Interior Designer: Emily Moss Designs
Photographer: NativeHouse Photography
Windows and doors don’t have to be merely functional—they can also elevate a home’s design. Emily Moss of the full-service interior design firm Emily Moss Designs notes that, beyond their practical purposes, windows and doors can serve three key roles in shaping a space.
First, they can act as storytelling elements. Think carved doors that hint at travels and past experiences, a porthole window that captures a coastal vibe, or floor-to-ceiling glass panels that showcase a sweeping view.
They also help set the tone. The front door serves as the entryway into the home, and selecting a statement door can create a distinct and memorable “welcome home” moment.
Lastly, windows frame the way we see the world—and how the world sees the home. Placement, style and scale all influence how a space feels from the inside and how it’s perceived from the outside. In Moss’s Tierra Tulum Project in Holmes Beach, every window and door was selected not only for function but also to frame the landscape and guide the flow of the home.
“Oversized sliders dissolve the boundary between inside and out, letting natural light flood the interiors and allowing the tropical surroundings to become part of the living experience,” Moss says. “Rounded doorways and arched pass-throughs soften transitions between rooms, echoing the organic forms of the island landscape while maintaining a sense of calm and ease. From the layout to the sightlines, these elements were key in creating a grounded, indoor-outdoor lifestyle.”
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