Many of us have French doors in our homes but where did they actually come from. As the name suggests they were first made popular in French architecture during the Renaissance period in the 17th century. However at first they were not doors at all but windows instead. They were window casements that extended to the floor as this allowed more natural light to flood into the room. This was important as it was in the days well before electricity was invented. Apart from natural light, candle light was the only other form of light which only offered minimal light and in those days candles were expensive. Therefore the more natural light which you could get into a room the better. Traditionally French doors were not used on the ground floor but were actually used on the first floor in buildings and would open up on to small balconies. It was not until the late 17th century that they were introduced into English architecture. As technology moved on doors became bigger and more elaborate.
Today French doors come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are made out of many different materials. Originally they were constructed out of wood and glass. This is still a popular choice however over recent years we have seen an increase in the popularity of UPVC Doors. UPVC doors have all the benefits of traditional wooden French doors but they are also more durable, have better security features and are lower maintenance.
French doors are also now used in a variety of different locations. Gone are the days when they were mainly used on the first floor of a building. They are now more commonly used on the ground floor of a building to link the home and the garden. The recent popularity of conservatories and orangeries has fuelled the demand for French doors. Orangeries and conservatories allow you to make the most of your garden throughout the year so adding doors to an orangery was the natural progression allowing you to make the most of both your garden and your orangery or conservatory.
French doors have come a long way since the 17th century. However very often we pay very little attention to them. Next time you are passing though a set of double doors why not take the time out to notice them and consider where they came from. For more information on French Doors, Orangeries and UPVC Doors please visit our website or call into your local show room.
