French windows in interior design

Surely each of us would like to have a lot of light and spaciousness in his apartment or country house. French windows in the entire wall with a panoramic view will help to visually expand the space and let in maximum sunlight into the room. It is necessary to carefully weigh the pros and cons, deciding on such a panoramic glass, as it is ideal for country houses, and in urban apartments can have many nuances.

The appearance of large panoramic windows with doors resembling doors was facilitated by the warm climate of the south of France. From the end of the 17th century, such windows began to be installed in houses with access to a patio or a private garden, from where a picturesque view of the mountains and river valleys was opened. In our country, an unusual glazing system began to gain popularity since the middle of the last century.

French windows differ from the usual in their size and height from floor to ceiling. In fact, such windows have the purpose of both windows and doors, as they occupy 2/3 of the wall area. In apartments such windows are installed in houses with a loggia, and in private houses they serve as an exit to the terrace., in a winter garden or just in the yard.

Like any design, the French windows have their pros and cons.

Among the advantages we note:

• the maximum amount of light they can transmit;
• savings on lighting;
• the ability to visually expand the space;
• functionality, as the design combines a window and a door;
• aesthetically appealing look;
• beautiful panoramic view from the window (this is especially true for country houses with landscaped courtyard).

Before you decide to install French windows, you should remember their shortcomings:

• additional window insulation is required (if you live in a cold climate);
• To ensure complete safety of family members (especially children), installation of shock-resistant glass, which are expensive, will be required;
• expensive option - advanced glass with sputtering to reflect infrared rays;
• panoramic windows require constant care and cleaning, and if they are installed on a high floor, cleaning them on both sides is a problem;
• Before installing windows, make sure that you do not have a phobia of open space;
• the need to condition the air in the summer, as ordinary double-glazed windows let the sun's rays through;
• Difficulties with installation in an apartment building (you will have to do redevelopment and use load-bearing walls);
• psychological discomfort from permanent residence "in sight".

There are many types of French windows depending on the profile material, glazing, type of construction. Profiles are made from different materials.

Aluminum profile it is light and durable - this is its main advantage when it comes to such heavy windows as French ones. Insulated aluminum profile is most popular because it is durable and not so expensive. Its installation is made of aluminum parts and glass fiber reinforced polyamide. It is he who provides the construction with good heat and sound insulation.

As a rule, aluminum frames are used to glaze a cold balcony.Although recently due to the use of technology of thermal break, warm aluminum windows began to appear on the market of finishing materials. In a similar design, an insulating layer is placed between the outer and inner profiles.

The most eco-friendly - wooden frame designs. In addition, this material looks impressive, from an aesthetic point of view. Their only drawback - the high cost, and if you use the elite species of wood ash, oak and beech, the cost will be even higher. Usually our compatriots prefer structures made of larch or pine.

For the production they use not solid wood, but glued laminated timber, as it is more resistant to weathering and is not deformed. Another plus of wooden windows is that they will provide ventilation of the room even when closed, and minus is the complexity of treatment and maintenance.

PVC Frames (PVC) are affordable and durable, they will last you at least 10 years, and with proper care even more. Such a finishing material is able to tolerate temperature fluctuations from -60 to +80 degrees. And if you wish, you can stylize such a frame with a film “under the tree”. Since plastic is easy to process, you can make a frame of almost any configuration from it.

Innovation in the market of finishing materials - fiberglass structureswhich do not require additional reinforcement and look beautiful. They are distinguished by low thermal conductivity, strength and low weight. The only downside is the high cost.

Window designs are also solid and sectional:

• Solid distinguished by the absence of partitions in the frame. When buying, you should pay attention to the method of opening such windows. Fittings must be durable to withstand the weight of large tempered glass. The most acceptable way of opening the whole structure is sliding.
• Sectional structures divide the panoramic window into parts, which increases the reliability and durability of the window in the case of a large glazing area.

Rama with impost (vertical jumper in the middle) more durable than without it. The presence of such an element allows, if necessary, to open only one leaf or put it in the mode of ventilation.

