I feel like changing out a door and adding on an ironing board doesn't really qualify as turning this into a "center" Also the before was so much more attractive IMHO. Now it just looks like a cheap closet door.

Looks good, but if you have a gas dryer you need a ventilated door!

I agree with mmclark: hopefully it's not a gas dryer: that may have been the reason for the louvers. If it is gas, you had better get a CO monitor, if you haven't already turned blue and expired: good to have either way.

Aside from that minor matter of life and death, it's interesting: i've been toying with the idea of bifold door instead of my closet doors to make more room in our tiny tiny bedroom: but in this case, you get more utility with a full door. There was another example here recently where someone was able to add storage to her closet by putting a full door in place of a bifold, which made room for shoe organizer that held bunches of stuff. I guess if you want more room in the tiny closet, go with a full door, but if you want more room in the room the doors open into, bifolds might still be the way to go.

Does your ironing board wobble when you iron?

Nice update - Only thing I'd have done differently would be to scribe the top of the door to match the upper doorframe since it's out of square and rather than hook the ironing board over the door, actually get one that attaches to the door with screws so that those clips at the top don't show.

I'm trying to figure out how there's enough space between the hinge-side jam and the machines to get your iron off the wall. *scratches chin*

They replaced one door with another equally unappealing door. Then stuck a stacked washer dryer inside! I would've never thought of that.

"Successful load of laundry", heh. XD

... that reminds me. I need to go sacrifice some quarters to the HE washing machine gods at my local laundromat. >.>

My mom always leaves her laundry door open. Her door opens in and once her washer shimmied forward and blocked her door.
Love your solution.

I have the same over the door ironing board in my bedroom closet. Can you tell me where you got the cute cover for it? I can only find fugly ones.

Looks nice! But I doubt you were "weary" of trying it yourself. Maybe "wary" or "leery"?

I think they changed to a *closet* door so they can hook up the ironing board. But I agree with theweathermanlies, I prefer the previous door...definitely more attractive.

Is this a joke? Please tell me that's not a doorstop sticking out from the frame beside the middle hinge. And what the heck is that horrible seamed wall covering thing below the chair rail? At first I thought it was carpeting, but on closer inspection I don't know what it is. Good lord. And yes, I was wondering about the wobbliness while ironing too.

I don't know about function but i too prefer the look of the first door.

There are some house tours here that I like and some that I don't, but I hope I've never made a comment as bitchy as artfemme11's about somebody's HOME.

If you're worried about wobbliness while ironing, just get one of those rubber wedges they use as door stops. Jam it under the door when you want to use the iron, and the door won't move a millimeter.

If it is a gas dryer, it should still work just fine if you crack open the door a couple inches while using it. In fact, that's not a bad idea if it's an electric either.

Oops, I somehow missed the comment about the window - no need to leave the door cracked open then!

You guys are nuts. The first door looks like a cheap rental apartment. An actual door always looks better than a divider.

The previous door was more attractive, in my opinion, but credit where it's due, the new one is more practical because it will make ironing far less obtrusive. There's no way the ironing board could have been accomodated by the old door.

while the first one is cute, i have a personal distaste for those bifold style doors. i agree with craigslistdecorator that they tend to look a little cheap and flimsy. i know our ugly bifold laundry door didn't last. perhaps there are some cute additions or modifications a person could do to make the area and door not look so stock and bland, but as far as utilizing small space, i think it's keen (after safety has been taken into account.)

I have a similar W/D and find that I have to leave the washer door open for a few hours after using it, to avoid a musty smell. I'm curious whether you end up doing that as well.

Wow, some of you are so picky. Looks like a standard door to me. The old one wasn't very functional, remember? And now they have the ironing board there! Woot!

I envy your having a washer and dryer in your place, but is that model actually meant to be stacked? If I didn't have the button layout memorized, I'm sure I'd have to bust out a footstool. Well, I am short, but still....

I cant really help but wonder how to clean around those machines... it feels like it could be quite a mess?

Also I have never understood the aversion against bi-fold doors, but maybe that is because they are not so common here...

I too, thought the "before" was better, but, hey, not my closet.

Oh, bifold doors! So tacky and so 80s! Aiieee!

To me, the second door is a vast, vast improvement. I think this must be generational: those who didn't live through the popularity-then-waning-then-extreme-unpopularity of a style don't understand the older generation's aversion to the same style.

I cone ripped out a bifold door on a bedroom closet and replaced it with a simple curtain. And considered it a vast improvement.

I removed bi-folds between my small galley kitchen and my small laundry room-pantry, leaving an open archway. Now, the refrigerator door opens fully and the rooms seem less cramped. Also, I may change the hall closets standard doors to bi-folds because standard doors block the narrow hall. The accordion doors I've considered for the hall look too "hospitalish."

