When this customer was told shutters simply could not be fitted to their inward-opening French doors, we took that as a challenge worth solving. The brief was clear: keep the doors opening into the room, keep handles and traffic areas workable, and still deliver the clean, premium look of full height plantation shutters.
Installation gallery
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The starting point — inward-opening French doors with a transom above. This layout needs a shutter solution that folds completely clear of the door swing. -
Finished run — full height shutters across the opening with louvres open for filtered light and a view out to the patio. -
Mid-rail detail — split control so you can balance privacy at eye level with daylight above, ideal for garden-facing doors. -
Panels folded back — shutters park against the side walls so the doors and handles are completely free for day-to-day use.
Challenge accepted — designed around the door swing
We designed and fitted made-to-measure full height plantation shutters to work with the doors, not against them. That means thinking through frame depth, panel splits, and how each leaf travels so nothing clashes when the doors open inwards.
The result is a crisp white finish that sits beautifully against soft grey walls, with louvres you can tilt for glare control and privacy — and when you want the doors fully clear, the shutters fold back out of the way.
Why “it cannot be done” is worth a second opinion
Inward-opening doors, large handles, and tight reveals are where generic advice often stops — but a bespoke survey usually finds a workable route. Sometimes that is a different frame position, a smarter panel layout, or a combination of split panels so the opening stays practical.
Been told shutters will not work on your doors?
If you have had a “no” elsewhere, it is worth a conversation with a team that measures for the real-world details. Arrange a free home visit, contact ShutterLuxe, or explore French door shutters to see more of what is possible.