Ready to freshen up your traditional home? These tips will help you update without losing your home’s charm.

There’s a lot to love about a traditional home. With the history behind it and evident magnetism, an older home offers a lot. If you’ve fallen for a traditional home but want to make sure it looks charming, not dated, consider these tips to update it.

Let in light.

One of the biggest issues with older homes is the smaller windows and darker colors we find in so many of them. Installing windows to let in more natural light will make your space feel bigger, cleaner, and more modern. Just imagine how amazing your front room will feel with the sunlight streaming in! As a bonus, more windows mean you’ll use less electricity, cutting energy use and utility bills.

Create contrast.

Don’t be afraid to pair contemporary elements with your home’s traditional features. Sleek metallic pulls on the cabinets in your kitchen can add a touch of “wow,” and a modern rug laid over the original flooring will help you home look traditional, not old. Play with your decor to find the right blend of elements for your particular home.

Keep it clean.

Make sure your home doesn’t feel old or dark by opting for light, neutral colors. While you might love the idea of an oxblood study, dark paint colors are going to make rooms feel smaller and more dated. Keep things light and airy to modernize your home’s look.

Are you ready to update your traditional home? We can customize Bi-Fold Patio Doors, Lift and Slide Patio Doors, Multi-Slide Patio Doors, Entry Doors, and beautiful Windows with decorative panels or cottage grids to help you blend your home’s existing charm with modern elements. Contact the professionals at AG Millworks by simply clicking the Request A Quote button to get started!

Follow these simple steps to choose the builder that’s right for you.

Can we build it? Yes, we can – assuming you have the contractor that’s right for you and your project! We’ve all heard about remodeling problems: spiraling budgets, half-finished projects and construction taking way longer than planned. These stories may seem like nightmares, but in reality you are likely hearing the worst of the worst. The vast majority of builders are competent, professional, and more than capable of amazing results and with a bit of due-diligence, you can find a contractor that will work well with you and your project.

Get Recommendations

Love the kitchen and patio addition your neighbors just had done? Find out who they worked with and see if they are suitable for your

project. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce or look online for services in your area on Houzz or Angie’s list where you can read

reviews and see the type of work the professionals specialize in.

Do You Need a Specialist or a General Contractor?

A general contractor is suitable for most jobs unless your project requires something special. Some custom projects such as installing large

patio doors or creating beautiful tile design require someone who specializes in these areas for optimum results.

Know what you want AND be open to suggestions…

You have a vision and your contractor can help bring it to fruition and he may have a more efficient way to get there.  Building and

construction are his specialty! He may be able to facilitate getting the blueprint plans drawn-up and assist in wading through the local

building code requirements and permit process. Use your builder’s knowledge, experience and expertise to your advantage.

One of the most important parts of taking on a remodeling project is choosing a quality craftsman that will match your vision and last for years to come. For help finding the perfect Bi-Fold Patio Doors, Lift and Slide Patio Doors, Multi-Slide Patio Doors or Entry Doors and beautiful Windows, Contact the professionals at AG Millworks. Simply use the Match Me With A Dealer button to help get your project off to a great start!

Lift and slide patio doors can help you transform your lifestyle as the weather warms.

As the seasons change and bring us longer, warmer days, we all get ready to set aside our sweaters and savor the finer weather. Taking a hike or hitting the beach is a great way to enjoy the spring, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could take advantage of the sunny days at home? You can – with a Lift and Slide Patio Doors!

How could changing out your patio doors change your life? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds when you realize that lift and slide patio doors could make it possible to open up an entire wall of your home with just the turn of a handle! With our advanced European engineering, you can move large doors with minimal effort to open a wall, suddenly bringing the outdoors in. Imagine: enjoying the fresh air from the comfort of your living room. Sound too good to be true? We can show you that it’s not.

You’d think it might be difficult to transform a wall of your home, but our doors lift onto wheels when you turn a handle to smoothly, easily glide them out of the way. We offer both pocketing and non-pocket doors in clad/wood or all wood – cherry, walnut, mahogany, cedar, fir, teak, and more! We’ll seamlessly blend your doors with your house’s design so you can effortlessly blend the outdoors with your home this spring.

