Not being able to open window just the door for air

[Tams1234]

Hello,

We are remodelling the back of our house to create an open kitchen, diner and family room. We have had an architect design it and the design has a 4m floor to ceiling sliding doors and then either side a floor length window. Due to the length of the window it means you can’t open it and would need to be fixed. We can change the design and get a window with an opening but wouldn’t look as nice as a full uninterrupted view. I just find the thought of not being able to open the window and having to open the door for air a bit strange. Wondered what other people’s thoughts would be, would it bother you having to open the door and not being able to open a window?

Yes, it would bother me. Can you add an openable window on another wall?

I think you're right to consider this aspect, I have a window open all the time in the kitchen.

It would bother me too, I always have the window open and definitely whilst cooking.
Which way does your house face? That’s a lot of glass and could get very hot if the sun is on it for a lot of the day (another reason for a window!)

Yes, it would bother me too.

I presume you will be putting in solar glass, to stop some of the heat and to retain heat in winter. We have this in our garden office, makes a huge difference.

It would bother me as well.

My kitchen has a set up where you have to open a door or a skylight because there’s no normal window to open. It’s annoying, especially when I’m cooking something smokey.

a slightly interrupted view with a functional window is better than an instagram moment and then years of wishing you could open the bloody window.

Agree with function over look- we have a skylight and it's really helpful to let out cooking smells/ smoke etc - is that possible ?

I think that’s fine.
We have large sliding doors and they can be opened and locked at any cm size. Ie we would open a few cm and then lock door handle down so it can’t be opened more when Ds was baby/ small toddler so he couldn’t escape. You can just use them like windows.

In winter I just open them a cm or so for fresh air

My kitchen has no “windows”, only sky lights and sliding glass patio doors. I don’t see how opening a sliding door is different from opening a window?? Will there be a bit of a room overhang to stop the rain splashing?

our house has large sliding doors to the garden as the only window in a big open plan space. they take up a whole wall. and yes, we have to open the doors to get a breeze because there is no alternative, but that works OK.

(unless the neighbours cat wanders in).

Being able to open even a small kitchen window during/after cooking is not to be undervalued IMO. If you have to open a door will you feel comfortable leaving it open and unlocked if you aren't in the kitchen for any length of time? Are there any pets or children to consider with an open door vs open window?

It wouldn't bother me, we had similar and it was fine.

It is north facing and at the moment we have the light on all the time as it is so dark so I am not too worried about it getting too hot. We can’t have windows on the side as we are semi detached on one side and the other side is right up to our boundary wall and we live on a hill so the wall is under next doors side path. We did talk about sky lights but the architect didn’t think we would need as we will have so much glass at the back. Definitely think I will get windows that open and glad it isn’t only me who feels that you need one! The rest of the house has Georgian bars on the window so could maybe get the side windows with bars to match the rest of the house and would then hide the opening window a bit more. Thank you for all your thoughts!

We live in a terrace so the only opening in our kitchen are the doors at the end. Same as pretty much all the other houses round here that have done a side return extension. Of course it’s fine to open the doors a bit! Ours is open most of the time. I’ve missed or thought about having a window instead.

If you find the thought anyway impractical definitely don’t do it!!!

Our kitchen has 5.7m sliding doors and no opening windows. You can open the sliders a fraction if you want. Just think of it as a vertical window.

We have a window and patio doors in our kitchen and come to think of it I never use the window when I want fresh air just open the door. So I think it’s fine.

I really disagree about not needing skylights, they are important to send light to the middle of the house which can otherwise get very dark once you’ve stuck an extension on the back. Also very very useful for ventilation especially if you get electric ones.

We have sliding doors and an opening skylight, no openable window but I wouldn’t be without the skylight.

Similar setup here, I find it a pita. Go for the window.

We have a wall of sliding doors out to our back garden (triple glazing so very heavy). Our neighbour did the same with French style. We can open our doors a crack or whatever we like and lock them in place - so very secure. Impossible with French style. We don't have any other windows in the room. It's perfectly fine.

That would bother me, especially in winter if you just want a bit of air during cooking but don’t want the door open.

That’s what we have too. Agree french doors would be a problem.

Get the window!!! Get the window to open.

We love, love our kitchen/diner. Love the bi-folds but I cannot understand why they didn't include a small window where it possible because being unable to vent the room without opening the door is a pain - especially in winter.