Internal doors to separate through lounge?

[sammyspoon]

Our 1920s semi has been knocked through to be open plan from front to back downstairs. I don't think we'd change that, as the front of the house gets all the light and the back would be really dark without that light coming through from the front. Usually we're happy with it but as our kids are now not far from entering teens, it would be nice to have a space that can be shut off a bit. Was thinking of maybe putting some kind of internal glazed doors. Has anyone done anything similar or could recommend something?

Similar-ish, in that I extended my lounge to add a playroom and put sliding doors in to separate them (not glazed but could have been).
Pic with them closed and from the other side with them open (and massive dog).

Ignore the kitchen pic, thought I'd removed it.

I'm replacing my original and part glazed doors between living and kitchen/diner with crittal style double doors. I want to be able to shut it off, but as the rooms are small and are on north/south axis, I want to keep the light. I could keep what's there, but doesn't go with my design.

We have these doors.

I assume that you'd need to put in a wall as well as doors between the rooms? Maybe consider glazed pocket doors or, if you have space, there are internal bifold doors available. Pocket doors mean that you don't lose space to accommodate an open door, bifolds let you open up the whole space if you need to. However, both of those options are more expensive than just having a standard pair of glazed doors.

@brieandbacon those are nice. Are they effective at blocking out noise? Our opening is wider than that so could accommodate perhaps an additional panel on each side or a folding option

@maofteens I like the idea of crittal style. Where are you getting yours from (are you in UK?)

These are nice...

@brieandbacon

We have these doors.

Same

I got some reclaimed part glazed doors (they came from an old orangery apparently) for our Victorian terrace. So they are wood from the ground to half way up and then have small glazed panels above (like the ones in brieandbacon's photo) only a lot older.

I would worry about fully glazed if you have young children in the house.

Did you look at LPD Doors for their crittal style doors and room dividers, fab!

Wood part glazed might be a good shout. Crittal looks great but the industrial style might feel a bit cold in the already quite dark space. Kids aren't very young (nearly 13 and 10) but I take your point @Chicchicchicchiclana

We've just had pocket doors put in www.doorsonlineuk.co.uk/internal-french-doors/white-primed-internal-french-doors/downham-white-primed-pair-clear-bevelled-glass/?attribute_pa_choose-a-size=1981mm-x-1372mm-x-40mm-54&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI55_4js6N8wIVxZTVCh3YPAv8EAQYECABEgK-avD_BwE

They look good. Not hugely soundproofed though.

@LittleOverWhelmed they look nice. That's the kind of thing I'm thinking. Similar sized opening. I'm trying to figure out the pros and cons of bifold vs standard double doors (with glazed side panels) vs sliding. I don't think we have any need to put furniture near the doors.

I recommend pocket doors because you won't lose any floor space.

We have glazed double doors with glazed side panels. The doors have recessed handles on one side so they can fold fully flat against the glazed side panels.

They block out noise to a pretty good extent, but not as well as a standard door - I think this is because they have a gap underneath and between the two doors. If you want maximum noise blocking then go for something that has as few gaps as possible

I think the trouble with pocket doors is we would have to lose a big chunk of the existing opening (and therefore light) as we'd have to construct the pockets big enough for the doors to slide into.

@minipie

We have glazed double doors with glazed side panels. The doors have recessed handles on one side so they can fold fully flat against the glazed side panels.

They block out noise to a pretty good extent, but not as well as a standard door - I think this is because they have a gap underneath and between the two doors. If you want maximum noise blocking then go for something that has as few gaps as possible

This sounds like it could be a good option. We don't really need to fully open up the space, we just don't want to lose the light. So side panels would be ok. And with folding doors you need space to stack them anyway. And I worry about fingers getting squished

[quote sammyspoon]@brieandbacon those are nice. Are they effective at blocking out noise? Our opening is wider than that so could accommodate perhaps an additional panel on each side or a folding option [/quote]
Prob not as soundproof as big heavy doors but they let in so much light. Ours aren't hung properly as we've "inherited" them. But if snugly fitted they would be better.

@minipie

We have glazed double doors with glazed side panels. The doors have recessed handles on one side so they can fold fully flat against the glazed side panels.

They block out noise to a pretty good extent, but not as well as a standard door - I think this is because they have a gap underneath and between the two doors. If you want maximum noise blocking then go for something that has as few gaps as possible

@minipie can I ask where you got yours from?

If you possibly can have pocket sliders, do. I hear what you're saying about losing opening space but other types of doors lose loads of room space, especially when you have them open most of the time. They really intrude on where you can put furniture because you always have to allow for the swing of the door.

The trouble with glazed doors is that the teenagers might not want their parents in the other room. No privacy. How about glazed with those internal blinds or even with frosted glass so they are not transparent but do let the light through

Thanks for all the excellent advice.I'm wondering if something like this...sliding panels, part glazed with obscured glass.