I like the fact that you made it work for you, and having a place for the ironing board is a definite plus, but I'd prefer separating the bi-fold doors to create a french door effect with some pretty door knobs. Each side would be hung on hinges on either side of the door frame. I've had a hanging ironing board and had to give it away because I was frustrated that it was so flimsy for ironing.

Since we are about to move from a place with no laundry into a place with laundry, I can appreciate your excitement. I love the ironing board over the door- I may steal that idea! Design should be functional for YOUR home, so if it works, good job!

On the rare occasions that I iron, I put the tabletop ironing board on the dining table.

"Now everything I need for a successful load of laundry is located right inside this closet." Errr. Is an unsuccessful load of washing one that doesn't get ironed?

Not a lot really has to be ironed, so I don't even see the need for a large ironing board any more. I must agree with the others - the new door is a cheap closet door and if the dryer is gas, they need a door that ventilated. Doesn't even seem like the person could even get to the iron with the oversized washer/dryer crammed in.

the bi bold door wasn't amazing but it asn't ugly either. The second door is plain fugly. nothing worse than those cheap hollow core home depot doors that have retained the same look for the past 20 years.

Here's another closet conversion that really makes you want to 'hang' out in it. http://bit.ly/gbYBbr

Really? Are all the catty and negative comments necessary? Would you all please post photos of your home so we can critique your projects and decor? And to macbride, the self-appointed spelling/grammar cop, put your skills to good use and volunteer your time at a local elementary school grading spelling assignments.

To the homeowner, great job on converting the space to something that is more functional for you! I, too, prefer the look of a solid door to a bi-fold.

What is with you guys?? He took a fugly, dated bi-fold *non-functional* door and replaced it with something that serves a dual purpose: to hide his stuff and ironing storage. To me, that's a great DIY.

I replaced a similar bi-fold in my front hall with a neutral curtain. Maneuvering through a crappy bifold door with a laundry basket was a pain. Now everything looks tidy when we have guests, and is accessible when we need it to be

I think this looks much better, and provides more function. I dislike bi-fold doors. I have them for my pantry and for my master bedroom closet, only because they were there already. If this homeowner prefers the look and functionality of a solid door, who are all of you to judge them? This should be a place to applaud people for a job well done, and if you don't agree then just move on. You don't have to live there.

Sorry to have offended you, fondue, but I happen to think language is important. As far as I know, these posters are paid to write. Therefore, I think some editorial standards should apply, including correct spelling and word usage.

Geez, people are cranky. Though I'm fine with macbride being the grammar police. If it was a reader write-in that's one thing, but the author being an actual writer, I think it's appropriate to expect good writing. :)

Nevertheless, I really don't see what the problem is here. Obviously to each his own, but I consider that bifold door to be hideous. It looks midwestern/country to me. I generally dislike bifold doors to begin with even when they're nicer looking, primarily because they make your space harder to maneuver in and they just don't look as clean/streamlined as a solid door. Sure, it's not the prettiest replacement door, but geez...I can't afford to replace all my doors with custom, can everyone else here? I, however, do like the suggestion of having made them french door style, with 2 skinnier doors and some cute handles. That would have made it a little more attractive.

Doors. Wow. Lots of opinions.

I have no strong feelings about either door, both are standard commercial varieties. I have a laundry closet, too, although mine is wide enough for side-by-side machines and deep enough tostand in front of them (just). I have a fold-down ironing board built into the wall. Similar if slightly larger approach. My door is almost identical, and I am quite content!

I would be interested to know what everyone making hostile remarks has in their homes, though. When we built our house a few years ago we were modifying the builder's design, so we only had so many options available. The catalog of doors we were given to choose from included maybe seven different versions of paneled doors -- all very similar. If you don't go with an architect and custom door, there aren't a lot of choices. Most of us live with what is available. I don't see any problem with that, but I also don't know what wonderful doors everyone else seems to have! Do tell!

Both smaller bedrooms had a pair of louvered, sliding closet doors. I replaced them with pairs of louvered, bi-fold doors. They were nothing special, just off the rack at a hardware store. They were better because they allowed full access to the closets' contents. I have no aesthetic problem with standard, bi-fold, or sliding doors. For me, it's more a question of which door style minimizes bottle-necks better in a particular interior location.

I'm curious: As long as you were hanging the door yourselves, did it occur to you to hang it so that it would open in the other direction? It seems that you would have avoided the need for the doorstop to prevent bumping into whatever is there, and then you wouldn't be standing in front of the w/d when you iron. Does something about the layout prevent that?

with the door open, can you get through the hallway? (I'm assuming this is where these are in most Chicago apartments, which is the hallway!)

My home's original bathrooms pocket doors have been very good in addressing tight spaces. I've considered adding pocket doors to open archways elsewhere for acoustic insulation, although they're far from beautiful.

My dream to have ! i hate going to the laundromat :(