Want to learn more about how patio doors could change your home and your life? Whether you’re looking for your ideal Bi-Fold Patio Doors, Lift and Slide Patio Doors, Multi-Slide Patio Doors or Entry Door for your home, look no further. Simply click the Match Me With A Dealer button to get started! With our innovatively designed products made of top quality materials, AG Millworks can help transform your home with custom patio doors, entry doors, and Windows that allow you to fully enjoy luxurious indoor-outdoor living.

These easy updates can transform your kitchen without the bother of a remodel.

The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in every home. It’s also one of the most expensive to remodel. If your kitchen could use a pick-me-up but you won’t want to undertake a major renovation, you have options. Here are three easy changes you can make to dramatically improve the look, feel, and use of your kitchen without a remodel!

Bi-Fold Doors: Get more out of your kitchen by extending it to your outdoor areas with a simple swap. Changing your existing kitchen window for a Bi-Fold window makes it possible to serve to your patio straight from the kitchen. Set up a spread or build a bar on your kitchen counter and, with these windows, you can access it from your patio or any outdoor area!

Hardware: You might think changing out cabinet and drawer pulls is minor – but count how many you have in your kitchen. That’s a lot of hardware, and swapping it out can make a major impact. Plus, buying single pulls to bring them home and try them out in your kitchen is an affordable; foolproof way to make sure you’ll love the change.

Backsplash: Changing your backsplash can instantly bring an outdated kitchen into 2016. Have fun with it! Your backsplash is a chance to choose unique patterns, colors, and textures.

Want to upgrade your kitchen without undertaking a major, messy remodel? With our innovatively­­­­­ designed products made of top quality materials, AG Millworks can help transform any room of your home with custom patio doors, entry doors and windows that allow you to fully enjoy luxurious indoor-outdoor living. Whether you’re looking for your ideal entry doors, Bi-Fold patio doors, lift and slide patio doors, or multi-slide patio doors for your home, we can meet your needs and your want. Simply click the Match Me With A Dealer button to get started!

Make a grand entrance with an exquisite front door.

Besides being the access to your house, your entry door has another paramount function —making the first impression of your home and sets the tone for what to expect when people walk through it. Give your home that fresh and inviting look that complements all the best aspects of your personality and tastes. Choosing the right design, color, material, and the glass-to-wood ratio that’s perfect for you and your lifestyle is easy with the quality custom products manufactured by AG Millworks. We have a wide variety of design collections to choose from and will help your door dealer and builder work with you to find the perfect door which exceeds your expectations:

Passages: Transform your home to a contemporary masterpiece with a range of original designs that include stunning contemporary leaded glass, raked interlocks and innovative aluminum inserts.

Rancho: Equally at home in Spanish Revival, Mediterranean Revival, Tuscan Villa, Ranch or Adobe style residences, this style can be rustic with hammered decorative nails and strap hinges or upscale with wide hipped panels and raised molding.

Craftsman: Honor the California Craftsman tradition with authentic designs reminiscent of nature and can include unique Tiffany style glass inserts, handcrafted in our Ventura, California factory. 

Landmark: Traditional in nature with raised molding and elegant raised panels, these entry systems are at home in a variety of architectural styles, often featuring elaborate leaded beveled glass designs and radiuses.

FEATURED DOOR:

Iron Grille: Handcrafted iron grilles have graced the finest entrances of Europe and Latin America for centuries. This tradition comes alive once again with iron works of art from AG Millworks. With a variety of established designs or a custom grille straight from your own imagination, we can create the ultimate entry with an operable grille that is beautiful, practical and exceeds your wildest dreams.

Whether you’re looking for your ideal Entry Door, Bi-fold Patio Doors, Lift and Slide Patio Doors or Multi-Slide Patio Doors for your home, look no further. Simply click the Match Me With A Dealer button to get started! With our innovative designed products made of top quality materials, AG Millworks can help transform your home with custom patio doors, entry doors and windows that allow you to fully enjoy luxurious living.

