Something to fill the gap

7 years ago

I'm having trouble deciding how to fill this space
The gap is 5ft wide and 7ft high
I am standing in what will be the main lounge ( next to decorate ) but need a divide , I feel full doors will close of the space and it would never get used .
To the right of picture there is radiator ( thought about sliding door )
I'm thinking glass so you can still see into the room
But help or any ideas would be very grateful or links or pics

Featured Answer

coppicefarm

7 years ago

These extra wide doorways give a lovely sense of space and help with light too. We have several and have dressed them in different ways according to what the areas are used for, how much of a barrier is needed etc. Think about transfer of smells, sound light and privacy.
1. One of my favourites is in oak with fixed small glazed panels and french glazed windows: the detail on the oak and the bevelled glass look really luxurious in a fully furnished area. This is our drawing room.
2. We toyed with putting a barrier across our dining area, considering contemporary or art deco open ironwork, but in the end went decided to leave the opening with no adornment - this is especially good when we open the table to its full length as no-one feels crowded.
3. The opening between living space and swimming pool retains the oak frame but has full glazed doors to move seamlessly to a much larger open space.
4. Between the swimming pool and tub room are two fully glazed doors (each with glazed side panels and inner pair of doors, and also (not pictured) a fixed glass panel of a similar size in the walk between them. This way, you get a sense of them being in the same space and not cut off.
The possibilities are endless, goid luck!

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Comments (26)

PRO
Hutsly
7 years ago
Hi Bev,

I think glass doors would look great. Have a look at point number 7 of our last blog article, it's about glass doors so there are a few pictures and the benefits of using them:

http://www.hutsly.com/blogs/news/118171908-10-interior-design-tips-tricks-and-secrets

Hope that helps!

Hutsly.
bookworm987
7 years ago
How about one glass door and then a floor to ceiling glass panel alongside it. That way you don't have the problem of two glass doors standing open and being in the way, just one. Get one that will open almost all the way back and have a nice doorstop for when you want it left open.
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headers13
7 years ago
What about glass doors but with one third being a wooden paintable panel so you can't see though the whole door.
S Niko
7 years ago
I'd go full glass doors for the light but it depends if you'd like a bit more privacy or snugness in the lounge. Then possibly go for frosted
Trish
7 years ago
How about pocket doors, then you can separate the space or have it all open without doors opening into the space .
PRO
The Open Plan - Interior Design
7 years ago
Hi
I believe that if you have two doors they'll be very wide and the proportions will look odd. I would instead have 2 glazed bi-fold doors (that'll be 4 slim doors). With the depth of the opening they could possibly be opened against each other in the opening.
Also look into Parliament hinges which would allow you to open the doors against the kitchen walls on the other side
PRO
The Open Plan - Interior Design
7 years ago
Hello again,
Here's a photo of my bespoke bi-fold door leading into my kitchen. If the opening were bigger like yours I would mirror these doors i.e. Have two doors like this (4 small doors). I hope this makes sense. You can also see the Parliament hinges which allow the doors to open right around the corner and stack against the kitchen wall on the other side. Also, glazed of course. Let me know if you need any more info. Good luck.
Ludo Gallagher
7 years ago
You don't need doors. People are obsessed with doors. Why not have it open plan. Make a feature of the space by adding moulding.

if you must have doors crittal is lovely.
PRO
Casa Colori
7 years ago
glass door for me too
PRO
Cupola Design Ltd
7 years ago
Dear Bev, it looks like no structural beam has been inserted? Is the wall brickwork? If so, you need to consider a beam to avoid cracking over the opening in the long term, you don't want to have a nice glass door jammed because of movement.
Patricia Farrell
7 years ago
I would go for a Japanese screen. they can fold back against one of your walls and form a single span which would look like a piece of art.
Patricia Farrell
7 years ago
if anyone is interested I got these made to measure from a company in Arnold, Nottinghamshire called Highbury Design and the cost about £950.00
PRO
Nicola Holden Designs
7 years ago
Personally I would say no doors - keep the rooms feeling open and spacious. If you have to do doors then I would recommend Crittal steel frame glass panel doors.
PRO
Eastwell Ironworks Ltd
7 years ago
Hi Bev, an option could be to have a wrought iron panel or gates with glass marbles or other coloured metals, brass, copper incorporated as a sculptural piece in the gap. As the comment from Cupola Design is there a beam or lintel in place? Regards, Leigh
bestnest
7 years ago
If your aim is to make the lounge feel separate and cozy you could consider bi-fold shutters but if you want to keep out smells and noise from the kitchen I'd go with glazed doors, maybe reduce the opening slightly and hang them on the lounge side so they don't stick out too much. You could temporarily put up a curtain and see just how much you use it before deciding.
Ocean Clarke
7 years ago
I agree with Nicola - Crittall style doors could look lovely here! Hopefully you can create a nice flow using glass, instead of closing off the space.

