression of its scale, epitomised by the 3.5-metre high entrance door that opens to a double-height circulation space.
From there, the plan by architect Brian White of Edwards White unfolds as a sequence of interconnected alcove-like rooms, as
opposed to totally open spaces. From the kitchen there are sightlines to two living areas, patio and pool, and to the dining space, which all but merges into a cosy outdoor room with fireplace.
“There can be many conversations going on in every area, but you’re still part of everything that’s happening in the house,” says Robyn.
That seamlessness is enabled by some smart joinery choices. Big full-height APL Architectural Series sliders with flush sills have been used between indoor and outside spaces, including an over-the-wall corner slider for the transition from dining area to outdoor room. For the stair void, family room and lounge, where additional insulation was required, the Ballards opted for the effective Metro Series ThermalHEART® range. All joinery is finished in a Matt Black powdercoat and set with clean-lined and stylish Urbo hardware.
For a large house, it’s that attention to detail that perhaps most impresses. As the NZIA judges commented, “the exemplary handling of scale, materials and colour has resulted in an exceptional home.”
Entrance door and picture windows in Matt Black
Picture window in Matt Black
APL Architectural Series corner sliding doors with over-the-wall and stacker sliding doors in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
APL Architectural Series Stacker Sliding doors in Matt Black with Urbo colour matched hardware
Window Configurations
Awning Windows
Many of these windows can also be made as casement (side opening) windows
Sliding Windows
Bi-Fold Windows *Indicates bi-fold set is available in layback.
All units viewed from the exterior.
Configurations are subject to change. Please consult your local Vantage manufacturer for further information.
Door Configurations
Hinged and French Doors
Sliding Doors
Bi-Fold Doors *Indicates bi-fold set is available in
Cleaning and Maintenance
Vantage products meet all statutory warranty requirements and are fully tested to ensure compliance with the New Zealand Building Code. Regular maintenance is needed to keep your warranty valid. If you want your joinery to be looking at its very best for years to come, these simple steps will help.
For windows and doors
Clean and remove builder’s debris and dust inside of sills
Clean once every three months – more often in coastal or industrial environments, ideally once a month
Clean with a soft brush, warm water and mild household detergent. Rinse with fresh water
Remove build-up in door tracks
Abrasive steel wool, scrapers, scouring liquids, solvents and thinners will damage the finish
Exposure to excessive heat, heaters or hot air guns may damage the surface finish
Please be aware that powdercoating can be damaged by some sunscreens. The damage occurs when skin which has sunscreen on it has touched the powdercoated metal surface.
For hardware
Clean powdercoated hardware with a wet sponge or soft brush, warm water and mild detergent and rinse with fresh water
Clean plated product with a wet sponge or a dry duster. Never use detergent on plating
Clean stainless steel hardware regularly. It is resistant to rust; however rust spots can occur. Remove with a mildly abrasive cleaner and rinse with fresh water. For heavy corrosion, use Scotch-Brite hand pads. We recommend regular treatment with 3M Stainless Steel Cleaner and polish to further enhance stainless steel hardware.
For glass
Only use detergents and cleaning solutions recommended for glass
Soak glass first to loosen dirt, then use a mild, non-abrasive solution
Rinse with water, as cleaning residue can permanently mark glass.
Smartwood maintenance
To comply with warranty requirements and ensure longevity of Smartwood windows and doors:
Seal interior timber face immediately after installation, using an appropriate finish and to manufacturer’s instructions
Oil or stain will need to be reapplied every few years.
Home of Quality Brands
The Vantage brand is owned by APL Window Solutions, New Zealand's leading window systems company.
As part of the largest supplier of windows and doors in the country, our commitment to 'all things local' began when APL did - in 1971. For us, it starts with our products which is why everything we manufacture is designed and tested for New Zealand buildings and take into consideration our country's unique landscape and environment.
We live in a slice of paradise, so we’re committed to reducing our environmental footprint to make the future better for generations of Kiwis to come.
At APL, it’s all about quality. From aluminium extrusion to surface finishing, specialised manufacturing, and distribution, we continually invest in leading-edge products and processes.
APL also brings scale. We have New Zealand’s largest extrusion plant, an in-house powdercoating facility, a world-class double glazing facility, and a manufacturing subsidiary for specialised aluminium work. We use our distribution fleet to make sure the product arrives to our manufacturers in the best possible condition.
An extensive network of Vantage manufacturers stretches throughout New Zealand. These businesses are individually owned and operated, with local knowledge and expertise to assist with your next building or renovation project. They are exclusive providers of the Vantage range of products.
See our website for manufacturers details or visit your local Vantage manufacturer to view our wide range of windows and doors.