By using French glazing, you can feel the real spirit of the city Among various types glazing French windows on the balcony are becoming increasingly popular. A design, the peculiarity of which is the installation of a translucent material - glass, transparent PVC– from ceiling to floor, becomes an expressive accent of both the interior and the facade of the building. This glazing creates the feeling of a large free space filled with light.

French glazing of the balcony

Surely many city residents have noticed the unusual glazing of the balconies of high-rise buildings, which seem to serve as a huge window for one of the rooms. They seem to be its continuation or the original veranda adjacent to the apartment. Behind the high glass you can see flowing curtains from the ceiling to the floor, and the side of the balcony is decorated with a beautiful lattice. This design is called a French balcony.

Some modern variations of the French balcony do not have railings: this will make it look more industrial and fashionable.

French balcony has a centuries-old history. Previously, it consisted of doors surrounded by metal forged railings in the opening of the outer wall.

To a greater extent they:

1. Performed the function of windows;
2. Served for ventilation and lighting of rooms.

This type of architectural solutions was mostly common in France, Italy, and Spain. Having opened the door, only one person could go out onto such a balcony, not to mention placing furniture or arranging shelves there. The maximum that could fit on them was a few flower pots and containers.

IN modern construction the decorative function of the French balcony has given way to practice, and it already has its own platform protruding from the facade of the building, usually glazed with panoramic windows. Its main feature is that French glazing of the balcony instead of standard reinforced concrete or metal fencing uses double-glazed windows in PVC, aluminum or wooden structures.

Such glazing is suitable for balconies located on the highest floors

As a rule, this type of glazing is performed on separately located balconies. The loggia is an unsuitable place for this, since the blank walls on the sides do not allow achieving the desired effect of a full panoramic view.

French windows in the interior of a balcony (video)

Pros and cons of a French balcony

When deciding whether it is really rational to install French windows on your balcony in your case, you need to thoroughly weigh the pros and cons.

Among the advantages:

• Created visual effect expansion of space;
• Due to panoramic glazing there is good lighting;
• The use of energy-saving materials allows you to save on insulation and cladding;
• During the installation process, you do not have to resort to expensive welding work;
• Provides good sound insulation;
• Guaranteed durability of the structure;
• Provides ample opportunities for exclusive elegant design interior

Panoramic balconies are made of the highest quality and modern materials: in addition, due to good lighting, the balcony becomes visually larger

Some features of French glazing are considered disadvantages:

• Sometimes it's not easy to get used to completely transparent balcony, especially in an apartment on a high floor - then it is recommended to cover the lower part with matte sandwich panels;
• In summer, in regions with a hot climate, on sunny days such rooms can create a greenhouse effect - in this case, shading with thick curtains and frequent ventilation will help;
• On frosty winter days, additional heating will be needed to avoid hypothermia;
• The design features the absence of a window sill;
• The frame must be further strengthened with reinforcing elements;
• Glass surface requires special means care to maintain crystal cleanliness;
• Glass is a relatively fragile material, and it is not advisable to allow small children to play near it.

The interior of your balcony will always be visible even from the street

Protect privacy You can protect yourself from curious prying eyes by installing blinds on the balcony. An alternative is to order tinted glass, which will open up a wide panorama of the street, but the apartment’s residents will not be visible from the yard.

Features of a French door on a balcony

Doors are an important part of the design of not only the balcony, but also the interior of the room to which it adjoins. Therefore, it is important that this detail fits into the styles of both rooms. It is immediately necessary to take into account that a standard narrow balcony door will distort the entire effect of the panoramic expanse of French glazing. And this will not brighten up even a completely glass door.

You should pay attention not only to form, but also to functionality:

1. Double swing option – perfect solution, only if the doors open into the room, so as not to take away the already small area of ​​the balcony;
2. Sliding doors– chosen when the width of the room and the furniture allow the use of part of the wall on both sides for the movement of the product;
3. Accordion door– convenient in that it is easy to mount to any opening width, but small areas It is recommended to choose narrow sections.

Sliding doors are designed for small rooms: they are great for saving space

During installation french door As a rule, a part of the wall with a window opening in the room is demolished. This is only allowed if you balcony design allows it on its own technical specifications. This partition is not only load-bearing, but also supports the balcony slab.

Installation procedure for a French balcony

The process of installing a French balcony consists of several stages, but it is much faster than installing a traditional one, since there is no need to carry out welding, insulation and finishing.

