Create an Ad: R.K. Miles

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Berkshire County is one of the most beautiful places to live — defined by rolling mountains, vibrant foliage, shimmering lakes, winding rivers and ponds, and a rich array of wildlife that creates a natural orchestra.

 

Looking out at that scenery doesn't have to end when you go indoors with Marvin scenic doors, transforming any space by bringing the outdoors in.

 

Second-grade students in Shealee Cooke's class at Clarksburg Elementary School created advertisements for R.K. Miles, showcasing its ability to install a wide range of Marvin scenic door styles that meet anyone's architectural needs. All drawings here. 

 

This fourth-generation, family-owned supplier provides doors, windows, hardware, paint, lumber, and more, as well as custom products for all sorts of projects, produced in its mill shop. The business has stores in Western Massachusetts, throughout Vermont, and now in northern New Hampshire.

 

Last year, fourth-grade students were tasked with showcasing one of R.K. Miles' products: environmentally friendly Trex decking. This year, second-grade students turned their creativity to another of its offerings, colorfully highlighting Marvin Scenic Doors.

 

"This year, the students really tied in the sense of what it's like to live in the Berkshires by looking through these Marvin scenic doors and seeing the great outdoors — wildlife, trees, decks, people playing in the back yard," said Amanda Monks, R.K. Miles' marketing director.

 

"And all of the drawings really included some great illustrations of what it's like to live here in the Berkshires."

 

Marvin Scenic Doors bring natural light into a home, offering unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape while maintaining the full functionality of a door.

 

The students' drawings brought Marvin Scenic Doors' tagline, "bring the outdoors in," to life by prominently featuring the large glass doors and the views they reveal.

 

They incorporated elements from their own lives, including decks, balconies, and outdoor furniture, natural elements like trees, grass, rock walls, and plants, as well as wildlife such as birds, foxes, and a blue heron.

 

"Most of them did draw what they would see out a window if they had these doors and windows at their home," Cooke said.

 

"What stood out to me was the colors that they used. They really were particular, and they were intentional about the colors that they were using in their drawings."

 

Some drawings featured people and beach scenes inspired by reference photos, all shown with bright colors and detailed compositions.

 

The winners selected were Helen Lavoie for first place, Callum Beattie for second, and Cecilia Belleau for third.

 

All the students did an amazing job showcasing the glass windows, Monks said, however, the three winners incorporated a lot of detail, eye-catching color, and denoted the sense of being inside looking outside to the beautiful views.

 

Helen created a room with a Marvin scenic sliding glass door that opens onto a balcony filled with plants. The room has brick walls, chairs, a table, and a picture of a frog. Through the glass door, she drew a view of trees and birds.

 

"You can see the outside through the doors," she said.

 

Callum said if he had a Marvin Scenic sliding glass door in his home, he would want it to look out over apple trees, where he could sit eating an apple and watch for his favorite animal, a fox.

 

"I would be looking at the sky, the sun, the animals, the apple trees. I would probably be eating an apple," he said.

 

His advertisement depicted this scenario, drawing the clear glass slider revealing a fox and a blue heron enjoying the sunny day, surrounded by apple trees and rock walls.

 

Cecilia used the glass door from her grandmother's house as a reference, drawing trees, chairs, and tables, birds, and the sunny sky.

 

"You want to see the outdoors with Marvin scenic doors," she said.

 

During the school visit, students asked questions of Monks and Michael Parada, R.K. Miles contractor sales and support in Williamstown.

 

They learned about different window and door materials such as pine, Douglas fir, cherry, oak, aluminum, fiberglass, and vinyl, along with styles like double-hung windows, sliding glass doors, round windows, and simulated divided lights.

 

Cecilia said she learned that there's a bunch of different types of houses and wood for doors.

 

They also explained how features like dual-pane glass with insulating gas can improve energy efficiency, and how bird-friendly patterned glass helps prevent animals from mistaking reflections for the natural environment.

 

Monks and Parada visited each classroom table, giving students the opportunity to look through their catalog and examine different types of paint and wood.