Doors & Windows
Barn Door Question
28/04/08 23:00
Q:
What do I need to acquire and hang a barn door
in my interior?
A: Barn doors are becoming more prominent in decor magazines. They allow unusual sizes, save space and provide the convenience of a pocket door without having to break into the wall itself. In a space where the swing of a door interferes with furniture placement and traffic flow, a sliding barn door can be a great option.
You will need a way to hang it, a rail system (track, hangars, floor guide and optional safety stops). These range in price from about 200-2000. KN Crowder makes some quite affordable systems with plain aluminum tracks and clear hangers (available at Century Builder's Hardware). The rail can be wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted.
A floor guide ensures that the door runs smoothly in the upper track and the safety stop keeps the door from running off of the track.
Richelieu hardware provides higher end and modern-looking rail systems. On the other hand, Home Depot itself does not recommend the quality of their track barn door systems.
Standard door sizes run from about 6'6" - 7' X 1'6" X 3' and for the full effect of a barn door, you may need to special order an over-sized model. A 40" X 90" door with glass insets runs from about 300-700. The all-wood version runs from about 500-1000.
A sleek, modern option may be a simple, unpanelled wood, metal or have a small, geometric row of glass insets. To get some light flow through, some of a door's panels can be glass and some of wood.
The door can be made from salvaged barn wood or a beautiful vintage salvaged door. For ideas, check Porte Millet, (carried by Home Depot) or Madawasca, (carried by Fairbanks Lumber).
Finally, you may need handles for sliding the door open and closed. Door handles can be inset, lever or surface mounted.
Whatever design and hardware you choose, your barn door is a guaranteed unique touch for your interior!
Recommended shop: Century
Builder's Hardware Ltd., 493
Dufferin Street, York, ON, 416-789-7061
Glass Ideas
28/04/08 15:59
We
often buy a mirror because we're impressed
with the frame. And, how often do we think
about the glass that comes in pictures frames.
Not until it breaks at least!
In fact, glass, in its many forms, can be the source of some very creative solutions and add unexpected beauty to home decor.
Recently, I've visited my favourite glass and mirror place several times. My reasons have ranged from replacing sliding mirrored doors to "fixing" a crooked mirror wall with vertical 2" beveled strips.
Some other good and creative uses for glass and mirror:
- fit to a table, desk or counter top to protect it and make it fully functional
- install in cabinets to allow a compromise between storage and display
- make a mirror out of a beautiful old frame
- re-face a tired piece of furniture with coloured glass or mirror
Featured shop: Canada Glass & Mirror
http://www.cgmirror.ca
1700 Jane St.
Toronto, Ontario, M9N 2S4
cgmirror@rogers.com
416.245.7032