To ensure a high-quality result, the structure is installed using a level

The work order is as follows:

• The required measurements are taken.
• If necessary and with permission, the window opening and partition of the balcony block are dismantled.
• Concrete and metal fences are being dismantled.
• There is a strengthening concrete slab.
• Double-glazed windows made of aluminum and plastic are installed, which can also be combined with sandwich panels if desired.
• IN doorway install the frame and sashes.
• The cracks and voids are filled polyurethane foam. The excess is cut off before it hardens. The joints are treated with plaster.

Which curtains to choose for French windows (video)

French glazing can transform not only the balcony, but also the interior design of the adjacent room. To remain satisfied with the installation work performed, it is important to weigh the pros and cons and choose the right one suitable door. Trust the specialists, and the process will not take much time.

Quite often these days you can see buildings whose façade is decorated with one of the most beautiful design solutions- French balcony. Basically, boast like this original design Only the facades of private houses could. But, after some time, the advantages of this design were appreciated and used in new buildings. Today, you can find a neatly decorated French balcony in both Khrushchev and multi-storey buildings. Let's consider what such a design is and what characteristics it has, having managed to gain great popularity.

French balcony: what is it?

A modern French balcony, a photo of which can be seen in the article, involves continuous glazing panoramic window from ceiling to floor mounted on concrete base. For its construction, a frame made of aluminum and metal-plastic profiles is used, and the lower part, as a rule, is decorated with frosted glass or with a mirror film, less often - plastic. The design of a French balcony does not imply the arrangement of places for storing any unnecessary things on its territory; its main function is aesthetic, therefore, basically, the space is decorated with various flower pots.

Like any architectural form, the French balcony has its advantages and disadvantages.

French balcony and its advantages

This design has a lot of positive characteristics, including the following:

• no need for cladding and insulation, which significantly reduces design costs;
• the balcony is an additional and quite extensive source of light, which can, moreover, visually expand the space;
• opportunity to create exclusive option a panoramic window that will look elegant and attractive, truly decorating the facade of any building;
• a wrought-iron French balcony equipped with original elements is, first of all, a good reputation for the owners, as it carries the classic spirit of aristocracy.

French balcony and its disadvantages

As for the shortcomings, the following can be said about them:

• relatively high installation cost, at which it will be necessary to equip the frame with additional reinforcing elements;
• French glazing of a window will not properly support the microclimate in the room where it is located - it will be cold in winter and very hot in summer. Therefore, it is necessary to consider a system of additional heating and ventilation of the room;
• The area and frequency of cleaning increases significantly.

Despite the listed inconveniences of the design, its popularity in last years still growing. This is largely due to the fact that it has a rather unique appearance, and originality, as you know, is always in fashion.

French balcony: photos and descriptions of varieties

The only classification of this design is based on the balcony platform - either it is very small or there is none at all. A small protrusion measures, on average, up to half a meter. Here you can place various beautiful flowerpots, surrounded by which you can enjoy a cup of coffee early in the morning.

Without a platform, this is a standard glass door design. It would look great there, for example, a kitchen with a French balcony, always bright and spacious. And the open doors will help ensure better ventilation of the room while preparing complex dishes.

In the process of its evolution, fencing for French balconies underwent various changes, and each new-fangled trend made its own adjustments to their design features. These days, quite often, forged elements are replaced by more concise and strict ones.

In addition to the fencing, design changes also affected general design balcony This is due to the refurbishment conventional designs to match the style of the French novelty. A striking example would be a French balcony in a Khrushchev-era building or a typical high-rise building of the Soviet period. Since it is not possible to shorten the base of the balcony to 30 - 40 cm, in this case it will be converted. For glazing, glass units with the maximum level of strength are always used. There are also options when glass with one-sided transparency is used. In this case, having a French balcony in a Khrushchev-era building, you don’t have to worry about the fact that from the street or the windows opposite you will be able to see everything that’s happening in the room.

French balcony in a private house

The most common installation options for these products are found on loggias top floors and in private homes. A French balcony and loggia can become a wonderful ensemble in the interior of a room, which will turn into a terrace. At the same time, pay attention: firstly, whether the loggia can withstand the weight of the heavy double-glazed window structure, and secondly, you need to take care of good thermal insulation. Used for finishing balconies natural materials— the French balcony inside can be decorated with wooden paneling and elegant wicker furniture, if space allows.

