Archive for May, 2010
May 1st, 2010 | 
Author: Back in Victorian times, one of the most charming and practical elements were pocket doors. Often used to close off a formal parlor or dining room when not in use, pocket doors slid almost invisibly into the wall when open, creating open, spacious doorways.
It’s still possible to find beautiful working examples of these doors, framed by polished oak woodwork. Still others are unused, often because a house has settled, and the doors. Don’t operate as they should. For years they were out of fashion.
But modern sliding door hardware can adjust for not-quite-level floors and operate smoothly and quietly for years. Even existing homes can allow for installation of pocket doors, adding usable space and visually enlarging a room. Modern pocket doors are made to fit within a wall as little as four inches thick.
Pocket door systems are being used to maximize space in condominiums and apartments, and are especially useful in making rooms more accessible to the disabled.
If you’ve ever snagged a shopping bag or bruised an elbow on a protruding doorknob as you enter a room, you’ll appreciate a pocket door with no protruding door knobs. Or if you can “see” the perfect arrangement of furniture in a room—but one piece is just one inch too wide to fit where the door needs to open—pocket doors slide into the wall on each side of the doorway.
A perfect blend of practical convenience and charm, pocket doors may be the best home improvement you’ll ever make.
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