French doors inside and outside: What do you think?

Photo of French doors taken by Pat Z Anthony
@PatZAnthony (14749)
Charlotte, North Carolina
May 10, 2017 12:04am CST
We have French doors inside of our home separating several areas. The doors in this photo are on a house that is under renovation somewhere. As it is an older house, this is to be expected and suits the building. Having a newer French door to exit one area of the house makes sense to some. However, for me, the old doors are better. Some people just enjoy everything new and modern. That is fine for some, but many of us just like older things and older styles. We often feel things with history have more character. What do you think?
24 people like this
25 responses
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
10 May 17
I didn't that kind of door style is French, now I know. That look good with that glass door with the rectangular design
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
That one is popular in newer homes and is an exit door in a house being renovated @ilocoboy
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
10 May 17
@PatZAnthony What do you think about sliding French doors?
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
They are great in the right setting. We also have a setting of folding French doors, which are unusual and hard to find it seems @silvermist
• United States
10 May 17
We don't have french doors in this house but we have had two homes with them. Modern doors or windows are better made and more energy efficient. You can buy 'new' that are made to look 'old.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
We buy old items that look old and just tweak things enough so they work @AbbyGreenhill Not always easy, but we prefer these things for the house we are in now. Next house might be on the water (as in, a boat) and things will be different.
• United States
12 May 17
@PatZAnthony Since I like comfort I a glad we have modern and well made windows and doors that do the job weather-wise firs off.
• Laguna Woods, California
13 May 17
@AbbyGreenhill - You make a good point about new windows and doors being more energy efficient. I agree that it is possible to get new doors which are designed to look old.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79711)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 May 17
I really like those doors. Wouldn't mind having them myself. However we have a very old old fashioned house and it is not possible to put in such doors.
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
10 May 17
The French doors in our home are original. However, the photo here is a newer house that is being renovated @RasmaSandra
2 people like this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
12 May 17
So do I like older things. I have a bedroom suite that we bought many years ago. I had a friend who offered me many times over what we paid for it, but I wont sell.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
We have items that belonged to grandparents and great grandparents. They won't leave this family, that's for sure @RubyHawk
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
12 May 17
@PatZAnthony I like things that last forever. I'm not sure they make furniture like that anymore.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
@RubyHawk We met someone who makes furniture. Everything is oak, which would last forever. However, he (and he says this himself) does not have the "old world" skills to do some of the interesting details we find on very old pieces.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
10 May 17
I would stick to this style..it lets in plenty of light which I love.
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
That is a great point. Letting in light to the dining room, these doors are great on that house @responsiveme
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
10 May 17
If the door is made of good wood, the older the better. I think the only time when a house has to undergo renovation to change the doors or whatever is when the owner uses Japanese houses materials. The Japanese houses are meant of partly paper. Even if earthquake strikes, and the house collapses, it will not kill.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 May 17
@PatZAnthony That is true. Tokyo city is in such a situation. The city is in an earthquake zone, and all tall buildings are supposed to withstand strong earthquake, but nobody knows if that is possible. Scientists have been warning for years of a strong earthquake hitting Tokyo.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
Here we have to follow codes that tell us what we can and can't do, and the quality of the building has to be such that it will stand up to hurricanes, blizzards, etc. But, in reality, @scheng1 we humans don't know what will stand up to such things, do we?
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
@scheng1 That would really be a disaster. Hope it does not happen in our life time.
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
10 May 17
Look very nice to me. Although I have more than enough cleaning to do already and more doors with or without glass would be lots of work for sure. But yes I like them.
2 people like this
• Pamplona, Spain
12 May 17
@PatZAnthony Indeed they are lovely to have and to look at. We have a big dog and he moutls most of the year round that is where my main work is. Yesterday I did the bottom of the Wardrobes yet again but I did them. Hard work to keep the floors clean as they are not good quality gres ceramic but they will do for now.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
@lovinangelsinstead21There is always more to do and sometimes we have to wonder if we do too much!
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
Cleaning the glass does not bother us too much b/c it seems having the light come through the windows makes these worth the work @lovinangelsinstead21
1 person likes this
• United States
10 May 17
I like the French doors but honestly I would have to take a look myself to see the layout and how everything fits together.I am all for keeping the original if possible.
