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Rounding Up The Top Choices for Windows and Doors In Southern California Homes

  • Writer: Support Team
    Support Team
  • Oct 23
  • 4 min read
XP Windows & Doors shares the top choice designs for custom homes in Orange County, CA: expansive glass, slim frames, and smart home integration

At XP Windows & Doors we’re always looking ahead to bring you the latest innovations and designs that perfectly blend with our unique Southern California lifestyle. As we approach the next year, the top choices in windows and doors for custom homes and remodels are focused on creating spaces that are beautiful, efficient, and seamlessly connected to our incredible climate.


Let's explore the most sought-after styles and features that define our Southern California homes.

The Vision: Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living


The quintessential Southern California home blurs the lines between inside and out. It’s about more than just a patio; it’s about making your entire living space feel like a luxurious extension of your outdoor environment. This design priority continues to dominate, and doors are leading the charge.

Bi-fold and multi-slide doors

Top Choice 1: Expansive Moving Glass Walls – The Ultimate Connection


Imagine opening an entire wall of your home to embrace the ocean breeze or a starlit evening. Bi-fold and multi-slide doors are the stars of this movement, offering incredible flexibility and breathtaking views. These doors stack neatly or slide away into a pocket, creating massive, unobstructed openings that transform your living room into an open-air pavilion. They are perfect for connecting living rooms to patios, kitchens to outdoor dining areas, and are the definitive choice for maximizing your enjoyment of Southern California's beautiful weather year-round.

Investing Wisely: Maximizing Efficiency in the California Climate


Living in Southern California means enjoying abundant sunshine, but it also means being smart about energy use. Our climate and strict energy regulations, like California's Title 24, make energy performance a foundational design principle for any new build or remodel.

cutting-edge dynamic or smart glass that can automatically tint to control light and heat.

Sought-After Feature 2: Performance and Sustainability – Beyond Just Glass


Homeowners are increasingly demanding windows and doors that do more than just look good; they need to perform.

  • Advanced Glass Technology: Look for Low-E (low-emissivity) coatings on glass, which are essential for blocking harmful UV rays and radiant heat. This keeps your home cooler, protects your furnishings from fading, and significantly reduces air conditioning costs. We’re also seeing high demand for triple-pane glass for superior insulation and cutting-edge dynamic or smart glass that can automatically tint to control light and heat.

  • Durable & Compliant Materials: Vinyl and fiberglass windows and doors continue to be top choices for remodels across Orange County. They offer excellent energy efficiency and durability that easily comply with strict California energy codes. Fiberglass is particularly versatile, mimicking the look of wood and offering fantastic stability for long-term style.

Modern Aesthetics: Less Frame, More View

Today’s design philosophy for Southern California homes favors clean lines and maximizing natural light. Windows are becoming architectural statements themselves, framing the beauty of the outdoors.

Dramatic floor-to-ceiling corner windows to flood homes with natural light and create an open, airy feeling.

Top Choice 3: Sleek, Minimalist Window Design


The emphasis is on the view, not the frame. Slimline and minimal frames are a must, particularly in dark, sophisticated hues, to provide striking contrast and highlight the expansive glass. We’re installing more and more large-format windows, including dramatic floor-to-ceiling designs and expansive picture windows, to flood homes with natural light and create an open, airy feeling. Even innovative corner windows are becoming highly sought-after, offering panoramic vistas and adding a unique architectural flair to custom builds in Orange County, CA, and beyond.

Refined Details in Color and Hardware

While the overall look is minimalist, the details still matter. The right color and hardware selection can significantly impact a home's curb appeal and interior aesthetic.

Black and bronze exterior sliding glass door and window frames with sleek, minimalist handles and concealed hinges and locks.

Sought-After Style 4: Bold Frames & Understated Hardware


  • Dark Frames Reign: Black and bronze exterior frames remain incredibly popular, offering a chic, contemporary look that complements nearly any architectural style in Southern California. These dark tones create a dramatic contrast against lighter exteriors, defining the windows and doors as key design elements.

  • Hardware Takes a Backseat: For hardware, the focus is on function without distracting from the view. Sleek, minimalist handles and concealed hinges and locks are preferred. The idea is to keep the focus firmly on the expansive glass and the stunning views it provides, cementing a clean, modern aesthetic.

The Connected Home: Comfort, Convenience, and Health

Our homes are becoming smarter and more integrated, and windows and doors are no exception. Beyond aesthetics and efficiency, they are now vital components contributing to our overall well-being and security.

Windows and doors can be integrated with security sensors, automated locking mechanisms, and windows that can be connected to your home's central smart system.

Top Feature 5: Smart Integration & Wellness at Home


  • Smart Home Synergy: Windows and doors are now integral components of the smart home ecosystem. This includes integrated security sensors, automated locking mechanisms, and windows that can be connected to your home's central smart system for enhanced convenience and peace of mind.

  • Prioritizing Wellness: Beyond technology, there's a growing emphasis on how windows and doors contribute to a healthier living environment. Noise-reducing glass is a high-value upgrade (especially in busier urban areas of Orange County) to create peaceful indoor retreats. Features that maximize natural light and facilitate superior ventilation (like easily operable casement and awning windows) are also crucial, promoting better air quality and a sense of well-being.

Building Your Vision: Our Commitment to Excellence and Experience


At XP Windows & Doors, we’re passionate about helping homeowners bring their custom home designs and remodeling dreams to life. Whether you’re looking to enhance indoor-outdoor flow, boost energy efficiency, or achieve a stunning modern aesthetic, our team has the expertise and the premium products to make it happen.


XP Windows and Doors has been in business for over 28 years and has served tens of thousands of customers and won multiple awards: including Best of Orange County - Windows & Doors 2024, and numerous Milgard Dealer of the Month Awards.  


Ready to explore these exciting Top Choices for your home? Contact XP Windows & Doors today for a free personalized consultation! We look forward to helping you create the perfect look and feel for your Southern California oasis.



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