What sort of patio doors?

[GrapefruitMoon]

Live in an Edwardian semi but it is quite a plain house - none of the twirly wooden bits you often get from that era - so in some ways looks more like a 1930's house....

The patio doors we inherited are old (poss 70s?) sliding aluminium framed, with a panel on top. Initially I thought I might replace them with something similar to the original doors (presumably french doors) but I have grown to like the huge expanse of glass. Added complication is that the patio doors are actually in a bay so there is a roof overhead with clay tiles, quite rustic looking from the outside...

Our neighbours have installed pvc french doors and I don't really like them - the frames look very chunky. Plus the garden is small so sliding doors wouldn't impact on the garden space as much when open...

Just waffling I know but it's going to be a big expense so i want to get it right - so I like the view of the garden, etc from the inside that I would get from modern sliding doors, but I worry it would look out of place from the outside because of the age of the property.

Anyone live in a property of a similar age and, if so, what have you done?

We've got 2 sets of patio doors in our house - Victorian semi, but totally devoid of Victorian character. Fitted by previous owner.

We've got sliding wooden framed doors in our kitchen. I like them because they give a fabulous view of the garden and let in lots of light (you just see garden rather than frame) and, like you say, don't take up much space.

Sitting room has ones that look like they should slide, but one side is a door that opens inwards and the other us just a large plate of glass. They are less successful in my opinion.

Meant to say you can get clever doors that fold right back in a concertina fashion. I think they're great for really hot days, when you have them fully open, but can look ugly if they're only part opened.

You can get patio doors in coloured upvc and the dark grey look quite good against ols brick and not so loud somehow.Folding doors are good too esp in wood but look best with a long run

thanks for the replies...

Don't think folding doors would work really in this particular situation.
Muffin, what is the maintenance like with your wooden sliding doors? Are they varnished or painted?

Noddyholder, the coloured pvc sounds interesting - I am in a bit of a grey phase at the moment with my decor anyway! - but have only seen "wood" coloured pvc doors before. Are they widely available? Am also thinking of aluminium framed sliding doors rather than pvc as the frames would be slimmer...

Our wooden ones are varnished. We haven't had to do anything to maintain them at all, but have only been here a couple of years. I think the varnish might need redoing once in a while (similar frames at the front are flaking slightly but they get much more direct sun).