Period French Doors ?

[masochists-r-us]

Anyone out there care to share any good examples as we're struggling to find a sympathetic design ? Probably because this is a clash between the practicalities of modern living versus authenticity. Views / ideas welcome.

 

[Zebra]

Wasn't there a thread on here recently with a request for views on a similar theme? Ah yes here it is........

Can't seem to get the link to work. It was a thread started by Feltwell called "Have I watched Grand Designs one too many times?"

 

[LadyArowana]

Found it!


http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12092

We have some French Doors ( that go out onto a balcony rather than any sort of grden or yard ) in our mansion block apartment, design not necessarily appropriate to a house though.

 

[eezageeza]

Have you considerd coming up with your own 'sympathetic' design, and getting it costed by a joinery firm? We did this on 2 sets of french doors we installed, and they didn't work out any more expensive than ready made designs.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I think the design of them entirely depends on the architectural elements of the building, the fenestration and what else is going on in the room. Can you post some pictures?

These people make nice French doors

http://www.valegardenhouses.com/conservatories-orangeries.html

As they're local, and they said they'd do double doors not in a conservatory or orangerie, as a bespoke project, I had them round to quote. I wanted them to replicate my hallway double doors as outside doors - a Regency design, arch topped, half glazed with diamond lattice panes. They wimped out of the wooden diamond lattice panes and quoted 6k just for the double doors. Will post a pic so you see what I mean. I think it would have been an improvement on my existing double doors but at 6 k I'd expect them to be exactly as I wanted, not copping out of the twiddly bits, so we didn't go for it.

 

[JoceAndChris]

OK, this is what I currently have

For 6 K Vale were going to replicate that, including the windows with all the leaded lights, using their sister company Architectural Bronze Casements. As far as I could see the finished thing wasn't going to look a deal different but it would have been snug, excellent joinery (I had a factory tour and was beyond impressed) and double glazed fenestration with the look of diamond leaded lights, which would make the house a lot warmer.

This is what I wanted though - here's a pic of how the house looked in the 80s with the original Regency doors, all the diamonds in neat wood, now sadly gone.

I guess it's too tricky to replicate.

So there's a lot to mull over, budget, what the other windows look like, what the interior doors are like, double glazing etc etc. Difficult.

 

[Flyfisher]

Just to throw something else into the mix, we have a set of french doors as shown below. Unfortunately, they are in very poor condition, especially around the base where parts are completely rotten. I have a quote from a few years ago for replacement doors to the same style for £600, though I've not yet properly assessed the possibility of repair so have done nothing to them so far. They are on the 'cosmetic' rather than 'structural' list and thus are further down the priority chain.