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Sue, right click on the broken image, and then click on 'view image', it should show up.

I think space is limited for a french door if you plan to leave the door open during the summer. You'd have more room if it were a unit with one fixed door and the other hinged in the center.
Also, since the screen would need to open outward, you'll probably be cramped for space on the patio when entering and exiting.

I have both styles of doors leading to my deck. The french doors are in the LR and I never open the other door when using those doors. That unit does not have a screen.
The other doors are sliders like the ones shown below and it has a sliding screen on the interior. I like the slider since it has the look of the french doors and I don't have to worry about furniture placement.

Here is a link that might be useful: sliders

Why not get a french style slider? You can get them with or without divided lights and it will give you the pretty appearance but the functionality of a slider. Andersen sells a center-opening slider that looks wonderful.

We pretty much live outside whenever the weather permits (and since we're in So. Cal., it permits for about 9 months of the year). French doors are pretty, but they would drive me nuts. I love to just throw open our sliders as wide as they will go.

I guess I needed this thunk on the head. Sarschlos you are probably right. Something that looks like a french door but functions as a slider will solve all my problems. Why is it that I just can't seem to let go of the door idea?

And I hadn't explored the possibility of a center opening slider. Will check out their site yet again.

Red

If this is an area you open up and leave the door open, I would go the slider route. Dont you hate when a door is open and someone opens another door and the first door slams shut from the vacuum effect. I would be afraid if you had a french door open and then you open the front door for a visitor the french door would slam closed. Just a googy thing I thought of.

sliders are dated, french doors are in.. at least in the south they are.

I have french doors with only one operating door. Not sure why we did that, but that is what we chose when we built LOL.
That door leads out to our sunroom and from there to the patio. It works great for us, no problems.

tina

I would go the slider route with the divided lights. You have limited space on both sides, and if you want the furniture to stay as it is, and the drapery to remain the same, I don't see the french door functioning as well for you. Plus, imo if you are going to have one side of the french doors be stationery, what is the real benefit of the french door? To me, the charm of the french doors is when they both open from the center and create a wide open look. If you can't reasonably do that, then you really just have pretty much the same look as the slider when the door is open or closed.

We live in mosquito country (actually, mosquitos are the state bird here in western Massachusetts), and screens are a necessity. I do not understand why sliders are "out" and french doors are "in." Well, except for the obvious explanation that many more door sets can be sold when perfectly functional arrangements go in and out of fashion.

I have both types. The French door with one stationary door is the master BR and opens to the deck; the slider is in the dining area and also opens to the deck. I think the difference is sliders are more functional and more practical for higher traffic areas than a French door.

It does look like you could do a French door with the stationary door on the right-hand side. I've never needed or wished the stationary door on ours was a hinged door. I like walking through a door more than I like walking through a slider. It feels more roomy and secure, I suppose because of the framing.

I love the idea and look of French doors, but we chose a four panel (Anderson) slider that opens from the center to go from our dining area into our sunroom.

They may not have quite the charm that French doors do, but when both sides are pulled open from the center they really do open the rooms and allow easy traffic in and out when entertaining - almost like taking a wall down - and best of all there is no lost space in either room. My heart wanted to go with French doors for the feeling they evoked, but my head went with the sliders for practicality. I'm pleased with the look, and I don't regret the decision at all.

BTW Ours went in a new build. Much as I love mine, I wouldn't go with sliders if I were restoring a period home.