help! what should we do about this paneled door?
Here’s a question we got from reader Cori that’s got us stumped. What a design dilemma! See her plight below and weigh in if you have any suggesions!
Okay, my husband and I are in the process of moving into the main level of an old house. It has gorgeous trim and awesome french doors, but here’s a catch: To create more bedrooms, the owners enclosed one of the huge amazing doors with brown paneling, making the door much smaller than original. As of now, the owner wont let us remove the paneling, so we need a creative solution hide it. He mentioned that perhaps we could paint it the same color as walls, but I think that would look silly because you would still have the frame showing. Eeekk. What else could we do? I need help! Thank you so much. — Cori R.
August 7th, 2007 at 7:19 am
I had a landlord once who did something similar, and I starched some fabric and hung it up, and then took three framed prints and hung it over it, so it actually because a “design piece” instead of an eyesore!
Good luck!
August 7th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Actually, I had an idea. Perhaps you could turn that ugly panelling into something like a big bulletin board? Cover it with cork or something, or just paint it white, and frame your door with postcards, clippings, personal photos, wine labels, whatever floats your boat. You could make a really unique installation!
August 7th, 2007 at 8:02 am
I second the idea of either wallpaper, fabric or cork. You could then put a credenza in front of it, topped with a lamp and some books perhaps, and voila — design element or landing strip instead of eyesore.
And what on earth were those people thinking, anyway?
August 7th, 2007 at 8:32 am
How about putting up portiere curtains, except doing it outside of the frame? Here’s an inside-the-frame example: http://www.annwallace.com/catalog/portiere.html
August 7th, 2007 at 9:57 am
HI.. its Cori, the one who submitted this. First off, Thank you all so much for your ideas.. i love all of them. I think so far, of these ideas.. i am going to do the side that you all see in picture, i might do the curtain thing. It looks like It could maybe still fit a rod inside the frame. Then on the other side, which will be the office, I might do the cork board thing and put up pics and notes to self, i could buy some really cute thumb tacks.. eww. now i am getting excited. i will post pictures when I do this.
Still more ideas please though.
Thanks again,
Cori
August 7th, 2007 at 10:00 am
HI.. its Cori, the one who submitted this. First off, Thank you all so much for your ideas.. i love all of them. I think so far, of these ideas.. i am going to do the side that you all see in picture, i might do the curtain thing. It looks like It could maybe still fit a rod inside the frame. Then on the other side, which will be the office, I might do the cork board thing and put up pics and notes to self, i could buy some really cute thumb tacks.. eww. now i am getting excited. i will post pictures when I do this.
THUMB TACKS.. http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2007/03/thumb-tack-tutorial.html
Still more ideas please though.
Thanks again,
Cori
August 7th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Curtains - hands down.
You can always mount cork underneath the curtains and reveal the bulletin board when needed - but I think a bulletin board mounted flush with a doorway is a bit odd. You might want to hide it when you’re not using it.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:35 am
I like the curtains idea. Another thought I had was to find some old tin panels. We hung three panels close together, and then inset framed photographs or prints for easy art on one particular wall. We did it horizontally, but it could work vertically too. Good luck!
August 7th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
I would paint the paneling the wall color. Then, if you hang a large mirror or mirror tiles over the paneling and then drape the whole opening with a sheer fabric you will eliminate the “black hole” created by the paneling. It will look like a large opening. Mount a decorative tie back bracket on the door frame and pull the drapery back to expose the door opening. It will look awesome!
If you need drapery ideas check out the 3000 illustrations in my book The Design Directory of Window Treatments at http://www.designdirectory4u.com.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Put some cool wall paper on it (the modern no-mess types) and hang 1920s art deco type mirrors on it. Then put a slim console table in front of it and voila you have a little “designated area” !
August 7th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
could you talk them into replacing it with an accordian folding type door?
August 8th, 2007 at 5:03 am
I second Jackie’s idea with the paint and mirrors. I’d just add that you paint the new trim the same colour as the walls so that the original trim gets to stand out in all its glory.
August 8th, 2007 at 7:08 am
I love the idea of painting it, putting up a cool curtain that can be pushed back and then placing a small table/landing strip there.
August 10th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Your landlord is daft.
The panelling should come down so the original woodwork of the doorway can be enjoyed. French doors could be re-installed and the glass could be frosted for privacy or a curtain or shade could be hung inside the doors for privacy.
If there is not a structural reason for the panelling I would take it out and not worry about the landlord. I’m a rulebreaker I guess!
August 12th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
not crazed bout the curtain idea. curtains not on windows always look like you’re hiding something … or there’s a shower/tub behind it.
Love the corkboard idea. hey! it can also be a chalkboard. nail in a thin pressboard into the frame and paint it with magnetic chalkboard paint. could be very useful and nice.
try making a batch of cookies for the owners and see if you can talk them into taking that down. french doors are the best solution for that frame i think.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I am with Terriann - I would take the panel out. I would not destroy it, just gently remove it. Use a tension rod to hang a curtain that frames the doorway and hides the mess left behind from taking down the wall. I would maybe offer to put it back in when you leave.
Nevermind,
I just looked at the photo again and they laid carpet around the new paneling… forget the demolition. Paint the panel to match the wall and hang a curtain. I liked the first suggestion to hang three frames over the curtain.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
okay, i love all the ideas.. i really dont think my landlord will let me take out the paneling!!! Maybe if i show him all of our bright ideas, then he will change his mind. If i build up enough guts, i am going to throw this out… http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.timberwindows.com/assets/webpages/french-door.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.timberwindows.com/french-doors.php&h=250&w=250&sz=14&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=ow03MCAghpAzjM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfrench%2Bdoors%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN
I think this could somehow restore how the pretty-ness of the house. Anyone have any ideas on how i could do this cheap????
August 18th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
your landlord is an idiot. most landlords are, i guess.
take it down and tell him you will replace it when you move out. (its very cheap to put up drywall and paneling)
replace it with frosted glass french doors. then show him. once he sees how much nicer it looks, you probably wont have to put up the drywall when you leave.