The structures we are considering look most attractive in private homes. Here they can exist in their truest form. classic version, since they serve as decoration, and not as a place to go out into fresh air.

There will always be a French balcony in a private house worthy decoration facade, and forged grilles will add grace to the architecture. You can decorate the structure with flowerpots, candlesticks, and lanterns. In addition to forged fences, there may be other options, for example, a French wooden balcony, which will be in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature. In most cases, wood, when decorating a balcony, is used to continue the structure of wooden houses.

The advantages of balconies in private houses are that they can be designed during the construction process by decorating them high windows. Such structures can have different dimensions, even several rooms wide.

What is a French balcony? If you start to understand this issue, it becomes clear that this concept means several different types structures that differ both in appearance and in operational characteristics.

Classic French balcony

This term usually refers to a wrought-iron French balcony. He has several characteristic features. Firstly, the size of such a structure is small - a maximum of two people can fit on the site, and this is still a good option. Most often, the ledge is equal to the width of the foot, so you won’t be able to step out onto it. Such French balconies are intended for something completely different - it is assumed that a person will simply open the window wider and stand in the opening, enjoying fresh air And beautiful view. Second distinguishing feature such a structure is a floor-to-ceiling window, namely a window, not a door. Of course, modern versions provide
doorway, because customers insist on this. But the classic French balcony is still a large window fenced with an elegant wrought iron grille,
sometimes with a slight protrusion. Similar structures can be found on old buildings built in 1950-1960, when they were extremely fashionable. However, they were included in the architecture of many houses built in the style of Soviet classics.

Modern style

However, today, when a customer talks about a French balcony, he most often means French balcony glazing. This term usually means finishing with transparent panels over the entire height of the structure and decorating the entire structure with a beautiful forged lattice. Availability of elegant iron or brass
curlicues distinguish this style from conventional panoramic glazing. It should be noted that this design is much closer to us than classic French balconies.
It turns out both beautiful and practical, because there is much more space on a regular loggia. Of course, today many people are no longer storing old items on their balconies.
things, skis and bicycles, but this space will not be superfluous. Here you can set up a small tea room, beautiful flower garden or smoking room.
The main disadvantage of such glazing is that the entire space will be clearly visible to passers-by. However, the most shy ones can order tinted windows.

French balcony as a decorative decoration

The third and final option is decorative decoration in french style. It represents a beautiful wrought iron fence installed on one or all windows of the building. This design does not carry any functional load, and is used as part of the exterior. Such decoration, especially if it
quite large, often difficult to distinguish from a classic French balcony. The main feature by which they are distinguished is the size of the window. If it starts
from the floor, then we are dealing with a balcony; if it is a standard size, then the iron grille is just decoration. Such decorations are often hung or
they install vases with flowers, the main thing here is not to overdo it and not to hide all the elegant curls behind the greenery.

Where can I install a French balcony?

The main misconception of ordinary people is that they believe that a forged grille can only be installed on certain type building made
in a classic style, with graceful curved shapes. In fact, a French balcony in a Khrushchev building will look as harmonious as on any house
with simple rectangular shapes. Of course, it will stand out against the background of standard buildings, but only in better side. Classic French
balconies will look out of place only on high-rise buildings made of glass and concrete, but no one tries to hang them there, since such an architectural
Few people will like the mess.

But in construction country houses and large mansions, there is an increased interest in French architecture, more precisely in the design of building facades. And in
Lately It is customary to decorate balconies and loggias in a special style - they turn out large and functional in Russian and light and light in French
graceful.

Design Features

French balconies have a row design features. Firstly, the door or window must clear the entire opening from the floor, which makes it possible
increase the room by the amount of the ledge. That is why they are most often used for doors. sliding structures, as well as “books” or “accordions”. The last two options do not provide thermal insulation, which is simply a crime in the Russian climate, so I use them quite rarely. well and swing doors They don’t fit into the idea of ​​a French balcony at all, so they are used only where styles are mixed.

Secondly, in some cases it is necessary to take care of additional heating, for example, install a wall heating system.

Well, the last thing worth mentioning is that French balconies are designed to let in as much light as possible into the room, and sometimes it
turns out to be too much. On a hot summer day, the room behind the panoramic glazing can heat up to incredible temperatures, so you need
think over a system of protection from the bright sun.

