I live in a California tract home built in the late ’80’s (have I mentioned that before?!?!) so there isn’t anything custom about my home. All of the homes in my neighborhood are all basically the same, so my goal is to make my home feel like me, even though it looks like everyone else’s! Remodeling is not an option, so I do my best with a bit of paint and home decor. Which brings me to today’s post about creative interior door ideas.
I am fortunate to have paneled interior doors that are very nice, but lately, I’ve been eying interior doors that have a bit more flair to them….a little pizzazz and personality! My current two favorites are shutters and barn doors. My hubby, who is usually the caboose to my freight train and goes along with my wacky ideas, doesn’t seem to be on board with my latest plan just yet, so I’ve been collecting a variety of images that I’m hoping will change his mind.
It all started when I saw this image on Pinterest. How amazing are these pantry doors?! And just think how much personality they must add to the room!
I also came across an image of a pantry with barn doors.
While I don’t think that a sliding barn door is always the most practical, I do think it adds a lot of architectural interest and is a great way to break up a large expanse of wall.
And just because the door functions like a barn door doesn’t mean it has to look like one. I love the the detail on these doors, and when open, they look like hanging wall decor.
And this vintage door was converted to a sliding door.
Of course I love the hardware used on these doors since I like the industrial look.
But shutters have a lot of visual interest and character, too. An armoire flanked with shutters changes the look of the room.
Even using shutters to flank and existing door opening adds a lot of detail.
We have a large, empty wall in our entryway just next to our coat closet and to me, it seems like it’s just begging to have a sliding door installed! This project is waaaaaaaaaayyy down the road, but it’s never to early to start planting the design seed with the hubby. :
Would you consider using one of these doors in your home or do you prefer something more traditional?
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Wow amazing! Very impressive! Will definitely give this a go!
great post, i found this to be very interesting and inspiring. keep it up.
Kim is perfect the Barn Door Hardware are really interesting to save space in our homes.
I, too, am a door junkie. I have 15 pocket doors which I’m replacing one by one with antique doors from H4H and other reuse centers. Thanks to Citristrip I’ve got a couple down to bare, beautiful wood. Several others I’ve used regular stripper to emulate the look you get when using Vaseline to resist. Regular stripper takes several applications, where Citristrip is just one.
I’ve replaced 2 doors with French doors. Talk about light! Pinky is right. Now, what to do with 15 unfinished, pin, 6-panel, exterior (thick) doors. Packrat that I am, I guess they’ll have to go to my barn. :)
Your home will never be considered cookie-cutter. Look at it as a blank canvas for all your wonderful ideas!
Christine – You are a DIY queen! Love it! It sounds like you’ve made some beautiful changes to your home.
:) Kim
{P.S. I’m jealous that you have a barn to store stuff in!!!} :)
LOL!
No, I’m still a novice. I have a 1976 blank canvas myself. Even moreso since I’m rebuilding from a fire by myself. I’ve learned SO MUCH and have so many projects in progress. I’m currently painting cabinet doors I’m making for my kitchen rebuilding.
The problem is I keep wanting to start another project before finishing one. THAT is the discipline.
Truly, don’t be jealous of my barn. Think of The Black Hole. It’s like a giant file cabinet: Once you put something in it, there’s a good chance you’ll never look at it again. Hence, my house is CRAMMED full of project and building materials. Including [wait for it] doors. :)
I look forward to seeing what you do with your doors. If it’s not throwing something else into the mix, it’s very easy to add a pocket door to an existing wall with Johnson Hardware… But then, who can turn down barn hardware! YEAH!
I’m so sorry to hear that you had a fire! That’s terrible! Thankfully, it sounds like you’re making the most of the rebuilding process and enjoying the projects. I totally agree with you about wanting to start another project before finishing the first one. Sadly, I’m not that disciplined and so I have *so* many unfinished projects around my home!!
Have a wonderful weekend!
:) Kim
I love the idea. We have a lake home and when we add a bath I will be using a sliding door. It will be a barn mechanism but, I am thinking more like the door you chose with the frosted glass. The laundry will be incorporated in this 3/4 bath. Ohhhhh I can’t wait until we can get her done….
Karen – It sounds like it’s going to be beautiful!! I’m really excited for you!
In our last house we replaced several doors. We had a solid door that was the door to the downstairs; we replaced it with one that had 9 glass panels. It SO opened up the space and looked SO good. On my pantry we put louvered doors, kind of like the photo shows! I hope you can convince your hubby cause I do think it will look AWESOME!!!
That sounds amazing! Still working on the hubby… ;)
Kim,
Now I want new doors! There are some great ideas here, thank you, I think.
Karen
You’re welcome!! ;)
Yes, Kim! Do it! I think sliding doors are such works of art! I bet they will look gorgeous (when you are ready to do them).
Thanks, Yvonne! I’m definitely leaning toward doing it…now to convince the hubby!
Kim,
I am a door addict and have many old vintage doors through out my home decor. I love the old barn door idea. They give character and history to what ever space you put them. Gotta love an old door as part of the decor.
Kris
Kris – I’m so jealous that you have so many wonderful, old doors!!
I love the barn door look, but those green shutters are delicious!
I love those shutters, too!!!