It is always amazing how some styles and designs are always in fashion. This is certainly true for the Dutch interior doors we design and built at Nick’s Building Supply.

A Dutch door is constructed to allow the top half and the bottom half of the door to open and close independently. Originally, back in the days of the old farmhouses with the doors opening directly into the kitchen, this ensured the top of the door could be open to allow a breeze but the bottom could be closed to prevent animals from just wandering in.

Today, Dutch doors are still used as exterior doors in some areas, but we particularly like them as interior doors for specific rooms in the home. They are a wonderful door option for a child’s playroom or a nursery and also for a kitchen. They can also be used to provide a secure door for the basement as the lower door can be locked, preventing kids from access to the stair areas without Mom or Dad.

Nursery and Play Room Doors

For busy parents, adding a Dutch door to the playroom or nursery area is a great option. By closing the bottom of the door and opening the top, parents can still hear everything going on when kids are at play, and checking in is just a simple glance into the room.

The closed bottom half of the door is easy for children to open and close on their own, and kids know they can call Mom or Dad and they will be heard. However, that closed bottom door stops toys from spilling out into the hallway and also helps to keep pets out of the room when children are at play.

Kitchen Interior Doors

We find Dutch doors are ideal for kitchen doors, especially for people who enjoy entertaining or who have kids or pets. As in the nursery scenario the ability to open the top of the door provides clear sight and hearing for those inside and outside of the room, but still gives that natural barrier or boundary to allow you to move about without having to worry about kids or pets underfoot.

Many of our customers also really enjoy the butler shelf, which is optional on our Dutch door designs and adds a classic touch. It is also handy for serving between the kitchen and the dining area, adding a practical component to a very classic door design.