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Design Details: Sliding Doors

Pocket doors open up design possibilities while saving on space.

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Design Details: Sliding Doors

Pocket doors open up design possibilities while saving on space.

  • http://www.builderonline.org/Images/Picture%201%20Alterstudio_tcm10-813784.jpg

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    Paul Bardagjy Photography

    The rustic feel of this barn door–inspired installation is enhanced with the addition of reclaimed signage. The home, designed by Austin, Texas–based Alterstudio Architects, was crafted to celebrate its owners’ eclectic tastes, combining modern elements, such as honed concrete flooring, with vintage charm.

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    Tim Bies

    Built with the aim of making Seattle’s Pike/Pine Corridor affordable to teachers, social workers, and medical staff, this mixed-use multifamily project had to make the most of every inch. To that end, Olson Kundig Architects created custom-designed sliding puzzle doors that allow owners to adapt their living space as necessary.

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    Jud Haggard

    Space and natural light are two of the most precious resources in any home, and this configuration saves on both. As the adjoining bedroom to this master bath was blessed with an abundance of natural light, Studio RED Architects made the most of it with a frosted sliding pocket door that lends privacy while allowing light to filter though. The natural light accentuates the bath’s neutral tones, creating a spa-like space.

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    Pixelcraft/Roman Torres

    This frosted glass pocket door adds texture without distracting from the bath’s soothing palate. Opposite, a tricked-out wall slides open with two doors that reveal a closet, turning a small space into an efficiency workhorse. Designers at Stephen Jenkins Design-Build were careful to eliminate any unnecessary hardware, allowing surfaces to blend together.

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    Hoachlander Davis Photography

    Built in 1919, this Craftsman bungalow had already survived a few changes when its new owners decided to give it a face-lift. Dedicated to restoring the home’s original 1920s character while allowing the space to meet the needs of a 21st-century family, Moore Architects employed sliding doors that leave hallway space uninterrupted. Beautifully detailed hardware stays true to the home’s original character as well as the careful attention that is a hallmark of the Craftsman style.

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    Michael O’Callahan

    This earth-inspired entry provides access to nature in more ways than one. The bamboo door's frosted cutaway allows natural light to flow into the home, remodeled by Klopf Architecture and Marin Restoration. Meanwhile, simple hardware keeps lines clean.

From Washington to Wall Street to Main Street, everyone is talking about doing more with less, and no one is feeling the effects of that sentiment more than home builders. While home sizes are shrinking, families’ needs aren’t, leaving builders with the responsibility to make the most out of every inch. Fortunately, pocket doors and other sliding doors do just that. Saving on wall and floor space, these doors open up possibilities for hallways and other spaces that would be too tight for a swinging configuration. With clean lines and an array of design and architectural possibilities, sliding doors can also add a subtly modern element without disrupting the home’s existing style.

Note: This article contains a revision with the inclusion of sliding doors other than pocket doors.