Do you live in a home that’s a little tight, compartmentalized and short on floor space?

Compared to an open and more free flowing floor plan, compartmentalized homes tend to have a myriad of doors that swing in to one space and out from another – wasting some valuable floor space.  Typically a standard door occupies anywhere from 7.5 – 9 square feet of floor space – and upwards of 18 square feet of clearance needed for a French door application.  Door swings can inhibit traffic flow and often times impede on the placement of furniture.

Don’t get me wrong. Privacy is a necessity – particularly in bedrooms – baths – and offices.  Incorporating pocket doors into your plans would do the trick, but some demo and construction is required to re-frame of a portion of the wall to accommodate the concealed pocket door itself.

Sliding doors or barn doors are a great way to grab some extra square footage, and at the same time instantly infuse character into your home.  No construction is necessary. They are hung on a surface mounted rail system above the original opening (can be exposed or concealed behind a valence) and slides to one side leaving the entryway free and clear.   The best part is it’s only a few inches thick and every inch counts.

You may even want to take the time to enlarge the opening of your space slightly to improve traffic flow and increase the convenience from room to room – as the doors can be manufactured in custom sizes.

These sliders can be re-claimed, rustic, contemporary or custom.  They can be installed in hallways, kitchens, baths, family rooms, bedrooms and closets – anywhere!

Create a beautiful detail and focal point to your space.

Here are just a few fabulous ideas.

These custom floor-ceiling sliding doors cleverly conceal the washer and dryer in the kitchen.  They provide such great texture to this space.

With two different entry points into this sunken living room space, the barn doors close off the corner in a very clean and unobtrusive way.  Doors swinging into the space would be very inefficient – particularly when floating off the floor.  A great solution!

This reclaimed door closing off the pantry in this kitchen is a perfect example of infusing “instant” character into a space!  Particularly with the chalkboard painted walls.  How fun.

A more contemporary door design in a loft-like space provides an interesting juxtaposition between the materials.  A crisp and clean finish – don’t you think?

This serene bedroom utilizes the sliding louvered doors to create a sense of separation and privacy between the sleep and lounge area of the space and conceals the rail system beneath a custom valence.

How great is this?  This antique barn door has found the perfect place to rest – transitioning the bedroom to the bath.

What do you think?

Stay Inspired!

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

As an Architectural Interior Designer keeping abreast of the new trends, materials and products entering the marketplace, keeps me inspired on a daily basis. One of my favorite materials to incorporate into my designs is glass.  The reflective features of glass will expand your space, refract light, and blurs the line between your home and its natural environment.

On large renovation projects, I love to expand the existing space by adding window-walled rooms.  Glass doors (French, retractable or pockets), floor to ceiling windows and skylights integrate the interior with the exterior, flood these spaces with natural light and heal the senses.  It immediately transforms a space and changes your relationship with the natural world.

If you’re in the midst of redesigning your kitchen or bath, rather than specifying the usual “builder special” granite or stone countertops, why not combine function with beauty and design a unique and stunning glass countertop.  Like any other material, you can customize the piece to suit your needs by selecting the texture, color and finish and edging to provide you with a one of a kind art piece.

Glass countertops are:

• As durable as common natural stone.
• Non-porous and impermeable, which makes it the most hygienic countertop material available for kitchens.
• Are naturally heat resistant and can withstand high heat without cracking or scorching the material.
• Stain proof.
• When textured on the underside will camouflage fingerprints and any fine scratches.
• Very simple to maintain and keep clean.
• Can be lit at the edges to create a floating sensation and are spectacular in powder rooms.

If a glass countertop isn’t for you, consider introducing a glass backsplash in your kitchen or bath – available in tiles, sheets or custom panels.  And to complete your project install hand-blown art glass door knobs and pulls for that extra touch of glass. Set your home apart from the rest.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Brown Residence, Week 15

Whether you’re planning to renovate your two-story home, adding on a second floor or just revamping your main floor entrance/foyer, your staircase becomes the focal point and a main architectural feature of the space it occupies.

