Guys - I apologize for my double-post. I didn't see my original post on the forum so I posted it again.

Oops!

try_hard

Try, I don't know if they look cheap or unattractive, and I was wrestling with that option when we remodeled the kitchen, took out a window and replaced it with a sliding French door. On mine, the inner window will come out. They put in little clips or whatever they would be called, so that if at a later date I decided I wanted the blinds, they could be put in. It is a Pella door. Privacy is not an issue, and I don't mind looking out into the dark at night. (Some people like things closed up at night). I have never had the blinds put in. I don't know if this would be an option for you with whatever door you have chosen, but thought I would throw it out to you.

They can't be beat for practicality, and I don't object to the way they look because they're so functional, which is worth a lot. My DH didn't like the appearance, but that's because he never has had to clean miniblinds. Especially in a kitchen, they're extremely practical for all the reasons you listed and they don't get dirty.

I think they can be a great solution. We looked at doing that in our side entry door last fall. The problem was, the options for the blinds were either white or ivory. The door is a warm cream color, the hall walls are a coffee with cream color, and the trim is medium stained oak, so neither blind color looked nice imo with the door color.

If your door/trim will work with the color of the blinds, then I think it is a nice option. Be sure you get the ones that can be raised as well as tilted, if at some point you want a clear view out the glass.

I prefer these in a space (kitchen, garage, mudroom) where there is lots of dirt, smoke, or grease, because blinds are so tedious to clean. I didn't know there were only two options for the colors, maybe that was only one manufacturer? I'm hoping to put them out in my garage someday, since my husband smokes out there.

These make a lot of sense in your application. I have never thought they look cheap or unattractive. They are crisp and clean, rather smart looking.

An upscale house in my neighborhood has these in all of the windows.

My back door in the kitchen has the built in blinds (same as your sample picture). I love the functionality of the blinds and the fact that when open you do not even realize there is a blind. I think they are perfect in a kitchen setting (I would also not hesitate to use them in a bathroom window as well).

We replaced an old French door in our den with one that's almost identical to the one in the OP's photo -- the door leads out onto a side porch -- and have been very happy with it. I don't think they're cheap-looking (I know they aren't cheap-costing! LOL!) or unattractive at all.

I have them in all my doors at the new house and the main reason I opted for them was because of the pets, who would in time ruin any other type of window treatment I put on the exterior of the door. Now I'm glad I was "forced" into getting them. They are so practical and do look nice. You can always dress the door with panels on each side or even a shelf or other decoration on top. Even if the door is steel, you can use sheet metal screws to put up curtains to soften the door.

We used a magnetic rod to put up curtains on our steel door. It worked very well.

For our build, we looked at the built-in blinds and really liked them, the reason that we did not go with them was due to the lower R-value, which is a measurement of the resistance to heat transfer. The higher the R- value, the more energy efficient. I live in Saskatchewan and our annual temperatures usually vary from -40 F to 100 F, so energy efficiency won out.

Our window installer offered these types of windows/blinds, but said that they receive more service calls for these than for anything else. Apparently they malfunction a lot.

Here's our door in the mudroom. I'm glad we chose it for the light it brings in plus with the dust/lint in the laundry room it stays clean! So far, it looks and works fine.

Thanks for all the comments. Since we do plan to get another dog in a few years and I was so happy with the door at my last house, I think I'll get another one.

try_hard

I'm glad everyone was so positive about them. I wish we had them here! I loved them when we had them in another house-- what a great design and great design never goes out of style.

FYI on only 2 colors. I have them in a French Door style. I didn't want white blinds, but my neighbor told me that he could change the blinds. I hope so - for when they begint to malfunction. I use the magnetic rods too; they great. They make for a neater design. I love them.

We were shopping for french doors and considered these. I wasn't too keen on the white blinds though. We decided against them when the lever that opens/closes the blinds broke off in the store. Guess that made our decision for us. We need something a bit more sturdy.

I love the idea of built-in blinds as I have 4 dogs. I am looking for various manufacturers of doors with built-in blinds. I have seen both the half door and full door by thermatru but I am not excited by the door. I have a very traditional post and beam home and hoped for a more interesting looking door. Does anyone know of other manufacturers? I did see Pella listed above.

I know this thread is a couple months old but I also wanted these doors with the built in blinds. I ended up ordering the Thermatru brand - that is the less expensive brand with only the white blinds. ( I didn't know they offered ivory blinds). I also checked out the Pella brands. The Pella ones were much nicer. You can open the window on the Pella doors and change out the blinds to many other colors. But the Pella door was $1600, and the Thermatru door was about $500. Since this is only in the pool bath, I chose the Thermatru one.

Ginny