Barn doors definitely add character to any room. There are so many different variations and they are easy to customize. I love making and designing barn doors out of reclaimed wood or pallet wood. The more heavy and sturdy the door, the more costly, but you don't want to go too cheap with a flimsy, lightweight door unless your walls can't support the weight. Investing in a well built door is best as these doors are constantly in motion. Barn doors are not just for looks. They have become popular in recent years as more and more people are updating homes built in the early 1900's. They are extremely functional in small hallways, tiny rooms, or spaces that pocket doors were used. Homes built in the early 1900's were not built with the "open floor plan" concept. To maximize the heated living area, having barn doors in tighter spaces just makes design sense.
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These rooms were not only small, but right across from one another. Strategically placing barn doors in this narrow hallway, allowed us to maximize the hallway space if doors were opened at the same time and we didn't compromise any of the two room's square footage.
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The barn door served as a full length mirror in this master bathroom, and it gave the master suite the unique character to impress a new home buyer.
Installing barn doors is not difficult. It's much easier with two people and the right tools. We design doors to fit your needs as well as install. If you live in the Charlotte or surrounding areas and would like more information, visit us at: http://www.ownrealestatedesign.com/ But if you want to attempt this yourself, this YouTube video by Home Depot is extremely helpful.
Hope these design tips help. Happy decorating!