Has anyone ever seen an exterior door with an opening window?

I am going to reverse my kitchen door to open out instead of in, this will increase options for cabinet replacement during kitchen remodel. However I will lose the screen door, which I love for the airflow in the spring and fall.

So I am looking for an entry door with some sort of opening window.

At our previous house, the back door off the kitchen was a 5 panel door with panels two and three (from the top) sawed out and a "Dutch door" was built in. This door opened in, as did the whole door, but it was nice to get breezes in the summer through the screen door without the whole interior door being open.

In your situation you might want to build something like that but also include a screen on the "dutch door" itself.

I did a Google search on "exterior dutch doors" and came up with a couple good hits right off. Might try that.

this was first on the list o' hits

Exterior Dutch Doors

This month's Cottage Living has a picture of a "cottage" with a "dutch door."

I'm sure you've already thought of this but, if the door opens out, won't that create a security issue? Since the hinges would then be on the outside of the house, woudn't someone be able to gain entry by removing the hinge pins and then the whole door, even it the handle were locked?

I think there may also be some building code issues with outswinging doors. At least in the north I believe they are not allowed by code because you might wake up to find 3 feet of snow piled up against the door and no way to open it. This kind of thing does happen, at least in Wisconsin.

Thanks for the idea the dutch door might be an option, I will look into that one.

As far as security for the door opening opening out, there are special hinges that have set screws which are inside the hinge (can only get to them when door is open) which lock the hinge pins in place.

I will have to look into local building code. I live in the south (Norfolk, VA) so not much snow and the door will open onto a covered porch. What do you guys in Wisconsin do about the storm door which opens out?

I wonder if putting screen door on inside would be an option, I know of a house in the area that has this layout. While screen door would open in, it is not usually left open so it might not be in the way as much.

Our Spanish style bungalow has an operable "speakeasy" window with beveled glass about 6" by 1'4"-like a miniature version of the arched paneled entry door that contains it. It has a screen and decorative grill work as well. Although it is a small opening it certainly is enough to create the negative pressure for a nice breeze through that area of the house.