It is personal choice - and it comes down to what a customer is looking to achieve from their project. The comment above about only getting properly used in summer is complete valid, as too is the overall size of the doors, where they are located on the house, what the view is like out of the property...indeed there is so much to consider we wrote and entire blog on the subject.

Excellent. Thanks for the visual. Always helps as builders are only at the foundation stage at the moment! 28m3 of concrete pumped on the site last week as our house built on higher ground so extension has to match ground level and we're adding a first level extension too. A long way to go but take each day at a time. No more projects for you then?!

If you cant find a bi fold option on line anywhere then there are two options. buy a 33" door and make it a bifold or pack out the frame sympathetically to allow a 30" option allowing for the gaps needed to open and close. All depends on if you are capable of the job in hand yourself or if you will need to pay for the work to be done by others.

Also had similar issues. To my mind anthracite or black windows can look good IF they are done well - they look good when they are good quality windows with modern flat profiles, fitted to a house which has had proper architectural consideration. The problem now is that all the cheaper upvc double glazing companies are doing them with thick frames and chamfered profiles, and they can look clunky and old fashioned rather than sleek and considered. Our sliding doors only came in 4 colour choices, so in the end we have gone for RAL7021 (a soft black) for those - on the modern rear extension - with RAL7006 (beige grey) aluminium composite windows elsewhere on our 1930s house. The sliding doors are in and the 7021 does look really good, almost invisible as the frames are very slim, and I think it works because it's the very modern extension. The windows aren't in yet so I can't comment on how it's all going to work together. I am keeping my fingers crossed...! Our windows will be Velfac which are alu outside, painted timber inside and you can choose different colours for interior/exterior. They weren't as expensive as I thought they were going to be, so it's worth getting a quote for aluminium composite windows before you decide.