Barn doors have been around for years, but they have gained considerable popularity in the past decade. Learn about three different barn doors used in the same hotel room and how they provided new twists on this old classic.
When most people think barn doors, they still think of a rustic-looking door with exposed hardware. In recent years, we have seen a plethora of barn door styles and applications. Some applications work better than others since barn doors don’t block sound as well as a traditional swing door.
But one of the key benefits of a barn-style door is how it operates. Barn doors don’t intrude upon a space the same way a swing door does. This is especially important when you’re trying to allow accessibility in a small space – say, like a hotel bathroom. Big swing doors just get in the way. This is the case in many homes too.
I was treated to not one, not two, but THREE barn-style doors in my hotel bathroom! The first was my shower enclosure. This door operated just like a barn door, except it was all glass. The exposed track above was polished chrome and naturally matched all the shower fixtures in design and finish.
The next barn-style door separated the toilet and shower compartment from the vanity area. This door was flush with an elongated pull – much like that of the shower door. Very elegant.
The third door closed off the vanity area from the hallway into the room. This door was also clad in a full-length, full-sized mirror. This door would block the light that came from the awesome-lit mirror.
What was unique about these last two bathroom doors was their scale and hardware. These doors were floor-to-ceiling. As such, their tracks were in the ceiling. There is a single pin at the bottom in the floor that the doors slide on, creating a super clean and sophisticated look.
So are they barn doors, sliding doors, or pocket doors without a pocket? No matter what you classify them as, this type of door will continue to exist because of the space-saving functionality they provide; however, styles will undoubtedly continue to evolve. Today you can get them in an array of colors, styles, or materials such as glass or metal. I wonder what the future holds…
Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog