To mullion or not to mullion

floridakat

We had French doors put in our new construction home, and for some reason I assumed they would have mullions. They do not. I can DIY my own with a kit for about $100. I'm trying to decide if it's worth it. A few pertinent facts:

-The rest of the windows in the house have white plantation shutters

-This is not the main view into our backyard

-Our decor is transitional, so neither traditional nor modern

What we have (not our house):

What I'm considering:

House (this is the model, we have the same elevation and color scheme):

 

 

TarHeels&Rebels

Are your windows divided into quarters like on the model house?  If so, I'd leave the French doors unmullioned.  I don't think the traditional look of those mullions will go with the style of your house and your other windows.

floridakat

Yes, our windows are quartered, but they're mostly obscured by the plantation shutters.

LSU628

Just for cleaning sake, I would leave them un-mullioned. Way easier to clean one big piece of glass than 12 or more little ones. Plus, my back doors are un-mullioned and I like the open, unobstructed view.

FoxinFiji

Un-mullioned for ease of cleaning, matching your other windows, and not obstructing your nice view.  Besides mullions added after the fact won't last as long as factory added ones.  The between glass ones are really the only ones I like though they reduce the R-value.  If it's in your backyard no one will really see the mullions anyways right? 

floridakat

Yeah, the mullions would just be for me. My husband doesn't have a preference. And no one can see our back yard unless they're in it. Honestly the glass is constantly covered with little hand prints and nose prints from the dog right now. It would take a lot longer to clean them.

I love the ones that are sandwiched between the glass. But I didn't know they reduced the R-value, interesting! 

carlab44

I vote for no mullions. I'm not a fan of mullions unless they are on the right style of house and are integrated into the door or window. They ones you just put in yourself end up looking cheap to me.

dr.girlfriend

Hmm...I would have wanted mullions too, but then again our windows are mullioned.

juno

carlab44:

I vote for no mullions. I'm not a fan of mullions unless they are on the right style of house and are integrated into the door or window. They ones you just put in yourself end up looking cheap to me.

ITA.