French balcony: price issue

The cost can vary very widely, everything will depend on the size of the structure, the price of decorative elements and customer requirements. For example, French glazing of a balcony is essentially the usual finishing with transparent panels and the installation of a wrought-iron grille. If you add it up, you get at least 15 thousand rubles. for glazing (for a standard balcony in an ordinary nine-story building) plus from 8 thousand rubles per linear meter iron structure. In addition, you need to add the cost of work to the final amount, so the price will be quite impressive. On the other hand, small forged decorative elements will cost only 1.5-2 thousand rubles per window, and you can install them yourself.

It is worth noting that French balconies of all types are worth the money spent on their installation: they add light and space to the room, making a home
much more luxurious than it was before.

The French balcony is increasingly found on the facades of houses and hotels, here you will learn about what it is, how it differs from the usual one, and see photos of examples beautiful design design. This is a very impressive architectural detail and at the same time cheaper than the usual balcony. There are many different styles French balconies, the most traditional ones are made of wrought iron, and the modern ones are made of energy-saving glass.

What is a French balcony?

French balcony is unusual design balcony, which consists only of large window(from floor to ceiling) and its fence, protruding minimally from the facade. He does not have a platform to go out there or it is very small and narrow, less than a step outside the apartment. You can only open balcony door and admire the view of the street from your living room.

This type was common in French cities (hence the name), where building legislation did not allow ordinary balconies fit into narrow streets.

A French balcony on the streets of our cities can be unmistakably identified. Its railings are installed directly in the opening. It turns out that I opened the door and immediately there was a fence, which is often made in the Roman style in the form of balusters or made of forged metal.

Based appearance, such a balcony is a window large sizes, which does not carry any functional load. The “plus” here is the originality of the fence, or more precisely, its decorativeness. It helps create a unique look. The structures protruding behind the wall give the façade an original design.

French glazing of balconies is especially popular in office buildings, where it complements the strict and stylish look building.

Due to their smaller size, the price of a French balcony is usually much lower than a regular one.

French balcony design ideas with flowers - exterior decoration

If your French balcony has a small exit, you can install it there potted plants or even a small herb garden. Nasturtiums are especially suitable for the lower part.

Forged trellises are often decorated with devices for flower pots. Hanging plants such as geraniums, petunias and ivy look good in it. In any case, be sure to secure well flower boxes so that they do not fall even in bad weather and do not pose a threat to others.

You can also use the French balcony as a small vegetable garden. Spices, tomatoes or beans feel great in small space in good lighting.

Modern French balcony decorates the building from the outside, and interior design rooms will emphasize the individual taste of the apartment’s inhabitant.

Stylish interior of a French balcony from the inside - photo

The French balcony is not a full-fledged balcony in the usual sense, but it has its own charm.

The area in front of the French balcony can be designed as if it were a large balcony - with cute chairs, a bench and folding table, and perhaps an atmospheric light fixture.

One of the ideas for decorating a French balcony from the inside: lay out seat cushions in front of the exit or right on the threshold - it will be very pleasant to sit on them and sit with open door and a cup of coffee.

Light curtains, Roman blinds or blinds, candlesticks and lanterns, stylish chairs, armchairs and a table will complete the decor of a French balcony.

French wrought iron balcony – photo ideas

Most French balconies and their railings and installation are custom made. And this is understandable, because openwork metal weaving can only be done by specialists. Therefore, it is ordered from master blacksmiths, with whom all the details of the design are carefully thought out - from the size of the site to the places where flower pots are attached.

Despite their minimum dimensions, a French balcony gives the owner of a unique architectural composition enormous scope for imagination. Minimalism and classics come together here - a combination that has been especially popular lately.

The pretentious appearance of the building, decorated with a French balcony, should not at all alarm those who like to do everything with their own hands. “French” is quite within the capabilities of home craftsmen. They easily cope with work on expanding the window opening to field level. Who knows how to hold a simple construction tool, he can handle installing an ordinary door.

French balcony in Khrushchev - photo of ideas

When installing a French balcony in a Khrushchev apartment, there are many nuances. Which option to apply to a particular home depends on your home, so here it is better to immediately seek advice from specialists.

Huge glass door with an external fence, and in some cases, right in the doorway - the simplest type of “French”.

