Sliding glass doors VS. French doors

[MrsPete]

I've had both, and in the house we're designing for our retirement we're planning to have . . . neither! We're going to have a typical spot in the dining room where a slider /French doors would typically lead out to the patio; however, we're going with a bank of windows and one single "real door" with windows on the top half. It's more secure than either sliders or French doors, and the windows are more practical for air circulation.

One thing no one's mentioned: Sliders and French doors are both rather difficult to "dress" with curtains. I think I'd definitely like the blinds between the glass, but I'd still want curtains to soften the hard lines too.

 

[luvflorida]

We built our retirement house last year and had french doors put in instead of sliders. I love them! They open inward, but are not in the way at all, although I admit, we never open both doors. We leave the left-side shut and locked, so function-wise, we really use the french doors the same as a single door.

However, I like the look of the french doors as opposed to just a single door. Also, they let in a lot of light. We don't plan on putting screens in the doorway, because eventually we plan on screening in the covered patio area itself, so when the doors (which go from our dining area to the covered patio) are open, the dining area will flow into the outdoor patio area.

Our french doors aren't anything fancy, and like a previous poster stated, it's kind of hard to "dress" them up. We have Levolor fabric blinds on them, but rarely close them.

Here are a few pics:

I'm thinking of putting a valence on each door. Needs some color!

 

[lucyanna girl]

We have several sets of french doors and love them.

Our home dates back to the forties. The kitchen has one exterior wall. We put in a set of french doors without grids that let in tons of light and a view of our back yard. These open out onto a deck so they take no space in the room. We had them built and they are much nicer doors that a box store and did not cost any more.

I just thought you might want to know that they do not have to open into a room.

Penny