Woohoo! Tomorrow marks Simplicity In The South’s one-month-old birthday! Today, I’m bringing you part two of the Small Home/ Big Ideas Series.
I’m sharing budget-friendly ideas to make your small home more functional while adding character in the process.
Back in the day, before Pinterest and Houzz, my main source of house-eye-candy was Decorpad. This is where I discovered that it was possible to convert bifold doors (or louvered doors) to open up like a set of french doors.
Here are the bifold doors to our laundry room that I made into french style doors.
Some might ask, “Why go through the trouble?”
Well, after countless hip bruises from bumping the laundry basket into the door and a couple of pinched toddler fingers, we needed to nix the doors, or change them up.
I chose the latter.
That was back in 2009. So, despite our youngest two active hyperactive boys running in the laundry room to hide and slamming the doors behind them, the doors have held up well. And no pinched fingers…thus far.
But nothing changes the fact that I’m a klutz and may run into doorways at any given moment, but at least I have an extra half-foot of clearance!
I used the original hardware.
At the top of the door, magnet latches help hold the doors shut. You can find these in the knob and hinge section of the home improvement stores.
Since there is an inevitable gap between the doors when they are closed, I had to add a 1″ wide wooden lattice strip along the edge of one of the doors.
This has worked out so well that we decided to do the same for our master bathroom.
We took down the hollow core door and replaced it with a pair of bifold door panels that I found at the Habitat For Humanity. The old hollow core door opened into the bathroom, taking up what little space we have.
It also covered up the mirror that you see on the right side. I use this mirror all the time to see the back of my head when I’m fixing my hair.
Now that I can actually SEE the back of my head when I fix my hair, I can prevent this from happening…
Note to self: Check hair before leaving the house |
The Alfalfa sprout is only cute on Alfalfa.
I’d like to send out a big thank you to Remodelaholic for featuring my laundry room reveal as one of their favorite links from last month’s Laundry and Mudroom Linkup!
Click here to see every post in the small home / BIG IDEAS series!
Tracy
9 Aug 2015What are the two paint colours inside the laundry and out? Love them
Martin Richards
19 Jan 2015Great Idea! I think french door is looking better than bifold doors.
shelby
11 Jan 2015I loved your post…and your keen sense of humor – ” Alfalfa hair”..had me chuckling !! As a creative gal, I am always on the lookout for ideas that I KNOW may seem ” weird’ to some..but I know it can be done! Thanks for showing that it can be done !! Yes, LONG before ” pintrest ” and ‘ houzz’, I have been salvaging furniture , giving it new life and re-purposing things…that was some 30 plus years ago …..and now , it is mainstream…everywhere…its a huge ‘ business’.
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In any case I’ll be subscribing in your feed and I am hoping you write again soon!
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3 Jun 2014Thanks for finally writing about >Convert
Bifold Doors Into French Doors small home/BIG IDEAS <Liked it!
carmon22
22 Apr 2014Portner Furniture specializes in the supplying stylish made to measure sliding wardrobes, doors and bedroom furniture throughout the London, UK.
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Diana Serpa
24 Apr 2013Hi! Just found your blog from Savvy Southern Style’s linky party. I am so impressed and can’t wait to steal some of your ideas!! Do you think that double bi-fold doors would also work as a French-style door? I might just try it. PS I just subscribed to your blog.
Tricia
24 Apr 2013Hi Diana! I’m so glad you found my blog! I’m emailing you right now about the bifold doors to double doors.
Meredith
29 Mar 2013This is a great idea! This has solved my bathroom door dilemma. I had been trying to find a good bathroom folding door, but had my doubts about how much privacy it would provide. I had not thought about this third option!
Leah
3 Jan 2013I seriously need to do this for my pantry door, our kitchen is tiny and I could really use the back of the door for spice storage.
Mel
2 Oct 2012Brilliant! I’m going to have to pin this so I can remember your genius when I get to changing my bi-fold doors into french doors.
Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth
2 Oct 2012Glad I could offer some inspiration! Although I can’t take full credit for the idea, I guess I can take credit for figuring out how to do it and for sharing it!
Andrea at Opulent Cottage
15 Sep 2012Such a great idea! Your blog is lovely, so glad that Brenda found you 🙂
Cheers, Andrea
Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth
15 Sep 2012Thanks! I just pinned your chalkboard tray tutorial on Pinterest. I love it!
Bronwyn
14 Sep 2012Wow! Who would have thought? What a great change for your bathroom.
I found your blog through “Cozy Little House.” I am happy to be your newest follower.
Come visit me over at
http://www.queenbcreativeme.blogspot.com
Bronwyn
Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth
15 Sep 2012Thanks for stopping by! I’m heading your way now!
City Farmhouse
13 Sep 2012Awesome!!!! Great picture:). I can’t even tell you how much I love your blog,you have such unique ideas. Sending you an email tonight,
Jen
Anonymous
13 Sep 2012Such a fabulous idea! I just found your blog and I love it! I’m looking forward to following along. Jana in Texas
Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth
2 Oct 2012Thank you, Jana! And so glad to have you following along!
Martha
12 Sep 2012GREAT idea on the doors and your last comment about your hair cracked me up!!!
Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth
2 Oct 2012Lol! I crack myself up sometimes! I love me some Alfalfa and Darla! Glad you like the doors!