Open sesame

Homeowners shouldn’t be closed-minded when it comes to interior doors.

Homeowners shouldn’t be closed-minded when it comes to interior doors.

Doors are vital parts of homes under construction or undergoing makeovers, thanks to builders and interior designers, who are paying close attention to how doors separate spaces and add architectural appeal.

“Doors are becoming a feature in the home,” said Donna Mathis, owner of Suwanee, Ga.-based DMD Studios.

Soaring tall

Door heights are expanding, and the use of 8-foot doors in single-family homes and condos can add to the grandeur of residences.

“Over and over again, (buyers) want 8-foot doors within the main level,” said Jennifer Crosby, owner of Atlanta-based Crosby Design Group.

Traditionally, homes and condos use doors that extend 6 feet 8 inches, but taller doors dramatically improve the look of the space, builders and designers say. People notice the difference.

“Instead of having this expansive space between the top of your door frame and the ceiling height, it makes your home look bigger and more stately,” said Art Rountree, operations director for Kairos Development Corp., which installed 8-foot solid wood core doors (versus hollow-core doors) at the Astoria at the Aramore in Buckhead.

Designers say three-panel doors are in demand and fit the transitional style of homes. Door manufacturers are coming out with these options, which create cleaner lines, instead of the traditional six-panel door, Mathis said.

Free-flowing spaces

Traditional doors that swing out or in can take up valuable space. Some door decisions are focused on open space and creating a flow for entertaining and everyday living, causing people to consider pocket doors, folding doors.

“We like doors to disappear. So when they’re closed, they’re closed, and when they’re open, they don’t exist,” said architect Jose Tavel, co-owner of TaC Studios in Atlanta.

Pocket doors can separate public and private areas in a home. (Tavel and his wife, architect Cara Cummins, have nine pocket doors in their residence/studio.) The doors can be 8 feet tall, ranging from 36 inches wide to 60 inches wide, almost all are 8 feet tall. (Johnson Hardware and Hafele are two companies they use.)

Pocket doors can work between bedrooms and living areas, living areas and offices, bathrooms, closets and other spots in modern and traditional homes. Tavel says another option is putting a pocket door in a bathroom; in their home, it allows east light into the bathroom in the morning and a view from the tub to the mature white oaks in the backyard.

“I have a lot of requests for pocket doors. Pocket doors have made a comeback,” said Maricita Hughes, director of interiors for Isakson Living, creator of retirement communities including Park Springs in Stone Mountain, Ga. “They’ve come a long way from where they used to be.”

People frustrated with pocket doors that went off their tracks may find that today’s pocket doors are sturdier and less likely to malfunction. Hughes estimates that pocket doors cost about 30 percent more than traditional doors, but homeowners often are willing to pay when space is at a premium.

TaC Studios recently installed a pocket door between the dining room and a kitchen in a traditional home.

“They would still have a very segregated and closed dining room when they wanted it, but when they wanted it to function as a free flow between their beautiful new kitchen and their dining room, it opens up,” Tavel said.

A row of pivot doors also can create an architectural element that can function as a wall when needed.

Heading outdoors

For patio doors, homeowners can replace a double set of French doors to the outside with stackable, or folding doors, Mathis said.

“It is the whole concept of bringing the outdoors in,” she said.

Some manufacturers offer patio doors that retract or fold up, opening up interior rooms such as the family room, breakfast room or keeping room, to the backyard. Manufacturer Andersen’s outswing folding patio doors come in 21 colors and seven types of wood, and can be customized up to 48 feet, and open from the right, left or center.

Retractable screen door makers include the Clear View Systems, which work vertically or horizontally and differ from the traditional doors that swing out and can hit furniture and people. Steve Kaplan, owner of Peachtree Blinds of Atlanta, based in Alpharetta, Ga., says more people are seeking retractable doors, with his sales of the doors up 50 percent over last year. (Costs start at $395 for a single door and $775 for a set of French doors.) A speed reducer makes the retractable door safer for children and pets.

“The No. 1 installation area is kitchen/keeping room to deck/patio,” he said.

An option for condos is the NanaWall, which can open up a wall spanning 8 or 10 feet wide, Crosby said. Homeowners also can take a cue from restaurants created out of old gas stations. Crosby said a garage door can be used in place of a wall in a basement, to open up the space to the outdoors.

More ideas for doors

From the use of glass to painting doors, here’s some tips on incorporating style and functionality with your doors:

c A barn door can add an unusual touch, especially in a media room or office, Crosby said. Another idea is to use reclaimed wood for doors; manufacturer JELD-WEN offers custom doors made from Douglas fir that originally was used for barns, fencing, factories and houses.

c Spots such as media rooms are where homeowners can have more fun with doors made of metal or other materials.

c Frosted glass inserts in doors provide privacy, but keep spaces from being too dark, especially in a windowless bathroom that may be found in older homes or condos.