Creative consultant, designer, and editor Michelle Adams knows how to make an entrance…and it starts with the door itself! “When I bought my 1950s home, it came with the original entry door. It was hollow, drafty, and surprisingly easy to break into,” she tells us. “Instead, I wanted a solidly built door that felt Scandinavian and contemporary also nodded to the home’s mid-century origins.” After her search for a high-quality, high-style door came up empty, she reached out to Andersen Windows & Doors. “I shared inspiration photos of my dream door, which they were able to custom build in no time! It completely changed the look of my home and added much needed light to the entry.”

Though Michelle is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she was inspired by homes in California that blend indoor and outdoor living with ease. To bring that West Coast feeling to the Midwest, she transformed the backyard with a modern deck that spans the entire width of the home. She opened up the kitchen and living area to access the space, knocking down decades-old drafty windows in the process. She replaced most of them with 100 Series Windows that fit the streamlined, minimal look of the house, but brought in a piece de resistance for the deck.  “I also worked with Andersen to install an incredible floor-to-ceiling Outswing Door, effectively bringing the outdoors in,” she smiles. “I’m thrilled with the way everything turned out.”

See this space in the new issue of the magazine (on newsstands now!) and snag a peek at the before pics in the slideshow.