Image via Cottage Living
Traditionally Dutch Doors were used with the purpose of keeping animals out of the farmhouse and still allowing the flow of air and sunlight.
Image via Coastal Living
While I don’t have a farmhouse, I do have a pair of animals that I would love to leave outside as it gets warmer to play in the sun while their mom works indoors. Our sunroom is going to be turning into my office in the near future and I would love to have a dutch door put in so that I can check on the little guys from a far and with the opening they could even peek their heads up like the fella in the picture above.
Image via Coastal Living
It would also be great to use a dutch door when eating outdoors. One would only have to pass food, trays, drinks, etc through the top instead of constantly opening and closing a door.
Image via Coastal Living
Plus let’s face it I’m just in love with the old fashion appeal of it and how it would add a touch more of character in my current home. I think my little cottage would approve of such an addition.
Image via Velvet and Linen
Good thing about this latest project is that Jon already approves so no need to twist his arm about it. I even found a How-To on it and think it is a project we can take on our own.
Have any of you done this before? Or do you have any Dutch Doors already in your home? Do tell!
Hee! Our school (a small Catholic school, only about 100 students so everyone knows everyone) has a door like that on the entrance to the office. It's to keep kids out but they can see in to ask questions and ask for things...otherwise they'd be traipsing in and out like it was their house! :)
ReplyDeleteI think if I lived somewhere it wasn't so hot all the time (I've lived in Texas and now Georgia all my life) it'd be really nice to have on my backdoor. Very quaint.
I've always loved those kind of doors. Not sure how great they would be around here because the bugs and mosquitos would get in the house but I still like them.
ReplyDeleteive always wanted these doors(and the gorgeous lab to do that with)
ReplyDeleteOK...that top picture could not be cuter! I always relate these doors to a woman in the 1950s in an apron handing a freshly baked pie to her neighbor. Where did those days go? lol
ReplyDeleteLove all those images! Oh to have a little cottage (or any house for that matter that could accomodate dutch doors)! I don't think I could swing it in my 4th floor walk up! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe don't have a dutch door- but I LOVE them!!
ReplyDeletehm, i don't think i've commented on your blog before, but i've been reading for a little while...
ReplyDeletei do, however, need to comment on this because we have a dutch door - it came with the house and is the door that connects our kitchen to our deck/backyard. at first i just thought it was silly, but when the weather is nice like this, i do find that we use it more than i thought we would. we also have a screen door so bugs can't get it, but it's nice to be able to shut the bottom half and not have to worry about the dogs pushing open the screen door to get outside (our screen door is not very secure) - if/when we get to replacing the door i will probably just put in a normal door though.
it would probably work better if you lived in an area where you wouldn't also need a screen door... or if you didn't have cats that would escape if you didn't have a screen :-)
those doors are so adorable!
ReplyDeletei would lovee to have one like that one day in my house! even if i won't have animals! :)
oh and thank you for all your lovely comments on my blog! :)
no dutch doors here although i like the idea. there really is no way, though, that the little door would keep my dogs out of the house (they're both jumpers!)
ReplyDeleteI do have a dutch door for my front door. I like to be able to close the bottom half... having 2 dogs. I also have a screen door with it. I think you have to have that living in CT! I also had a "swing type lock" which I changed to the "slide type lock" (makes the door one).
ReplyDeleteI live in a cabin & love the door. If I remember correctly the door came as a unit with a casing so it wasn't that hard to install. Best of luck.
Kristen
Off the subject but I'm reading Julie and Julia too. I love it!
ReplyDeletenot exactly my style but im sure my mom would be all for taking a little vaca to one of these places...and our puppies should wouldn't mind it either!! :D
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you for the little trip down memory lane. I just remembered I had a dutch door on my bedroom when I was a little girl. Awwwwh. I loved it then, I still love them now.
ReplyDeleteI was going to put one on my laundry room to allow the light to come into the house from the window, but hide the washer and dryer below. Thanks for reminding me.
I have a Dutch door in my kitchen that leads to our entry. It's handy- the dogs love to be in the entry, watching the walkers and runners go by. Go for it! Mine is painted black...with a few paw prints...
ReplyDeleteYou would love the tour of Cortland Manor with the doors to keep the farm animals from entering. The first house that we looked at had doors like that - there is something so appealing, sort of similar to the glass half full theory, door half open sounds nice.
ReplyDeletemy door is always open. :)
pve
We have a dutch door on our house- it's fantastic! It's actually our front door, so we'll open up the back door and the top half of the front door for a great airflow. Of course, this can only be done in the spring and fall, as Texas summers are pretty brutal. I wouldn't mind having the dutch door in the back instead of the front, help keep the beasties out. But, all in all, I love the dutch door!
ReplyDeleteYay! Glad to hear such positive words about the dutch door. I think it will look great in our home so I'm hoping to get this project done quickly! Fingers crosssed for this weekend, but must talk to the man first!
ReplyDeletelove dutch doors and it'll be perfect in your house!!! can't wait to see pics!!!
ReplyDeletebad news- my internet doesn't work on my computer and my phone doesn't work either. not kidding. i'm on dave's now but he's taking it to work in the am. anyway, i hope you're feeling better and miss you!!!! xoxoox
I have always wanted one too. I have not tried it but if you do it I would love to hear how it goes.
ReplyDeleteI want one, too!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see how it goes! I think I have the perfect door to do it to in my new home. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDelete"Traditionally Dutch Doors were used with the purpose of keeping animals out of the farmhouse and still allowing the flow of air and sunlight."
ReplyDeleteI never knew this--how interesting!