2 people like this
• United States
12 May 17
@PatZAnthony I agree Pat.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
We always like to work with the original or a replacement that comes very close @TiarasOceanView The old things are always better to us.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
13 May 17
@TiarasOceanView - I agree that it depends on the house, the condition of the current doors, etc.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471356)
• Switzerland
10 May 17
It depends which style the house is. We have something similar to the photo, but more modern, it's not made in wood and has double insulating pane windows.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
The one in this photo is the modern one. The ones in our house are wood and as old as the house @LadyDuck
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471356)
• Switzerland
12 May 17
@PatZAnthony The ones in my Mom's house are old, because the house was built in 1935.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121548)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 May 17
I love older homes and the attention to detail and quality that went into building them. Probably one of the only things I like better about modern doors and windows is that they are much more energy efficient these days compared to the past. And when you live in Florida and have to run the A/C constantly, energy efficiency becomes a big deal. But other than that, I prefer older things in a home.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
Many in our area refuse to upgrade their windows and doors and we feel the same. These are original to the home, so they will stay @moffittjc You know there are many areas in Florida where the Historical groups do not allow 'modern' items to be placed in homes. It can be an issue for some.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121548)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 May 17
@PatZAnthony Our city is like that. If your home is in the several designated historic districts, you cannot do anything to your home without first getting approval from the historic board. They are very, very finicky and often deny homeowners on many upgrades that they want to make. I totally understand, because you want to protect the integrity of the historic nature of the home.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317040)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 May 17
I like older homes with character.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
They can really be fun. Ours is also a bit of work to maintain, but we enjoy it @just4him
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
15 May 17
@just4him We have these between the kitchen and living area and between the kitchen and another section of the house. They just make sense there, but would not in some places.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317040)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 May 17
@PatZAnthony I had a rental a number of years ago that had French doors to the bedroom.
1 person likes this
@Gabugs (1895)
• United States
12 May 17
@PatZAnthony I love everything old and ancient. French doors & windows have a class of their own. We inherited a couple of old collectibles which I treasure.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
15 May 17
Yes @Gabugs that is true about the French doors and windows.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 May 17
I would probably prefer the older doors too.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
What came with the house, stays with the house, unless it deteriorates to the point of replacement @Jeanniemaries
@Nawsheen (28643)
• Mauritius
10 May 17
Old is gold. Ww cannot just go about and destroy everything. We do have memories attached to.old things. As for this door i like it and will keep it
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
We really prefer things made of wood, things made by hand and things are have aged well over the years @Nawsheen
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139579)
• Roseburg, Oregon
10 May 17
I like french doors they are nice on houses.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
We like these too @jstory07 They go with the house we have.
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 May 17
@PatZAnthony - I like both types of homes. Most of the homes I have owned have been new or nearly new. However, for ten years I was a Realtor in an area where many of the homes had been built in the 1920's, and I loved the charm of those old homes, too.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
15 May 17
Our new house was not as sturdy as this one. It also did not have the charm you mention that this one has @DeborahDiane
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
15 May 17
@PatZAnthony - There is nothing more comforting and pleasurable than a sturdy home with lots of charm.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339583)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 May 17
I'm a bit ambivalent about this. I think I like whatever I'm looking at at the time. Certainly I love old stuff but then I can fall in love with modern stuff too.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
Which is a good thing @JudyEv Many of us like to change our mind. In the right setting these are great.
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14556)
• United States
13 May 17
I love French doors. My house in CT had several French doors inside and they worked perfectly for all the times we entertained!
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
15 May 17
We like them in this house @CRK109 but know some places just would not look right with that style. Maybe it is more of the placement than the style.
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14556)
• United States
15 May 17
@PatZAnthony I think it's a combination of both. In my mother's house, French Doors would have been ridiculous. But in my former home, that used to be an old farmhouse, they were perfect.
1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
10 May 17
Old is always gold. The old design are now being given life and most of the people preferring them.I am crazy of french doors. Can you tell me what are the dimensions of the door and how much did it cost you? I want to have them for my house under construction.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
The ones in the photo can be purchased in the US at stores such as Lowe's or Home Depot in a set for approximately $430 USD (there was a recent sale of 15% off) and the size shown is 71.5" by 36" per door. Where we live, there are also salvage businesses that sell returned and slightly damaged (easy to repair) for much less @shivimani10