Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Animal House

cottagelivingyellow



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.



coastallivng3



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.



coastalliving



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.



coastalliving2



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.



velvetandlinen



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!

Labels:

22 Comments:

Blogger  said...

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! :)

I 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.

May 19, 2009 at 11:25 AM  
Blogger LindsB said...

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.

May 19, 2009 at 11:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ive always wanted these doors(and the gorgeous lab to do that with)

May 19, 2009 at 11:46 AM  
Blogger TheBeautyFile said...

OK...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

May 19, 2009 at 12:35 PM  
Blogger Caroline said...

Love 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! :-)

May 19, 2009 at 1:08 PM  
Blogger Brooke @ Blueprint Bliss said...

We don't have a dutch door- but I LOVE them!!

May 19, 2009 at 1:42 PM  
Blogger Katie said...

hm, i don't think i've commented on your blog before, but i've been reading for a little while...

i 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 :-)

May 19, 2009 at 3:31 PM  
Blogger Yelena said...

those doors are so adorable!
i 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! :)

May 19, 2009 at 5:55 PM  
Blogger Christina said...

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!)

May 19, 2009 at 6:40 PM  
Blogger Kristen said...

I 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).
I 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

May 19, 2009 at 7:36 PM  
Blogger Jessica @ Lavender and Lilies said...

Off the subject but I'm reading Julie and Julia too. I love it!

May 19, 2009 at 10:16 PM  
Blogger Lauren Jade said...

not 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

May 20, 2009 at 12:36 AM  
Blogger Kate Riley said...

Oh, 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.

I 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.

May 20, 2009 at 1:29 AM  
Blogger Debra said...

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...

May 20, 2009 at 6:37 AM  
Blogger pve design said...

You 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.
my door is always open. :)
pve

May 20, 2009 at 7:26 AM  
Blogger Maddio said...

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!

May 20, 2009 at 10:33 AM  
Blogger High-Heeled Foot in the door said...

Yay! 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!

May 20, 2009 at 10:55 AM  
Blogger Lauren said...

love dutch doors and it'll be perfect in your house!!! can't wait to see pics!!!

bad 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

May 20, 2009 at 8:27 PM  
Blogger Haven and Home said...

I have always wanted one too. I have not tried it but if you do it I would love to hear how it goes.

May 20, 2009 at 10:25 PM  
Blogger alison giese Interiors said...

I want one, too!!

May 21, 2009 at 2:09 PM  
Blogger Gillian said...

I 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!

May 21, 2009 at 5:20 PM  
Blogger Dusty @AllThingsG+D said...

"Traditionally Dutch Doors were used with the purpose of keeping animals out of the farmhouse and still allowing the flow of air and sunlight."

I never knew this--how interesting!

June 3, 2009 at 3:38 PM  

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