In any waterfront property, the view is the ultimate luxury. It is the defining feature, the central promise of waterfront living. Whether you are envisioning a sweeping, panoramic wall of windows or grand multi-slide glass doors that vanish to blend the interior with the lake, you want your home to make a statement. And that starts with selecting materials that reflect uncompromising quality.
To maximize that incredible vista, you need more than just large panes of glass; you need windows and doors built to the highest standard in the industry. The best choice for this premier luxury segment is the Marvin Signature Collection, specifically the Ultimate and Modern lines.
Jeff Kussen of Great North Windows and Doors understands this mindset intimately. “We know the waterfront buyer is looking for a legacy, not a compromise. They are seeking a defining architectural element that operates flawlessly for generations,” says Jeff, who owns Great North Windows and Doors along with his brother Brad and father Ken.
Between them, the three have decades of experience in the industry, and they draw on that experience to help select the finest windows for every project. “We can talk for hours about performance, durability, ventilation, aesthetics, and pricing,” Jeff says with a laugh. “But ultimately, for a statement home, the window has to achieve two key things: provide a stunning view with minimal obstruction and elevate the very quality of the light.”
The geometry of light and joy
While the expansive lake-facing windows capture the grandeur, it’s important not to forget about the other three sides of the home. Those away-from-the-lake windows can truly elevate the quality of the interior, because they can help flood a room with multi-directional light.
Why does that matter? As Brad explains, we are all hard-wired to prefer well-lit spaces, and that means having light arrive from different angles.
“We’ve built some incredible walls of glass in homes and cottages, but even the largest wall of windows only brings light in from one direction,” he says. “A few well-placed windows on the sides or back, though, can transform a space. By allowing light to enter from different directions, you create subtle depth and texture in the room.”
“You may not be able put your finger on it, but when you walk into a room that has multi-directional light, it will feel warmer, more comfortable, and simply more joyful. It creates a space that you want to spend time in – a home that feels like an embrace.”
Unrivaled fit and finish
When it comes to selecting the brand, Ken advises, start with those prominent statement windows and then match everything else to them. “The side and rear windows matter, but it’s those showpiece Marvin Signature doors and windows that you’re going to notice first. You need the best quality you can find to execute your design vision.”
The team at Great North recommends Marvin because they lead the luxury segment. Marvin has been around for over a century and has committed to an ethos of engineering that sets them apart. “Nobody else invests in research and development and manufacturing precision the way they do,” Ken notes.
Discerning high-end buyers and their architects immediately recognize the superiority of the fit and finish. Marvin’s Signature Ultimate and Signature Modern collections are built to a tolerance that is twice as good as the industry standard. This obsessive attention to detail means smoother operation, tighter seals, and frame lines so thin they are barely noticeable.
How is this achieved? It comes down to quality control. On average, each Marvin Signature window is quality audited for 20 minutes by a dedicated inspector. This rigorous, multi-point inspection process is how the company ensures industry-leading performance and durability. Furthermore, this superb quality is consistently validated through independent testing and certification, giving architects, builders, and homeowners complete peace of mind.
By using the Marvin Signature Collection, Great North is able to create incredibly impactful visual statements: walls of glass ten feet high and 40 feet wide, and 12-foot-tall glass doors that open and close with the lightest touch. The superior engineering ensures they will continue to do so for decades.
A unified vision
“We’re a family-run company, and so is Marvin,” says Ken. “We share similar values and only offer products we’re proud to stand behind.”
Marvin also offers an unparalleled range of design styles, with profiles suited to every design aesthetic, from neo-Victorian to the most contemporary modern. Great North’s expertise lies in taking that luxury aesthetic and applying it seamlessly across the entire property.
As Jeff explains, Marvin offers complementing windows and doors in several different collections. “This allows us to put the top-of-the-line Signature Collection windows and doors in the feature locations, and install perfectly matching windows from another Marvin line on the sides and rear,” he says. “These are all Marvin products, ensuring the design elements, quality, and colour match flawlessly. You’d need an expert eye to spot the difference.”
The end result is exactly what you’re looking for: a cottage with a view that takes your breath away, built with the highest standard of quality and precision, while also feeling comfortable and deeply homey. With the right windows and doors from Great North, once you arrive at the cottage, you may just never want to leave.
TEXT A. WAGNER-CHAZALON
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
