The Unique Sliding Door Alternative Mina Starsiak Hawk Revealed On HGTV's Good Bones

Garage doors are typically designed with practicality in mind — to provide secure, convenient access for vehicles from a home's exterior. While they come in a variety of styles and colors that can enhance their visual appeal, they're not usually considered a standout design feature — especially not inside a home. But HGTV's Mina Starsiak Hawk sees things differently. In an episode of "Good Bones," Hawk incorporated glass garage doors into a homeowner's living room – transforming the purely functional element into a beautiful architectural focal point.

During the episode, Hawk set out to install a door that has more of a "wow" factor than basic, sliding glass doors. While she initially planned to add a wall-to-wall accordion door, the price tag — a whopping $13,000 — was not in her budget. Instead, she opted for a solution that's both striking and practical. The more affordable way Hawk added natural light to the space while creating the same impact was with a glass garage door, which — with the push of a button — opens the living room to the outside creating a dramatic effect and an easy flow between the inside and outside spaces. The result is a living area that feels brighter, more open, and perfect for entertaining.

After the project budget took a big hit due to some unexpected foundation costs, Mina Starsiak Hawk explained during the Good Bones episode why it made sense to choose the garage door. "It will save at least five grand, which doesn't totally cancel out our foundation costs, but it will be worth it to the buyers." She later added, "This is going to be the wow factor." After the door was installed, Hawk was also pleasantly surprised at how smooth it was to operate. "It makes me so happy! It's so quiet," she said. 

Glass garage doors come in various designs that work for a range of architectural styles. The door grids can be made from wood  and work well with a more traditional or rustic aesthetic. Alternatively, for modern garage door ideas for your home, metal doors – which come in a variety of finishes including aluminum, faux wood, and powder-coated — are a good option. The glass windows come in different shapes and sizes, including square, arched, and long, elongated panels. If privacy is an issue, you can opt for frosted or tinted glass. 

If it's time to replace your sliding glass doors, and you're considering following in Hawk's footsteps by swapping them out for glass garage doors, make sure you choose a door that is properly insulated. While glass doors aren't always as energy efficient as other doors since they're constructed almost entirely of glass, using thicker glass and both a frame and window that are properly insulated can help prevent your room from becoming a greenhouse in the summer or an ice box in winter.