The Bifold Window That Stole Our Hearts (And Our Friends’ Attention)
When I was pregnant with our daughter, my husband and I decided to tackle a project we’d been dreaming about for a while—our kids’ rooms. It wasn’t just about the usual nursery updates or picking the right paint colors. This time, we decided to take on something a little bolder: upgrading the windows. It all started with an idea from Junior, my husband, who had been thinking about changing the two windows in the kids' rooms to one big, beautiful bifold window.
What is a Bifold Window, You Ask?
If you’ve never seen one, let me paint the picture for you: imagine a window that’s about 2.5 feet tall and 8 feet wide, with three accordion-style panels that fold neatly when you open it. It’s not your typical window! In fact, these windows are a huge hit with our friends when they visit. The moment they walk into the kids’ room, the reaction is the same—everyone is amazed by how sleek, modern, and just plain cool the window looks. But it’s not just about aesthetics; it’s the functionality that really got us hooked.
Bringing the Outdoors In
One of the reasons we love the bifold window so much is how it seamlessly brings the outdoors inside. It allows us to feel more connected to nature, even when we're inside. We love that we can enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and gentle breeze it brings into the house. My 4-year-old son especially loves it. He’ll often drag a chair over to the window, climb up, and use it as his personal gateway to the backyard. He goes in and out of his room without skipping a beat, whether we’re playing in the yard or just hanging out.
I always dreamed of having a sliding door-style bifold, like the cantina doors you see in some homes. At first, when Junior worked with a client who mentioned bifold windows, I wasn’t completely sold on the idea. But Junior convinced me, and eventually, we decided to splurge on a beautiful set. And honestly? We’ve never looked back.
The Viral Reel (and the Bug Drama)
Fast forward to a little Instagram reel I made to show off our new windows. It was a simple video talking about how we splurged on these fancy windows, even though we live in our very non-aesthetic 1940s home. It was lighthearted and fun, but what happened next? 4.7 million views and people went nuts about the bugs.
What sparked all the chatter? The fact that we didn’t have a screen on our bifold window. People lost it. In the comments, some couldn’t stop talking about how insane it was to have an open window with no screen—“bugs everywhere!” they said. “You’ll be swimming in mosquitoes!” they warned. While I completely understand their concerns, the truth is we didn’t want to shell out an additional $800 per window for a screen. That’s just not something we were willing to splurge on at the moment, especially with so many other things on our to-do list.
Our Compromise
So, here’s where we’ve landed: yes, we’ll eventually get screens for the windows, but for now, we’re choosing to enjoy the windows during hours when the bugs aren’t out in full force. We open them in the early morning, mid-afternoon, and early evening—pretty much whenever the weather is nice and the little critters haven’t made an appearance. So far, it’s been working perfectly for us. We still get to enjoy the breeze and the gorgeous view, and we’re not completely covered in mosquitoes (yet).
Would You Go For a Bifold Window or Sliding Door?
If you had the chance, would you go for a bifold window or a sliding door for your home? For us, the bifold is a game-changer, but I’d love to hear what other people think! If you’ve had the chance to experience one of these in your home, or if you’re dreaming of installing one, drop your thoughts below. It’s definitely a conversation starter!
In the end, it’s all about what fits your home and lifestyle. For us, it was about making the kids' space feel open, airy, and more connected to the outdoors. And despite the initial uproar about the lack of screens, I wouldn’t change a thing. We love the windows, and our friends do too. Now, if only we could figure out how to keep the bugs out without spending the extra $800…