French doors can be found in designs that compliment all styles and decorating themes. A tasteful element to add to the interior or exterior of any home, they are not only stylish but functional.
Today’s interior French doors are designed with practicality, as well as beauty, in mind. Designs are no longer limited to the multi-paned, traditional type. Many wood finishes are available from natural oak to dark finishes. Choose from light oak between a bedroom and master bathroom, or a dark walnut at an entry to a study. Freshen up a dining room – kitchen with a single French door painted in bright yellow enamel.
Replace a set of out-dated sliding patio wood glass doors with a partial wall of French doors. Side panels installed on each end of the doors add light. This type of exterior door features paned glass, crystal cut and frosted solid glass panel designs. If you want the versatility of a window while maintaining the option for privacy when desired, choose a set of double-paned French doors. This style exists with the option of inset blinds and the double-paned glass provides excellent weather-proofing. You don’t have to give up light in favor of privacy either. Solid, frosted glass panel options are widely available. Side light panels are also designed with your pet in mind, some featuring a variety of doggy doors.
For those who are concerned about longevity and/or thermal insulation, exterior doors come in durable materials other than wood, such as steel, vinyl and fiberglass which can be designed to simulate the look of wood. These doors are more affordable, require less care, and provide the added bonus of enhanced thermal insulation.
Security needn’t be a concern when considering glass doors for the exterior of your home. All exterior French doors are designed with multiple security choices. The reach-out locking system secures the door panels tightly in the jamb and auxiliary foot locks add an extra measure of security. Most French doors come equipped with a multi-point locking system for security and are easier to fit with security screens than sliding doors.
Double doors are not the only option in a French door either. A single door with a single side panel is a popular choice in smaller homes and renovations in older homes with narrow doors. Need an extra bedroom or an office? Garages are easily and affordably converted to an artist’s studio, a home office, or guest cottage simply by replacing the garage door with a wall of double French doors. Ventilation options in this style include screened side panels and screened panels within the doors themselves. In a small house or apartment, you can turn a little used dining room or den in to a bedroom by installing double french doors in an empty doorway.
French doors provide beauty, light, fresh air and security. The most challenging part of shopping for French doors is choosing from the abundant style, function and design available.