In old houses, the balcony is made with a small concrete ledge. A supporting decorative cornice is fixed at the bottom: classic in the Roman style. This option is very useful in case of complete wear and tear and the need to replace the old balcony.

It is also necessary to take care of the reliable insulation of the door, especially at the junction with the floor.

French balcony in a private house - photo

Classic and modern version s balconies are different. The first one does not have a platform extending beyond the room, and the railings are located directly in the doorway: it’s like a large window-door with a fence.

Owners of private houses often prefer the modern “French” version. The masters offer something between “classics” and typical option balcony:

• Old fencing is removed.
• The balcony platform is reinforced, on which a structure made of PVC or aluminum is later mounted.
• Glass structures are usually energy-saving, which ensures appropriate temperature inside the room.
• Less commonly used is combined glazing, in which sandwich slabs are installed underneath.
• Number of packages and their optimal area carefully calculated for windage.

Attractive colors, original accents, convenient and compact design are the three main elements of unique and beautiful French balconies.

Currently, French balconies are decorated apartment buildings and cottages not only in Europe, but also in our country. The photo of the article shows a selection various options that can be found in any city. Such designs give the façade of the building an original look.

An example of a classic version.

In the classic version there is not much space. Only indoor flowers can be placed here.

What is a French balcony?

A modern version of this design is continuous glazing of the room, which is installed on a concrete base with or without lattice fencing. The frame consists of aluminum and metal-plastic profiles; special fittings connect the elements together. From the front side, such a structure resembles a voluminous basket.

Modern model of a French balcony. Aluminum profile and miniature fencing bars.

To create the bottom part, select following materials: frosted glass, plastic, glass with mirror film or make a combined version.

Design advantages:

• No external and interior lining parapet, unlike standard options(saving money on the purchase of finishing materials);
• Gets into the room a large number of Sveta;
• No need to carry out welding work during installation;
• Large selection of decor options.

Modern design: strict lines, a combination of metal and decorative plaster on the facade.

Terrace on a modern French balcony. The interior decoration uses natural shades and natural textures: wooden lining, wicker furniture, profiles with wood texture.

Minuses:

• No window sill. However this disadvantage eliminates dust accumulation;
• The design must be as reliable as possible; for this purpose, the frame is supplemented with special elements;
• Massive glazing requires protection from the sun in summer period and additional heating in winter;
• High price;
• A lot of work when cleaning glass.

Types of structures

French balconies with wrought iron elements

The classic option is a window or doorway with decorative metal parapet. Often load-bearing slab does not exceed the length of the foot, but sometimes reaches a maximum of half a meter. This design does not imply prolonged recreation in the fresh air.

Used for fencing artistic forging. The design, as a rule, is elegant; floral patterns can often be seen.

Sometimes ready hardware covered with gold leaf or patinated their surface (aging effect). The use of these methods turns the fence into an original detail that primarily attracts attention.

The small base area does not allow organizing storage space. A French balcony adorns the facade of the house and the room that is hidden behind it. A lot of light enters a window or doorway.

Forged fencing in a private house. The chocolate shade of the forged metal and metal-plastic profile goes well with the color of the brick wall.

The classic version is not functional, it only serves a decorative role.

The doors can open partially or completely, outward or inward, or be blind. These details directly depend on your desires.

Artistic forging complements the exterior in an original way. In the workshop, designers can develop a unique pattern to order.

Radial forged fencing in a private house.

To create a unified ensemble, you can install forged grilles on the windows. They must be made in the same style as the fence.

French balcony in Khrushchev

View from inside an apartment in Khrushchev.

Metal-plastic profiles have significant weight. On the eve of installation in the Khrushchev building, you should check the condition of the concrete slab. If defects are found during inspection, the base must be carefully repaired.

Flower pots are mounted on a metal fence.

French doors to the balcony photo

Fencing with plant pattern.

French balconies without railings

In new buildings you can find French glazing without fences.

Other options

Interior decoration of a room with an area of ​​6 sq. m. For interior decoration we chose natural colors and natural materials.

Insulation

To use the balcony all year round it is necessary to insulate this room. Besides quality profile and heat-saving double-glazed windows, it is necessary to additionally protect the surface of the ceiling and floor. They help create a comfortable microclimate additional sources heating systems, such as an oil heater, underfloor heating or an independent radiator. There is also a special film that protects against heat loss in winter and keeps the room cool in summer.