Glimpse into the (not so distant) future of 3D printing for Building & Design

The same way the computer enhanced photography and graphic (2D) design, 3D printing looks to have a powerful impact in the world of architecture and building as it allows for structures and parts to be created at the touch of a button. Developed by American engineer Chuck Hull, the technology used laser light to form solid shapes from polymers. 3D printing can now utilize a range of materials from concrete to wood or bamboo with some architects and designers starting to utilize smaller printers in their studios to aid in the creative process.

Seemingly, the possibilities for 3D printing are endless….It may, someday, even help build entire skyscrapers.

1. China takes it the extreme.

China and ingenuity come hand-in-hand. It should come to no surprise that the largest 3D printed structure was printed there. Designed by architects Xu Feng and Yu Lei, Vulcan (the structure, not the Star Trekkian planet) stands at 9.4 feet tall, and 27 feet across. Even though it’s the largest 3D printed object in existence, it also shows the size limitations of 3D printing–at this point in time.

2. A Dutch Full House (Not starring Bob Saget)

Architects in Holland are currently constructing a canal house made from 80 percent bioplastics. This renewable/sustainable project is set to be finished by 2017, and will be using much less raw material than its other canal house brethren.

3. Smart . . . Buildings?

That’s right: buildings that can adjust their structure on their own. These buildings would adjust appropriately to the climate without the need for mechanical or digital interference, emulating nature with the idea of things adapting to changing conditions – just look at pinecones – once they fall to the ground they change shape by opening their scales to release their seeds.

4. Pioneers Wanted

3D is currently in its infancy, and we are still trying to comprehend all of the benefits it has to offer…from less pollution to eventually taking a fraction of what it takes to construct modern buildings. Currently, many of the materials that it takes to construct safe buildings are not yet able to be printed, but this technology seems to be the threshold of a new era and we can wait to see what’s next!

Innovative design is the cornerstone of AG Millwork’s products. Whether you’re looking for Bi-fold Patio Doors, Multi-slide Patio Doors or Lift and Slide Patio Doors for your home, look no further. Simply click the Match Me With A Dealer button to get started!

Open Your Home and Outlook with Unique Windows, Bi-fold Patio or French Doors.

Research supports the positive effect of natural light on human health. Human beings, and all life for that matter, evolved with the sun and depend on it to function optimally. In architecture, natural light refers to the power of the sun illuminating the desired room to the visual standard of those within—usually by adding a wall of glass doors or large windows that allow those light waves to bounce throughout the space. Here are three tips to consider helping optimize natural light in your home:

- Opening a wall with Bi-fold windows, Bi-fold patio doors or Lift and Slide patio doors or adding large custom windows can be an effective way to illuminate the rooms in your home making them feel larger and more spacious.

- Positioning is important too. If you enjoy the sun’s kiss in the morning, then you might want to think about adding French Doors to you bedroom and make sure they are appropriately sized and face towards the east. Morning sun increases your serotonin and vitamin D levels that help give you that morning boost!

- Room accents, paint color and finishes can play a bigger role in the daylighting process than you may think.  Using mirrors to reflect light, paint colors to boost the glow and luminous accent finishes can allow for incoming natural light to bounce around the room maximizing it’s effects.

Installing the proper doors and windows is essential to satisfy your physical and aesthetic needs for natural lighting. For more information on how French Patio Doors, Bi-fold Patio Doors, Multi-slide Patio Doors or Lift and Slide Patio Doors can enrich your home, simply click the Match Me With A Dealer button. All of our products at AG Millworks will help to transform your home to bring your vision to life!

French Patio Doors can update the look of your house in an instant.

Can you think of anything more charming than opening a set of French patio doors and letting a soft breeze flow through your house? Neither can we! Adding a set of French Patio Doors to your home can help create a classic, enchanting look.