Some inspiration below!
Contemporary Living Room · More Info

Private Residence · More Info

Pimlico Townhouse · More Info
Bev Hine
Original Author
7 years ago
Love no 3 coppice farm , I like the seamless link ,could I ask where you got these from thanks
In regards to lintel beams etc husband is a builder by trade and opening was already supported , there was an arch here before but thanks for concern, mostly need to close off thespace to help noise from TVs etc , we are having a log burner installed in the lounge so will mainly have doors or bi folds ( narrowing it down with your help ) open for the most part so distribution of the warmth can circulate in colder months . Thanks again everyone
annarocks123
7 years ago
If money is no object, you could go full James Bond and put in a revolving book case on a central pin! Men and children will love it
coppicefarm
7 years ago
Thanks, Bev. We designed and specified the materials, got carpenter to make the frame (and hang!), a glass supplier to measure and supply the glazing and an architectural ironworker to handmake the handles (but you could sibstitute commercially available handles). Any good glass supplier should be able to make the doors if you tell them the hinges you want and say where you want the holes for the handles. I think our gap is around 8ft so design would have to be scaled down. Issues to consider would be type of hinge: opening only one way, both ways and/or if enough space, opening right back on itself as per the bifolds in earlier post). If not fully opening back, plain unframed glass can be a bit of a hazard as you can walk into it. ii) single door or matching pair (symmetrical pair look much easier on the eye but if scaled down you may find you can't walk through half with a tray and need to open both sides which can be a pain. Probably best to scale down the side panels first and go from there. I'd put up with the pain for the looks but others wouldn't!
I agree that the clear glass look would look good in your contemporary surroundings, but so would the Crittall and the Japanese screen in other posts. Hope your final choice works out well for you :)
maz99
7 years ago
Have a look at glass curtains. Saw them at the Ideal Home Exhibition as we had the same problem. Ours is wider so have 5 panes of glass that slide over to one side. Can have only one open or all. They use them alot abroad to enclose balconies
Lexi Parkin
7 years ago
I agree that you wouldn't want to close off the space, especially as it appears that so much light gets into that room. I would say you could shape the door into an arch or glass doors would look very nice. We have french doors going from our lounge to our dining room at home and its really nice to let the light through as we don't get much natural light in our dining room.

ferguson · More Info
This could look quite nice

Everett · More Info
Or have an arch
Delo Gasqui
7 years ago
get a book shelf unit (with no backboard)of about a feet on each side of the space. that will leave you with 3 feet doorway without need of a door. Also, you can have the book shelf wider than the wall ,towards the dining room and continue alond the wall with narrower bookshelfs on the whole wall. The bookshelf by the doors will separate and in the same time will let the feeling of open space . and if you like,on the 3 feet left between the book shelfs you can add 2 french doors. I will try to do a quick drawing fro you tonight and post it here :)
Mark Raymond
7 years ago
As some others have said, defiantly pocket doors, or even flush
fit external mounted sliding doors, you can even get them in frosted glass if you
want but I probably wouldn’t bother, get wood and paint to make a feature the
great thing with them is that you can have them open as much or as little as
you want to add light or cosiness.
Delo Gasqui
7 years ago
Here is the promised drawing. Not the best but you can understand it. View from lounge towarss kitche with open book shelves on the sidea of the doorway,wider than the walls and continued on the inside of the lounge with narrower book shelves with backboard on the same line/level.

If not happy with no door,you can always add some smaller french doors with glass on that gives more cosy feeling in the lounge but still connected to the kitchen..

Good Luck !
r0j0e
7 years ago
curtains.. why has nobody suggested open curtains. with that u can create a bit of luxury and also control the size if the space. someone tell me if I'm being brilliant or stupid?