…this comment was on repeat at the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show, reflecting a trend sweeping the nation. Farmers throughout the Midwest are puzzled because this is not new to them. It’s practical, simple and utilitarian. It opens the barn doors; it closes the barn doors. Yawn…
But have you seen it, recently? Unless you are currently without television or an internet connection, you’ve seen this trend at least once. Inspiration photos of barn door hardware have completely infiltrated social media and every DIY and Home Improvement channel.
As an interior designer, I often steer clear of fads and trends; favoring instead unique design concepts that work for my clients and which will stand the test of time. But this is a trend that has legs. Long legs… and lengths, come to think of it. Below are five reasons I’ll be using it in projects now and for years to come:
- Finish selection changes the look dramatically and can make barn door hardware appropriate in a variety of styles; rustic, modern, cottage, loft, ranch, eclectic and contemporary; to name just a few.
- Door selections are unlimited. With thousands of interior doors to choose from your neighbor may have barn door hardware but chances are good they won’t have the same door. Think of all the different wood species, stained, painted, one-panel, five-panel, door thicknesses, reclaimed doors, doors with glass, doors without glass…
- Door swing dilemmas and pocket door issues? Whether to save floor space by eliminating a door swing or working around plumbing or HVAC located in the wall, making a pocket door ineligible; this is a new solution. All that’s required is the width of the door to either the left or the right of the opening. Problem solved!
- Unlimited length, so long as the door doesn’t weigh 400 pounds. In twelve years, I have yet to specify a door that exceeded 400 pounds. With 4’, 5’, 6′, 7’ and 8’ track lengths it’s simple to connect the rails to cover the width of any opening or wall.
- Closets just got cool-er! This hardware is pretty enough to look at, smooth, sturdy, quiet and has bi-pass options; many of them.
Bonus: it’s made in the U.S. of A. (Denver, Colorado)!
-Holly Bayer, ASID