Light or air in the dining room?

[Nothungrycat]

I live in a small terrace, which has two downstairs rooms plus a small kitchen. Because the kitchen comes off the dining room at right angles, there is no space for a window in the dining room - so the only light for that room comes through the door which is currently half-glass. I'd really like to have an open window in that room, as I want more fresh air, and don't like to keep the door open as it opens onto a small backyard and then a lane which is used by quite a lot of people. So, I was thinking of switching to a stable door, with a window in the top half, and that would mean I could lock the bottom half and keep the window open. However, all the ones I can find have panes in the window, so there would be less light in what is already a dark room. I can't work out which is the best option!

I'm not sure a stable-door would solve the problem of feeling the house is insecure with the door open - any burglar could easily jump the half door.

why not have a door that is mostly glass. When you open it, you can have it open just 5cm for fresh air but with a chain or lock to stop it opening wider without a key. maybe something like this.

https://amzn.eu/d/8N3bX8y

another option - is there space to make the door opening a bit wider and add a pane of glass beside the door? just a 6 inch wide fixed glass pane would bring in a lot of light.

How about a tilt and turn door, I have them as windows (Anglian) but I’m sure they do them as doors too. That way you can tilt to let air in but you have the door option too

The problem is that it's quite an old terrace so a full-length glass door - whether tiltable or not - doesn't look quite right. I have thought of trying to fit in a small window next to the door, but it would be quite a lot of work as the wall is really thick. I really like the door lock idea, though - I will investigate that further!

Do you need the door or is there another door from the kitchen? If so you could just change to a window?