Sliding doors to the kitchen

The theory of the need for a kitchen door in an apartment rests on three pillars: safety (especially if there are small children and animals), smells (even the most powerful cooker hood will not keep the harsh aromas of food in check) and aesthetics (the neighborhood with a bathroom is always inconvenient). Sliding doors to the kitchen will help solve these problems.

Interior sliding doors have one essence, but their mechanisms of operation are somewhat different:

• Standard. They are classified into single-leaf and double-leaf. Single-leaf (have one movable leaf) are best used for small rooms with tiny openings. This saves valuable space. Bivalves (two movable canvases) are relevant for spacious rooms with wide openings. Both doors open in different directions, which is not only comfortable, but also gives the interior hospitality.

• Radial. It is a system in which the leaves do not move in a straight line, but in an arc. This is a non-standard design of a doorway, which is relevant in a room with round or curved walls.
• Doors - "accordion"... The principle of the mechanism is more like a blind. The design consists of several narrow leaves that fold into an accordion to free the passage. Therefore, they are more often called folding door systems. A significant advantage is the mobility of the partition: the width of the opening can be varied at will from a narrow gap to a full passage.
• Coupe. The mechanism is similar to the systems used in sliding wardrobes. This is the most popular door partition design solution, helping to save space in the aisle between the room and the kitchen. The design feature is that it not only performs its direct function, but also plays the role of a wall in the room. In order to comfortably place furniture, standing close to the walls and to the side of the doorway, a mechanism with two canvases is used.

• Pencil door... Apartments, equipped with a wide passage to the kitchen without walls, allow the installation of a "pencil box" system. For it, a hollow plasterboard partition is installed with an opening on the side, which will play the role of a false wall and occupy part of the doorway. When you open the door, the canvas will hide inside the plasterboard structure.

• Pendulum. It is used if the kitchen opening is adjacent to a narrow corridor. The uniqueness of the mechanism lies in the process of turning the door leaves: they not only move in both directions with respect to the door frame, but also rotate along the vertical axis. More often only one door is used, opening both inward and outward.

The range of materials for the manufacture of door panels is diverse:

• Wood. If financial possibilities allow, you can give preference to wooden door consoles. This is a good investment as the varnished wood looks flawless, especially between the living room and the kitchen. The door leaf can be either solid or in combination with other materials (paper, plastic, glass, mirror).
• A significant plus of wood - environmental friendliness and pliability, thanks to which it can be included in various interior styles. The only drawback is the massiveness of the finished products, so it is better to use door consoles in spacious kitchens. Wood often goes in tandem with glass inserts; such door options are popular and fit into any design idea.
• Glass. Constructions made of glass canvases will ideally fit into the decor of a high-tech room, minimalism or a classic interior. The choice of these doors should be based on the strength and reliability of the material: how the glass reacts to sudden changes in temperature and whether it is afraid of impacts. If there are small children or animals in the house, only use an impact-resistant cloth. The value of these doors is in their ability to transmit light; they do not create a completely isolated space.

• MDF / Fibreboard - quality budget material for kitchen consoles. Such doors are appropriate if it is not possible to put natural wood panels or if the kitchen is too miniature and cannot withstand such a door finish. Visually, they are almost indistinguishable from their natural “colleagues”. Doors made of MDF and veneer are lightweight, do not require maintenance, and are resistant to temperature extremes. A wide range of colors allows you to match door leaves to any style of interior.
• Plastic. Often used in conjunction with folding structures and sliding doors. The material comes as an economy option, but it has a presentable appearance. For the kitchen space, this is the optimal solution: plastic doors do not require special maintenance, it is enough to walk on them with a soapy cloth. If the kitchen is adjacent to the hall, such a doorway finish will look somewhat ridiculous and cheap.

Sliding doors to the kitchen have many advantages:

• Saving space. The installation of these systems allows additional free space, while the open leaf of swing doors requires space. Sliding structures freely maneuver along the wall or hide in it. This allows even the smallest apartment to look comfortable and spacious.
• Space zoning. It becomes possible to divide a large room into several smaller ones that perform different functions. For example, to separate the territory of the dining room from the kitchen. Sliding partitions are relevant for studio apartments when there is no desire to reduce the area of ​​space, but periodically there is a need to isolate any of the zones.
• Safety and reliability of the design. The absence of a sill and free sliding of the doors provides comfortable movement for children and the elderly.
• The number of leaves in a sliding structure can vary from one to several. This allows not only to transform the interior, but also to simplify control over the width of the doorway.
• Depending on the interior design, you can choose different materials and finishes for partitions, order a structure according to individual dimensions.

The mechanisms also have negative features:

• The system requires personal space on the sides of the partitions so that the sashes have room to move. It should be borne in mind that if the door is hidden in the wall, load-bearing walls and common with neighbors are not suitable for these purposes. The lack of space for "parking" will not allow the introduction of such a system.
• The price category of doors is an order of magnitude higher than that of standard models.
• The doors move with rollers or rails, making it almost impossible to open silently.

The choice of interior door mechanism and finishing material is individual and depends on personal preferences, apartment layout, future design, and, of course, the material capabilities of the owner.

Wooden sliding doors with carved and forged elements are often used by designers in styles shabby chic and art deco. Rough rough boards are a must-have for a rustic country style. Lovers of oriental motives will love the standard models with a wooden base and rice paper trim. Not without these panels and design rustic and rough loft.

Glass radius samples and sliding doors will harmoniously blend into the classic design of the space or the Art Nouveau style.

Emotional fusion, eclectic fashionable today, flashy kitsch - these styles can afford any door solution, and it will not be bad manners.

For information on how to install a sliding door, see the next video.