While planning the Brown’s renovation and addition, it becomes clear that the run, shape, style and details of the staircase, is incredibly important to the overall style of their home.  While access to the second floor’s master suite is not accessible from the main entry – but off the children’s lounge – it  will act as a focal point, invite us up to the master suite and highlight the space it occupies. The main objective here is to incorporate Liz’s storage needs beneath the stairs, and customize the design to reflect the true style of their home.

Before you begin styling your stairs you first need to determine the run or stair type that best fits into your floor plan.  And ask yourself – how much space you have to work with?

Typically there are 5 Stair Types to consider when planning or renovating your home.

Which type fits your home best?

1.  Straight Run Stair:

Straight run stairs are typically used in new home construction where space is at a premium and budget a consideration.  There are no turns or landings on this stair type as the name implies.

2.  L-Shaped Stair:

The L-shaped stair has a 90-degree turn at the landing.  Depending on the space you’re working with, this shape could use long or short legs, and occupies about the same amount of space as a curved staircase.  A variation of this type is the L-Shape with winders which when short on space takes the typical landing area and adds angled treads to ascend in a shorter run.  (Make sure these winders comply with local building codes).

3.   U-Shaped Stair:

Either a wide or narrow U-Shape can be designed for your space.  As the stairs ascend, they switch back from the landing headed in the direction of the run below.  This stair design is quite useful in tighter floor plans and can be stacked for multi-level structures.

4.  Spiral Stair:

Everyone loves a spiral staircase – and at its best – it occupies a minimal amount of space.  The treads radiate out from a center pole, with a curving center support and are often used as a secondary stair in a family home. If you’re space is limited, position the spiral in the corner of your room and reserve it for low-traffic areas.  Since each tread is tapered, it makes climbing a bit tricky.

5.  Curved stair:

The curved stair or winder can be contoured in multiple shapes, and ascends in a broader curve from level to level.  It typically has a more open center diameter than the spiral stair. Therefore the treads are more generously dimensioned and proportioned qualifying it to serve as your home’s main staircase.  This type of design is spectacular free standing on its own – or nestled in to a curved wall.

These are just a few of basics.  Keep in mind that each and every one of these 5 stair types can be customized and modified to fit right into your home’s personality.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Whether you’re renovating, remodeling or re-decorating your home, sometimes the toughest part is actually taking that first step and coming up with a concept or idea – that suits you and the way your family lives.  When you draw a blank, consult with the experts for inspiration.  By that I mean the dozens of design magazines out there on the market today that can help you with your design dilemma.

More often than not I’ve heard clients say, “I know what I don’t like”. So, now begins your quest to search for some kind of inspiration – something that speaks to you, and trust me you’ll start to see a pattern of what you do like emerge.

Do you gravitate toward French provincial or Country Chic? Maybe you’re the type who favors modernism or an eclectic feel to your home.  Whatever your tastes, there is definitely a magazine out there for you to get you headed in the right direction. But, remember a few things when choosing a magazine for inspiration.

1. Choose a publication that reflects your style and budget.  Some of the very high-end magazines depict very high-end concepts, materials and furnishings.  You may not be able to replicate exactly what you see on those pages, but why not take away some great inspirational ideas and make them your own.
2. If your home is large and spacious, flipping through a magazine that features small space solutions will not be the right publication for you.  The same applies for smaller spaces.  It helps to know what framework you’re working within.
3. Choose the design style you’re most drawn to, or at least one that reflects the architecture of your home, then select the magazines based on that similarity.
4. Don’t judge a magazine by its cover.  That image is on a front page for a reason – to catch your eye and sell the issue.  What you’re interested in is also the content on the inside.  Does this issue offer you insightful and helpful articles that will help you with your design projects?  Are there resource lists or how-to articles to get you started?  That’s what you want to look for – not only the pretty pictures.
5. Which rooms or spaces are you redecorating or renovating?  There are space specific design magazines out there targeting different rooms throughout the home.  Obviously you’ll find more specific information on Kitchens and Baths special interest publications, than you would in a Metropolitan Home issue.
6. Finally look online!  There are online resources that you can easily save, link and bookmark for later.

Inspiration is endless – and magazines are a great place to start – you just need to know where to look.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca.
© 2009 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc