Are internal glass doors due a come back?

[NorthFacingGardener]

Our internal doors need replacing and will probably go for cottage style doors. I am wondering about a half glazed door for the kitchen (similar to the picture).

I grew up in the 90s when there were lots of these about and am aware they can seem dated… but we have a lovely sunny hall and a dark north facing kitchen so a glass door seems like a good option.

The only time it would be closed is when I’m cooking so I suppose the kids will just come and press their grubby little faces against it.

Does anyone else have glass doors that they love?

1908 house. All the downstairs doors have been replaced with glazed doors by the previous owner. So we replaced like with like - the house next door still has their original ones, which are, frankly, nicer even if all wood - but it does make our house lighter.

We've also got some sliding glass doors between the kitchen and dining room.

To be honest I hardly notice them now and appreciate the light.

We have doors like these. Lets light into the hall and kitchen and also means can see if someone has the dishwasher open (which means can't really get past)

www.leaderonline.com/products/liberty-doors-white-internal-primed-ashton-3-light-clear-glass-door-51873?variant=48498114068713&currency=GBP&utm_source=google&campaign_id=23496848365&ad_id=&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=[VS]%20-%20Performance%20Max%20-%20Doors%20-%203&utm_content=&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmunNBhDbARIsAOndKplPGm68UpTb1fObhjDrYZQ2o5upNIQ0Rf2_t4aWDcybmy9y9pUDhrUaAvHXEALw_wcB&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23496853624&gbraid=0AAAAADwy35AYucQ2oqD994SnvCETMWVrr

I'm not sure they ever went away, though Crittal ones were the more fashionable option for a while there.

We have a pair of internal double glazed doors, but with a single large pane of ribbed glass in each.

200 year old cottage here. Our previous owner had the property renovated between 1965-70 which included replacing all the period doors and architrave, skirting etc with modern ones. Between the hall and dining room they'd used a fully glazed door (reminiscent of what my parents put in their 1925 house in the 70s) and on the utility there was 60s interpretation of a 'cottage' style half-glazed door. Everywhere else we have those horrid hollow, flat doors. We've been gradually replacing every door with reclaimed period ones.

I think it's depends on the age of your house @NorthFacingGardener - if it's a more modern one and you won't be ripping out lovely characterful doors, plus a partially glazed door would let light into your kitchen, I can't see why not.

We also have horrible hollow flat doors. The house was built in 1960 so there’s not many distinctive features and the doors aren’t original.

We have Victorian style 4 panel door with glazed top 2 for the living room, and a frameless / fully glass door for the kitchen.

The living room door allows us to see the kids coming and going in the hall.
The kitchen door effectively disappears when open. It is only closed when cooking or loud machines running.

https://www.howdens.com/joinery/doors/howdens-holdenby-oak-pre-finished-clear-glazed-door-obj-sku-family-25321475

I have this one in my dining room as its a dark room. When I had all the doors replaced I had the solid version in all other door ways and just glazed in the dining room. Has made a big difference to the room. I don't think it looks out of place because it matches the other doors. The joiner did it about 3 years ago and said that he'd fitted lots of this door.

I think they’ve always been popular. We had a new build (2020) and it had a half glazed door on the living room and a full glazed on the kitchen. It meant you could see all the way from the front door out to the back garden through the full glazed door. We had so many compliments on these doors from visitors and when we had buyers viewing it. We’ve also just fully renovated our 1960s home and have gone for full glazed doors downstairs including double doors into the kitchen and living room. It opens the house up so much and the whole house is flooded with light!

We renovated an Edwardian house, retaining all the original (solid) internal doors, but where we added things (e.g. small extension), we used glazed doors and transoms above to let the light through. They were similar in style to the original doors, they just had glass instead of panels, so it worked very well.

I'm a fan of 80s / 90s Laura Ashley style interiors though, I think they're due a comeback.

We really want a nice half-glazed internal door between the hall & kitchen but the doors in our NB property are tall (2100mm) and we have yet to find anything off the shelf.
A bespoke solution is probably our only option.

I don't think that they ever went out of fashion, OP! My grandparents modernised their house in the 60's/70's and they had internal glass doors. We had them in our house (built in the 1990's) when I was growing up, and my mother has them in her Victorian one.

I've considered putting some in mine to brighten up a 1930's cottage (the front doesn't get much sunlight), but I also have some original cottage doors that are tempting me to make the rest of them match! (In which case, the dogs wouldn't be able to open thumb latches, now that they've somehow managed to partially master the doorknobs that I put in to replace the door handles...).

I've got one super retro 8 panel glazed door in my Victorian house. I thought about replacing it but actually it does let a lot of light in so I'm going to keep it and hope it comes back into fashion. It also makes the downstairs flow a bit better.

I like the door you’ve pictured. It doesn’t really look modern to me, in the way a fully glazed to floor level would do.

We had a half glazed door fitted between our lounge and hallway for exactly the reasons you are considering. It has made the lounge much brighter.

Ours is similar to the Howdens one above and matches the other doors:
Mexicano Half Light Glazed, Internal Oak Doors | Vibrant Doors

We have one. And yes, put in in the 90s.
Always liked it.

I like light.
Hence my username!

We have 2 full length glass doors one from living room to kitchen , the other from living room to the hallway, they let so much more light in and make the room feel bigger. I wouldn't want to go back to solid or even half glass now.

I hadn’t realized they were out of fashion 🤦‍♀️ all our internal doors downstairs are half glazed

My parents replaced all the internal doors with glass ones in the 70s. It did let light in, but I hated it, as there was no privacy anywhere. Even the bathroom door had glazed panels, but they were thick textured glass so you couldn't actually see in. My mum moved to a bungalow in the 2000s, and did the same - even her bedrooms have fully glazed doors. She lives alone, and likes it, but it wouldn't be for me.

Sorry for implying this 🙈 I just haven’t seen any for a while so thought they had all disappeared. I don’t get out much though!

You have all given me the reassurance to go with my instincts and get a half glazed door for the kitchen.

I've got half glazed doors in every room except for kitchen & bathroom & I hate them, my hall is very dark but even the doors don't help much.

I didn’t realise glass doors were ever fashionable or not fashionable. I thought it was more just a case of certain rooms were more appropriate to have them in. Of course the style changes though, my relatives have the multi pane doors and they do look of a certain age.

We have a very dark hallway and I cannot wait to add 4 glass doors to the rooms it will work in to lighten it up I think it will make a huge difference. Three of them will be at the front of the house which is South facing.

I’d never have glass doors on a bedroom or a bathroom. That’s very strange!!

I'm so glad the previous owner of our house put in half-glazed door in all the downstairs rooms. We never would have thought of it, but it means the hallway gets so much more light.

Also, when we sit in the lounge to watch telly in the evening with the blinds drawn, we like to have the door closed because of the sound, but it doesn't feel like you're in a closed in box because you can see through the door. DH and I have discussed that we like it so much that if we ever move we'd likely do the same in any new house.

They are perfect if you have a north facing garden and house is low on natural light

Are they the same as solid wooden doors for keeping heat in when it's cold?