Frames with shtulp (without jumper in the middle) allow the panoramic view to be as wide and open as possible.Unfortunately, such sash can not be folding, but only turning. But shtulpovy windows are 100% consistent with the French style, which does not provide for any restrictive elements in the design of the window.

In accordance with the window opening system there are several types:

• Sliding type "accordion"representing the design of the "door-window" of one or more paintings. The door moves apart, folding up the accordion and forming a wide passage. Such designs are appropriate in large areas.
• Parallel sliding there are windows with sliding doors, which go along the sides parallel to the frame. This is the most reliable and functional design. To keep the door open, bolts or latches are used.

• Portal window It is a system where several doors open, acting as a door. Usually such a structure is installed at the place of exit from the house or balcony block.
• Swing Windows in French - this is, in fact, traditional glass doors. They are usually placed in narrow openings, while such a window can be opened both inwards and outwards, for which a classic handle is used as accessories.

The type of glazing can be divided into double-glazed windows: single-chamber with two panes and two-chamber with three panes. The first can be put in the southern climatic zone, and the second in the conditions of the northern climate.

Separately, you can select several more types of glass:

• Energy savingin which one of the glasses has a special coating of silver and titanium oxide, which does not transmit infrared radiation. They similarly reduce heat loss in the winter and reduce the room heating by the sun in the summer. The maximum efficiency has a two-chamber glass unit with 3 glasses. And single-pane windows are appropriate if you live in a sunny region.
• Soundproofingwhen there are glasses of different thickness and different openings in the glass unit, due to which the noise level coming from the street is reduced.
• Light shieldingwhen glass transmits less light, which is important for rooms located on the south side, and does not allow the room to overheat.

And the type of glass used can be distinguished:

• thermally polished glass (float glass);
• triplex (consists of two parts with a film in the middle, resistant to loads, and if accidentally broken, there will be no sharp fragments);
• tempered glass;
• electrochromic glass (smart glass) is an expensive innovative technology, with which you can control the degree of glass transparency with a remote control.

A wide selection of French-style window designs (from rectangular to arches), the use of various materials, textures and colors make it possible to fit panoramic glazing into any interior design - from classic to Hi-tech. So, rectangular windows are suitable for the modern style, and designs with an arch are ideal for Baroque or Empire style.

The windows in the French style will decorate any room of a country house - the living room, bedroom, dining room. Projects and options for the use of French windows in the interior are numerous. Particularly impressive such glazing will look in studio apartments or city living rooms with a wide loggia. In the warm season, the French windows can be opened or pushed open, using the loggia more efficiently.

Of course, the optimal application of the French window will be its installation in a private house, where there will be direct access to the courtyard or garden. There are also frequent cases when the owners of city apartments think about such a project, but for them the installation options will be limited.

For city apartments, the option of installing panoramic windows is possible for owners of new buildings, where initially the architects provided for the possibility of such a design. And the owner independently decides whether to make the window French or reduce it to normal size by laying a part of the wall with gas concrete. In addition, it is necessary to clarify in advance whether the construction is planned in front of a multi-storey building, which will spoil the panoramic view, and make the windows simply useless.

When installing the window on the balcony or loggia, please note that you can glaze no more than 10% of the total area. Needless to say, in Khrushchev, a French window would look at least inappropriate.

French windows in a one-story private house - a real dream of designers and owners. If funds allow, you can choose this type of glazing by opening the entrance to the terrace or garden. In country houses such windows can occupy both one wall and a large area., opening tenants a view of the surrounding landscape and becoming a link between man and nature.

It is permissible to organize such glazing in the kitchenso that with pleasure and in a pleasant atmosphere to cook food for their households.

Since the French windows are a rather large-scale construction, the heat outflow in winter will be greater than with ordinary windows. Therefore, you need to take care of heating before installing windows. If in the southern regions of Russia, where winter is warm, you can use conventional heating, in the middle lane, and even more so in the northern regions or Siberia, you will have to take care of the additional installation of a heated floor or equip an autonomous heating system.

Since this solution requires a lot of financial costs, you can opt for glasses with a reflective infrared coatingwhich keeps warm in winter, and does not let it in summer.Unfortunately, such coverage will last only 7 years, after which it will have to be changed.

