Changing doors to sliders - better or worse for resale?
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Our house is your basic "split-foyer" with living room up and family room down. The family room has three doors on the wall you see when you first walk in, laundry, powder room, and office. We're in the middle of a remodel, plan to sell in another year or two, and are considering changing the doors on that wall. None of the rooms are large. The powder room is TINY. The door barely misses the toilet and sink; you literally have to step in and in front of the toilet to close the door. The laundry room could really use extra space too.
The plan is to paint the walls beige and woodwork white. There is a large, brick fireplace on one end of the room with a rough, rustic mantle. We are considering changing the mantle to make it a bit less rough-hewn or even changing it completely. Unfortunately, we also have a drop-ceiling; ugly, but we can't afford to change that.
We are considering changing the doors to sliding doors. The "barn-style" isn't probably going to happen, as the hardware tends to be really expensive, but thought that one with a railing that's concealed, we could then use molding or wood to cover the railings, making it look like one long rail? Not sure I'm describing it right. This would make the wall unusable for artwork or furniture, but with unique doors it could be decorative. We can't be TOO "fancy" because that will make the drop ceiling look even more out of place.
Attached is a picture of the room/doors and the type of door I'm thinking of, which would be white (maybe distressed a bit). Of course, the top railing would run the length of the room. Thoughts?
The plan is to paint the walls beige and woodwork white. There is a large, brick fireplace on one end of the room with a rough, rustic mantle. We are considering changing the mantle to make it a bit less rough-hewn or even changing it completely. Unfortunately, we also have a drop-ceiling; ugly, but we can't afford to change that.
We are considering changing the doors to sliding doors. The "barn-style" isn't probably going to happen, as the hardware tends to be really expensive, but thought that one with a railing that's concealed, we could then use molding or wood to cover the railings, making it look like one long rail? Not sure I'm describing it right. This would make the wall unusable for artwork or furniture, but with unique doors it could be decorative. We can't be TOO "fancy" because that will make the drop ceiling look even more out of place.
Attached is a picture of the room/doors and the type of door I'm thinking of, which would be white (maybe distressed a bit). Of course, the top railing would run the length of the room. Thoughts?
7 answers
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I think you have come up with a wonderful idea. (We too live in the dreaded split foyer style house complete with brick fireplace.) We removed the rustic mantel & used masonry stain to tone down the brick color and decided not to replace the mantle at all. Good luck with the remodel and your upcoming move.
Debi53
on Jun 22, 2015
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I love this idea, my kitchen (in the center of the house) has 5 doors which takes up so much kitchen space. I might see about doing this, at least for some of them.
Sharon
on Jun 22, 2015
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Look at turquoisedoor.com has cute idea for inexpensive barn door. Johnson Hardware has ideas, Check on Hometalk for more inexpensive ways to make barn doors. Good luck, your idea is good, maybe some of these other sites will help get the job done.
Judy
on Jun 22, 2015
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If the powder room and laundry are next to each other, can you make it one room? Would eliminate one door. Depending on if support wall (doesn't look like it) maybe take out only part of the "dividing" wall. Would open up both rooms and not have to worry about the door and the toilet as you would close that off.
Rin
on Jun 23, 2015
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I did this in our master bath for the closet and toilet room door. It works well and everyone that has seen them love them. If you find very low profile art work it can be hung behind the doors. If your or a friend have an artistic hand you can paint something directly on the wall.
Tonia
on Jun 23, 2015
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It's occurred to me that, though we can have the door stop against molding on one side, (as in the picture in my original post) there will be a bit of a gap on the other, won't there, between the door and the wall? Might be a bit iffy for a bathroom... Any ideas on "closing the gap"? My first thought was some kind of weather-stripping, like a sweep plate at the bottom of a door, only on the side of the door frame? Or maybe if the door was several inches wider than it needed to be? Am I making sense?
Alice Shockley
on Jun 23, 2015
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I am wondering if you could add a rubber molding to the door frame to help seal the door? I don't think that you want to add it to the door. If you did it may rub on the wall . I hope that helps.
Tonia
on Jun 25, 2015
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