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Windows Home Decorating Design Dilemma

Replace living area window with Patio door

4 years ago

Our living room currently has plantation style window opening to the side yard. I am thinking of replacing that with either a larger window or a full door.
Any recommendation on which kind of door to use? I may have to keep the couch in front of the door still. Although I could potentially move the couch to some other location.

thanks!

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Comments (11)

Angel 18432
4 years ago
So you want to keep the couch in same location, but could be moved????

Does that really make sense??

Leave it as is and spend your dollars on something else. Having a window over

a sofa is just as bad/good as having a door that you cannot use if you leave the

sofa there.

Why put in a door? Will it lead to a usable patio space ???
Sillygirl
Original Author
4 years ago
My main reasons for adding a door -
1. More light in the living room
2. I believe it will look bigger due to the more light.
I am able to move the couch as we have a lot additional space to change the configuration.
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I ordered a custom entry door once that needed to be 2” shorter than a standard door. Didn’t cost much more, was prehung in a frame and brick-mold and the threshold already installed much like a standard unit. Took about two weeks to get. I ordered from a door company in Atlanta (1/2 glass solid wood). Sorry I wasn’t clear, my comment on gaining ceiling height was to see if you could gain enough for a standard height door. The issue you are going to face, from the photos, is the structural requirements once you modify your exterior wall to accommodate the new door. Especially if it is wider than what you have. You really need to dig into this deeper regarding the structure that is already there before you can make any decisions on doors or windows. You need to gut enough of the interior to see what you have, look at every aspect of what you are doing so you don’t end up with a heater hung from the side of your stove. :) As mentioned above, you are probably lookping at a complete re-wire, re-plumb and new gas lines at a minimum for the entire house to do things correctly. That means all new lights, fixtures etc and stuff like that adds up really quickly.
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decoenthusiaste
4 years ago
Sliders?
chispa
4 years ago
Remove the plantation shutters and you will get a lot more light in the room. And your windows will look bigger without all the wood framing and horizontal "bars" of the shutters.
nexp
4 years ago
Without seeing the exterior wall, it’s hard to say if a door or different windows would make any sense. Without seeing the rest of the space, it’s hard to see if larger windows would make sense. Neither would make sense if the couch is staying.

In general, I wouldn’t
nexp
4 years ago
Clicked post too soon! In general, I wouldn’t put a door in a place where it will never be used.
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
4 years ago
Larger = Framing modifications and more money.

If you do use it as an means of egress, you could put a door there. I agree with the above poster that I wouldn't just willy nilly put a door where you will never use it.
maddielee
4 years ago
Before you put in a door think about how you would cover it if you need privacy. And consider the view you will have with full height glass.

If you still want a door, You might want to look at doors that have blinds between the glass. We have sliders and French doors (with blinds between the glass) and really like them.
K Laurence
4 years ago
Depends upon what is outside. If the doors/ windows just look out upon a nondescript side yard I wouldn’t. However, if there is a nice patio, landscaping or whatever outdoors I like the look of indoor rooms almost seamlessly flowing to the outdoors.
ljangell44
4 years ago
I think you would be disappointed if you replace the window with a door it just doesn't work.
Sillygirl
Original Author
4 years ago
thanks for all the tips! I ended up abandoning the idea thanks to everyone's feedback. And it was probably the best decision. Thanks!

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