Given the fact that the technology of warm glasses is being improved from year to year, pay attention to the last option.

Radiators are placed on the opposite wall of the room to avoid condensation on the windows.

Installing floor convectors near the window will cost you dearly, usually such heating systems are laid during the construction phase. The heated air will create near the window a kind of thermal curtain, preventing cooling of the room. Caring for convectors is very simple, it is enough to clean it from time to time with a vacuum cleaner and wipe it with a damp cloth.

Warm skirtings can be water or electric and are suitable for use in rooms with a large glass area.The advantage of such heating elements - they occupy a minimum of useful space in the room.

Heated floor can also be water or electric, its installation is possible both in private houses and in ordinary apartments.

Of course, the panoramic windows themselves are interior decoration. but they can be additionally decorated, toned, adding stained glass windows, pleated blinds, roller blinds or light, but rather dense organza.

The color scheme, texture and ornaments of textiles on the windows should correspond to the general style in the interior.

Classic interior can be created using Roman blinds. Japanese panels will also be an excellent option - sliding shoji screens. They can even be made independently, decorated with ornaments or applications.

A good solution for French windows - blinds and shuttersthat provide complete protection from the sun. At the same time fabric rollet will allow to keep natural lighting indoors.And also on the south side, where the intensity of sunlight is particularly high, You can use sun-blinds made of thick “blackout” material.

When ordering French windows, pay attention to the accessories. From its quality will depend on the service life of windows and ease of use.

Good reviews on the Internet have earned the products of Siegenia, Maco, Roto and Winkhaus.. Remember that the miser pays twice, and inexpensive hardware is made of short-lived metal. Such poor-quality handles turn over time, and the wear of the pressure rollers can lead to a weak closing of the window.

As one can conclude from reviews on the Internet, the popularity of French window designs sometimes pushes our citizens to the idea of ​​installing them where the French themselves would never have thought of. It must be remembered that when installing such a window, their functionality and economic feasibility are important.

In a small city apartment with a balcony, such windows are unlikely to be appropriate. In addition, such redevelopment is not always safe, because the windows are installed in the facade walls, which are bearing. Do not rework yourself, especially the dismantling of walls in residential buildings without coordinating the project with the appropriate structures.

On the pros and cons of the French balcony can be found in the following video.

If you are building a private house from scratch, then it will be much easier for you to make French windows in the project. And at the stage of rework, contact the architect, who will take into account the features of the building and make a plan for the installation of panoramic windows. As a rule, for this purpose powerful lintels or columns are used to support the overlap of the second floor.

If you live on a high floor, consider a “psychological moment” in advance.. At some height, such a window can act as a “portal to the abyss” and become a phobia. French glazing is not very favorable at the height and where there are children. Firstly, it is unsafe, and secondly, get ready to see and clean the traces of children's palms several times a day.

If the frames are made of wood, they can be scratched. In this case, the surface can be restored by puttying and polishing.

When choosing windows, pay attention to the presence of pressure rollers up and down.If the sash will be fixed only by the central lock, its edges will move away from the insulation, increasing heat loss. The door must have a transom mode, which will allow to ventilate the room.

Such decorative elements are not only an aesthetic function of decorating the window, but also intended to strengthen a large area of ​​glass. Layouts can be constructive (shpryy divide the window frame into several fragments, in each of which the glass unit is inserted), Venetian, which are glued to the glass inside or outside, and interglass, planned between the glass even during the manufacture of glass. Such spears are the most practical and easy to clean.

If during operation the adjustment of the doors was violated and jamming appeared, engage in the adjustment of the elements independently or with the help of specialists.Enough to carefully study the instructions, which describes the purpose and function of all bolts.

Do not repair "at random", because it is so easy to break or break the mechanism. And before adjustment, open the door, after putting a wedge under it, so that the heavy structure does not fall, and you can hold it.

"Classics of the genre" - a French window with access to the terrace or garden.

Despite the difficulties faced by the owners of city apartments, who decided to install French windows, these designs remain popular and in demand.

French windows will help create an atmosphere of unity between nature and man.

One of the main advantages of French windows is maximum illumination of the room and, as a result, energy savings.