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Original poster

Are bifold doors worth it?

80 replies

BiscuitLover3678 · 11/04/2022 18:53

We’re getting an extension with dining/family room being added on to our current kitchen and looking out at the garden.

I know bifold doors are very ‘in’ but are they worth it? Would large French doors and floor length windows do the trick? I want lots of kigjt and to be able to look out when I sit down. Plus still see lots from the kitchen.

OP posts:
sleepyhoglet · 15/04/2022 09:21

I don't care wha fashionable- I love ours! We have a patio ourside ours and the slabs are level with the kitchen so it really has a good flow

CellophaneFlower · 15/04/2022 09:46

I never get the whole dated argument when it comes to things like this. Kitchen islands are another one.

As time moves on, more and more people are wanting to use their garden as an extension of their living space. Bifolds are the best way to achieve this, as seamlessly as possible. Yes, anthracite frames etc may fall out of favour... but actual bifolds won't.

I don't have bifolds btw... but can totally get the appeal. If your house isn't big enough or bifolds aren't practical for whatever reason then no, they're not advised. Just like islands that are plunked in a too small kitchen to be "on trend".

CellophaneFlower · 15/04/2022 09:47

Plonked Hmm

custardbear · 15/04/2022 09:51

We have corner bifolds and love them. The make our snug into a garden room, faces the sun too all afternoon, love them.
We have cats but our cat flap is through the wall rather than any of our garden doors.

I would advise getting one with an opening door though as we can open one panel as a door without having to open up the whole wall of panels

LosingTheWill2022 · 15/04/2022 10:18

I am sitting here with my biolds open and the sun shining. It's a fantastic feeling. I just love them.
The back of my little house is open plan kitchen /living room / dining. With doors open it flows straight out into the garden.
Even routine jobs like washing up are nicer when you can feel fresh air and feel like you're outside.
I turn a sofa to face out so can totally relax and enjoy the garden. It's like being on a verandah.
It changes the whole feeling of the space when it's completely open to the outside.
😊

Soffit · 15/04/2022 10:22

They aren't really 'in' anymore. Critall or a mixed configuration is more 2022. Personally, I prefer two small runs of doors separated by a section of the original supporting wall as it saves on steels or full length windows going round to one side to frame the side gardens and catch more sunlight.

RandomQuest · 15/04/2022 10:36

We just replaced our bifolds with sliders as part of our kitchen refurb. The sliders let in so much more light when the doors are closed, which let’s face is more often than they’re open in the U.K., as bifolds are really chunky and the slider frames are so thin. They have 3 panels which stack so we can still open it 2/3s of the way, which doesn’t feel like a compromise at all as it’s still very open. We have more space on the patio now (small London garden) and it’s easy to just have the door open a crack to let in a smell breeze. I don’t miss the bifolds at all.

Kellykukoo · 15/04/2022 11:13

I love my bifolds and chose them over sliders. You can have just one door open if you don't want all the doors open as the main opening door has a magnet that stops it from flapping. The wide view into the garden is the best thing whether the doors are fully closed or open. I like the frames too as it frames my view of the garden. I had French doors and wide windows before replacing them with the bifolds and it looks much better.

violetbunny · 15/04/2022 11:19

We have bifolds and two cats. The bifolds replace some old French doors, and definitely make everything feel more spacious when they're open.
Like a previous poster, one end of the bifolds is a traffic door so can be opened just like a regular door. When we put the bifolds in we asked the supplier to put a cat flap in at the same time.

SierpinskiSquare · 15/04/2022 11:20

It completely depends on the situation. Both have advantages and is advantages.
I love my bifolds but even though I spent loads on them they aren't that warm.
I have mine open a lot.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 15/04/2022 11:41

@Soffit

They aren't really 'in' anymore. Critall or a mixed configuration is more 2022. Personally, I prefer two small runs of doors separated by a section of the original supporting wall as it saves on steels or full length windows going round to one side to frame the side gardens and catch more sunlight.
Crittall as a trend is very five years ago. Crittall are classic IMO but only in the right context. They would look completely ridiculous in my 90s house.
WoolyMammoth55 · 15/04/2022 13:52

I have to say that I don't really think it's about fashion, that's idiotic IMHO when it comes to architecture! It's all about what works optimally in your exact space and house.