As an alternative to traditional sliding doors, French patio doors open up fully to provide a larger opening to your outdoor space, allowing you to enjoy indoor outdoor living more seamlessly. Even when closed, they permit natural light to cascade into your home so you can enjoy the outdoors throughout the seasons.

Adding three or four sets of French patio doors along a long wall that is adjacent to your patio can help to open up the space and add an elegant look. French doors can also be the perfect option if you are looking to convert your garage and open it up to the outdoors by replacing the garage door.

If you are thinking that your only option is a “traditional” French door look, think again! Our French patio doors are custom made, allowing you to pick the style, size and materials that will enrich with the character of your home. Simulated or true divided lites, sidelites or a transom can be added to enhance the style. Quality security locks provide you with the protection that you need without compromising the design of the doors, too.

For more information on how French or Swing Patio Doors can add a touch of elegance to your home, simply click the Match Me With A Dealer button. All of our products at AG Millworks will help to transform your home to bring your vision to life!

Follow these tips to help keep your remodeling projects on track!

Taking on a remodeling project can be daunting. From living in a construction zone to making sure you stick to your budget, there are many factors to worry about. To help your project run as smoothly as possible, begin with these tips:

1. Work with a qualified designer, architect and builder.

Unless you have a design background and construction expertise, bringing your vision to life can be harder than you think. A designer can help you figure out the right materials, doors, windows, and cabinets that will work best in your space. An architect will meld the design of the project with the building systems. A trusted professional builder will make sure your construction is done correctly and efficiently.

2. Establish your objectives.

Whether you want to open up your home, add more square footage, or upgrade your home’s assets, start by recognizing your goals. If you run into any problems during the project, referring back to your original objectives will help you figure out what route to take to solve the issue.

3. Set a budget, then add 10 percent.

It is not uncommon for remodeling projects to go over budget, especially due to unforeseen requirements or if you need to make design or material changes. Planning ahead and having some cushion will help you stick to your budget.

4. Know how your property will be protected.

Since your personal property will still be in your home, you want to make sure it and non-construction areas will be protected. Talk with your contractor to see what steps will be taken to safeguard your possessions and the parts of your house that are not having work done.

One of the most important parts of taking on a remodel project is choosing quality materials that will match your vision and last for years to come. For help finding the perfect Bi-Fold Patio Doors, Lift and Slide Patio Doors, Multi-Slide Patio Doors or Entry Doors and beautiful Windows, Contact the professionals at AG Millworks. Simply use the Match Me With A Dealer button to help get your project off to a great start!

Your home’s entry doors are your key to making a fantastic first impression.

We all know how much first impressions matter. Whether it’s a job interview or a date, those first moments have the potential to shape your entire relationship thereafter. Even if you’ve already got your own first impression managed, you might think about the statement your home is making. Simply upgrading your entry door gives you the power to make a fantastic first impression and boosts everything from curb appeal to rapport with your neighbors!

Want to make this easy but effective change? Make sure your home makes a fantastic first impression by choosing one of these entry door options from AG Millworks:

Passages Entry Doors give you contemporary sleekness tailored to seamlessly blend with your home.

Landmark Entry Doors are for you if you love the classics. These traditional, elegant doors let your guests know they’re welcome.

Craftsman Entry Doors blend simple design with top-tier craftsmanship. All of our doors, including our California Craftsman doors, are created locally in Ventura, California.

Iron Grille Entry Doors offer you the chance to bring European style and luxury right to your home. We can even customize your grille to meet your specific needs and tastes.

Rancho Entry Doors ensure you don’t have to choose between your home’s Mediterranean or Ranch styling and a fabulous front door!

Custom Entry Doors are a great way to get a “wow” from your guests the second they set foot on your property! At AG Millworks we can create the perfect custom door for your home.

If you’d like more information, simply click the Match Me With A Dealer button to get started! With our innovatively designed products made of top quality materials, AG Millworks can help transform your home with custom Entry Doors, Windows, and Multi-Slide, Lift and Slide, and Bi-Fold Patio Doors that allow you to fully enjoy elegant home design and indoor outdoor living.