Positioned on a unique waterfront site with 280-degree views of the surrounding landscape, this Tennessee riverside lodge was designed to dissolve the boundary between indoors and out. From its rustic material palette to expansive folding glass doors, the home balances timeless charm with modern design solutions to create a peaceful retreat centered on comfort, gathering, and indoor-outdoor living.
Designed by Home Design Works, the home embraces the beauty of its waterfront setting at every turn, most notably in the expansive living room, where folding glass doors open directly to a waterside deck and frame uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape.
How This Riverside Home Transformed Indoor-Outdoor Living with Folding Glass Doors
A Vision for Indoor-Outdoor Entertaining
For Home Design Works, the design vision centered around celebrating the unique site by capturing the full waterfront panorama while dissolving the boundary between indoors and out. “Our goal was to celebrate the site, create a timeless retreat, foster connection and comfort, and preserve authenticity of place,” says architect Matt Lawler.
This philosophy is especially reflected in the living room, where expansive folding glass doors open directly to an expansive wraparound deck overlooking the landscape. Designed as the primary gathering space within the home, the room was oriented to maximize river views, natural light, and a seamless connection to outdoor living spaces. A stacked stone, two-sided fireplace anchors the space, providing additional comfort for year-round use.
The Folding Glass Door Solution
To create a true indoor-outdoor space for lounging and entertaining, the architect specified two NanaWall NW Aluminum 840 folding glass doors with a 90-degree open corner configuration. Two panels fold to one side and five panels to the other, with a swing door at the jamb, to create expansive 24-foot-wide flexible openings.
A large stone fireplace positioned at the center of the room separates the two systems while anchoring the living space with warmth and texture. Standing 9 feet tall, the folding glass doors maximize daylight and transparency, keeping the surrounding views the focal point whether the systems are open or closed.
“We chose the NanaWall folding glass doors with a 90-degree outward corner configuration. This product allowed us to preserve as much of the view corridor as possible while remaining within our client’s budget constraints.” - Home Design Works, Architect
Open Corner Design for 180-Degree Landscape Views
Without the interruption of fixed corner posts, the open corner design creates uninterrupted sightlines across the waterfront setting while allowing the living room and deck to function as one continuous entertaining space. When fully open, the open corner design truly dissolves boundaries, almost as if no walls existed at all.
To support year-round comfort, the systems were specified with double glazed panels for energy efficiency and enhanced thermal performance. A barefoot-friendly Low Profile Saddle Sill creates a smooth transition between spaces, while integrated swing doors provide convenient everyday access to the deck when the systems are kept closed.
“The NanaWall has completely changed how we live in this home. When it’s open, the lake feels like it flows right into our living room. Every sunrise, every evening with friends, we feel more connected to the outdoors than ever before.” - Homeowner
The Benefits of NanaWall Folding Glass Doors in Waterfront Home Design
In waterfront home design, folding glass doors help maximize views, natural light, and access to outdoor living spaces while creating greater flexibility for entertaining and everyday living. By opening entire walls to the outdoors, homeowners can enjoy a stronger connection to the surrounding landscape alongside comfort and space functionality.
NanaWall opening glass doors also create adaptable living environments that feel brighter, more spacious, and naturally ventilated. In addition, each wood, aluminum, and aluminum clad system is tailor-made to every project, allowing homeowners, architects, and designers to specify various configurations, over 200 powder coating colors, barefoot-friendly sills, and hardware.
The Best Folding Glass Doors for Any Environment and Weather
Designed for weather performance, energy efficiency, and durability, NanaWall folding glass doors are the ideal design solution for any climate. Systems are independently tested for air, water, structural, forced entry, operation, and sound control yielding excellent results. In addition, systems can be specified with double or triple glazed panels for added comfort and thermal performance, helping meet building code requirements in your waterfront location.
In waterfront home design, these systems offer low-maintenance and long-lasting reliability. Each system has been tested for 20,000 opening and closing cycles, equating to 27 years of use, with smooth operation every single time.
Bonus Design Inspiration: 3 Additional Stunning Waterfront Home Designs with Folding Glass Doors
Rockford Lake House
In Rockford, Michigan, a family lake home was designed to maximize everyday lakeside living while keeping family connection at the center of the experience. Originally planned with a large sliding door, the homeowners instead chose a NanaWall folding glass door to make full use of the opening, instead of being restricted to only half with a conventional slider.
The operable glass system now opens the main living area to the lakefront setting, creating a flexible entertaining space where cooking, watching sports, gathering with friends, and enjoying waterfront views happen seamlessly together. According to the homeowners, the system became “the best design decision” of the entire project, helping turn the residence into the family’s dream lake home.
Saint-Sauveur Rebuild
After a devastating fire destroyed their lake home in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, the homeowners rebuilt the compact retreat with a renewed focus on openness and connection to nature. Key to the new waterfront home design was utilizing over 400 sq ft of glass to elevate the indoor-outdoor feel.
A NanaWall folding glass door became the centerpiece of the rebuild, opening the dining and lounge area directly to the lakefront setting and transforming the small home into an immersive indoor-outdoor retreat designed to capture sunsets, moonlight, and panoramic lake views year-round. “NanaWall has broken the traditional walls and windows application of home construction by artistically merging indoor-outdoor and delivering boundaries unbound,” says the homeowner.
Lakefront Spanish Revival
In Chattanooga, Tennessee, a sprawling Spanish Revival lakefront home was reimagined into a seamless indoor-outdoor retreat centered on entertaining and resort-style living. The renovation replaced restrictive load-bearing masonry walls with a new steel structural system that opened the lower level to expansive living spaces and uninterrupted transitions to the outdoors.
NanaWall folding glass doors became a defining element of the transformation, extending the main kitchen to the outdoor terrace while connecting the lower-level living areas to a poolside retreat and outdoor kitchen with an open corner configuration. The result is an immersive waterfront residence where light, airflow, and movement flow freely between interior and exterior spaces.
Final Thoughts
From rustic riverside lodges in Tennessee to compact lake homes in Quebec and expansive waterfront estates in Chattanooga and Michigan, these projects demonstrate how folding glass doors can completely transform waterfront home design. More than simply maximizing views, these systems create flexible environments in demanding climates that achieve indoor comfort while maximizing outdoor beauty.
Whether opening a living room to a lakeside terrace, extending dining spaces toward the water, or creating uninterrupted open corners, NanaWall systems help homeowners embrace natural light, fresh air, and panoramic views in entirely new ways. The result is architecture that feels more connected and more immersed in the rhythms of waterfront living year-round.
Discover the energy efficiency and durability of NanaWall folding glass doors here!