In a period property with period features I'd probably go for some configuration of wood-framed french windows.

If it's all about the view and/or a corner, I'd likely do sliders with very narrow frames.

In our space, which is 6m wide and all level including the garden, with no views except the sky, bifolds make the most sense. They fold up to nothing and the entire space becomes one room. We have them open today and will have them open the majority of the time for the next 6 months. Nothing else would work remotely as well for this house, it's bliss!

But that's not to say they're the right choice every time, obviously :)

averythinline · 15/04/2022 19:46

Love mine don't care about fashion but iits only half the back wall of the extension if that makes sense

Bedsheets4knickers · 16/04/2022 06:24

I'm so glad we got rid of ours . They're good for natural light but In summer the amount of flies and wasps 😩😩.

portionplate · 16/04/2022 06:42

I personally prefer sliding or Crittal style over bifolds.

Mablefly · 16/04/2022 06:57

We consider bifolds when we had our kitchen done. In the end we opted for french doors (mainly due to cost) but I am so glad we did. We can throw them open in the summer for a big space yet still have a private nook near the door where we can sit out our little sofa and look out of the window. It’s the perfect combination of cozy and light.

scandihouse · 16/04/2022 07:31

I've had both and prefer french doors. I also think bifolds are looking a bit dated now whereas french doors are a bit more classic. If money was no object I would go for the crittal style doors.

Soffit · 16/04/2022 15:42

I own a period property which would suit Crittal but ultimately, I would not opt for it because I do not feel it is compatible with the rough and tumble of family life. In my part of London, it has now on the verge of becoming something of a cliche and the price difference is massive. When one of those elusive creatures of mystery (which used to be called decently priced builders) finally appear, I will be opting for a few sets of French doors in a row.

Hotcuppatea · 16/04/2022 15:48

Am I the only person who finds the idea of basing your decision on which style of door to get on fashion a bit bizarre? Surely you chose them based on what works for your house and how you intend to live in it. What does fashion have to do with anything?

LosingTheWill2022 · 16/04/2022 16:03

@Hotcuppatea

Am I the only person who finds the idea of basing your decision on which style of door to get on fashion a bit bizarre? Surely you chose them based on what works for your house and how you intend to live in it. What does fashion have to do with anything?
No you are definitely not the only person!
MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 16/04/2022 16:08

Ours are a decade old and I still LOVE them. South facing garden in the SW, we have them open so much from March - early October. Sliding doors wouldn’t work in the same way unless you’ve space for a full pocket, I adore the fully open aspect which you can’t get with crittals etc.

coronabeer · 16/04/2022 16:17

Considering whether to go with bifolds when I do up the back of my house.

One thing possibly putting me off is: when they're fully open, do you get birds flying inside your house? I have a bit of a bird phobia, especially when they are flying around indoors.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 16/04/2022 16:17

@Hotcuppatea

Am I the only person who finds the idea of basing your decision on which style of door to get on fashion a bit bizarre? Surely you chose them based on what works for your house and how you intend to live in it. What does fashion have to do with anything?
This is what normal people do.

It doesn’t matter how bleeding-edge a trend is, there will be someone on MN who will declare it dated.

Original poster
BiscuitLover3678 · 16/04/2022 16:24

Don’t like the idea of sliding doors really. Think we’ll stick with French doors and a big window.

OP posts:
LosingTheWill2022 · 16/04/2022 16:28

@coronabeer

Considering whether to go with bifolds when I do up the back of my house.

One thing possibly putting me off is: when they're fully open, do you get birds flying inside your house? I have a bit of a bird phobia, especially when they are flying around indoors.

That's never happened in the 14 years I've had bifolds.