Dining Room French Doors Create Grand Openings

The creators of the popular Chris Loves Julia house renovation blog were intrigued by their new Idaho home's enclosed porch. They originally dubbed it "a big, weird space," but that only inspired one of their favorite before-and-after projects to date.

The couple envisioned transforming the porch into a spectacularly spacious dining room. It would be an elegant-yet-casual gathering place big enough to accommodate all their family and friends. Must-have features included lots of natural light and dining room French doors leading out to the patio. Lucky for us, we enjoy a great history working with this fun, motivated couple. An exciting new collaboration began, and the craftsmen got to work.

The homeowners chose the versatile Pella Reserve – Contemporary doors for their extensive dining room project. This line's French hinged patio doors offer traditional elements they love and exceptional performance they need.

We crafted five sets of these double doors to march along the room's outer wall. They flood the space with natural light and encourage guests to flow easily from the dining room to the outside patio. Julia herself said it best: "We're dreaming of long summer nights as friends and family wander in and out of the dining room and then out to the patio where Chris is grilling. The grownups all sit down to dinner and maybe the kids are still playing outside...can you see it?!"

The beauty of these dining room French doors is found in every innovative feature. Streamlined grille profiles in a classic pattern achieve the modern traditional look the homeowners were after. Hardware from Pella's Modern Collection is created in collaboration with Baldwin, the #1 premium hardware brand. It boasts a polished nickel finish that's purely classic. As for overall color, going with black patio doors was a bold choice. The black interior stain provides an ideal complement to the black-and-white tile floor and striking contrast to the rustic dining table. The exterior of each door is protected from Idaho’s elements by aluminum-cladding with Pella's exclusive EnduraClad® exterior finish — also in black.

Chris and Julia's dining room makeover showcases the incredible impact that thoughtfully chosen doors can have on a space. By replacing the enclosed porch's small windows with expansive French doors, they created an inviting and luminous dining area perfect for entertaining family and friends.

Updating a single architectural element, like incorporating elegant dining room French doors, can completely transform the look and feel of a room. The sleek black finish of the doors adds a bold, modern touch while complementing the classic black-and-white tile floor, resulting in a timeless and sophisticated aesthetic.