apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Why not remove the door altogether and use a fabric that appeals to you to fashion a curtain?

I have exactly the same problem. These things are all over my apartment.

Yes, curtain rod and curtain. I had the same doors, two of them on a bedroom closet. I took them out, and used those tension curtain rods you can buy at Target or Home Depot or the like, folded over and sewed the hem of an Indian bedcover, and hung it in front of the doors. It looked a million times better and was easier to access the closet compared to the doors.

How about a figurative painting stenciled on it, like Marcel DuChamp's version of the Mona Lisa (Titled "L H O O Q" ) or some other kind of graphic design--maybe something Mondrian-ish?? Paint the outside of the door like a frame...Or if painting is a no-no, how about that electrical tape portrait we saw on this site a few days ago?

Depending on how tightly packed those slats are, maybe you could cut thin mirrored strips and glue to each slat, then silver-leaf paint in between? I hacked an IKEA shoe closet in this way, and it turned out great.

How about French doors with screens instead of glass, and a sheer curtain over it (curtain rods just above/below the glass, and the curtain a little scrunched rather than flat)?

I got rid of most of the doors in both my first and second apts and, where needed, created curtains instead. It really did open up the place and add a great amount of color.

And no sewing needed, just buy the fusible webbing and iron your hems/seams!

Aside from curtains, if you don't use this closet often why not put a shoji screen in there instead?

It looks like you have an industrial style apartment. I'm not convinced that a curtain would look right. Now, I have never done this, but I wonder if you could cut out the portions with the slats (of course sand and paint the raw inside edge) and replace with a modern print fabric. That way, you would have structure, but would be a more modern, interesting entry.

What about taking the doors off completely and fitting a wardrobe into the space? Something as cheap and easy as an ikea wardrobe would look totally built in with a little trim... I recently went to an open house where all of the closets had been redone and it actually looked pretty spectacular. Plus, you can usually get extra shelving, baskets etc. to fit which would really maximize storage.

Do you own or rent?

if you own, remove the slatted panels from the door.

then, replace them with colored lexan that you have drilled full of holes.

Why not try perforated metal or black fabic similar to room and board media cabinets?

http://www.roomandboard.com/images/rnb/asset/room_settings/linear_191832_08e1.jpg

http://www.roomandboard.com/images/rnb/asset/room_settings/linear_191832_07e.jpg

I can't remember where I saw this, but if you like the industrial look I saw somebody use an industrial-style metal roll top door (I guess like you would find in public storage units) It wouldn't be the most practical to roll it up and down if you use that closet a lot, but just an idea!

One of my neighbors bought a beautiful, inexpensive wood screen from CostPlus World Market and added hinges for their closet doors.

If its just a washer and dryer that needs the ventilation, replace the slatted doors with any style door you like (vented or not) and leave a door open when you do laundry.

As for the doors, I would go with something gloss white, similar to the Ikea Lomen or Abstrakt doors.

you could make fabric panels to put over the slatted areas (stretched like you would a painting) and attach to the doors, or buy some of that aluminum perforated sheeting they sell for radiator covers - comes in a variety of patterns - and cut to fit into the slatted areas too - might look cool with the exposed piping I see in the background ceiling.

I don't know if you meant this door or not, the Luna (light air) door:
http://www.seven02design.com/main.html

When you get to that site, you have to use the near bottom scroll area, scroll to right, click on
COCIF Cooperativa
Luna: Light Air Door

We used to have a little closet like this at our old apartment, and we ended up taking the doors off and replacing them with these sliding panels from IKEA:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/range/10374/13289/

Their Kvartal system is basically a track fabric panel. You can get all different colors, styles and materials. We went with a chocolate brown and it was sort of canvas feeling to the touch.

We need something that would ventilate too because our washer/dryer stack, as well as our HVAC unit were all in the closet. It worked out pretty for us!

Chilewich roller shade. http://www.theshadestore.com/product/roller-shade-chilewich?prcid=845346
Just make sure there's more light outside than inside and you won't be able to see the mechanics through it.

Depending on what needs to be ventilated, you might be able to do what we did with our washer/dryer closet: simply put on a regular door (like an interior bedroom painted wooden door) that is solid on the top half, and is ventilated slats on the bottom half. Still some slats to deal with, but a major improvement over what you've got now.

I thought I would share this site that has all kinds of interesting bifold doors. If all you needed was the gap under and around the doors, they might work fine.

AND they would be like having art greeting your guests (and your self):

Art piece pages:
http://www.reliancemetal.com.my/catalog/item.php?id=155

Solid colors:
http://www.reliancemetal.com.my/catalog/item.php?id=337

On the second page of the solid colors, there ARE ones with louvers at the bottom!

Yes, I see they are in Malaysia. But there may well be a company that carries those in the U.S.

I actually really love these doors, they are authentic retro. They look better when the pull is centered horizontally on one of the folding doors. Also, you could replace the wood pull with a real chrome "spotlight" pull, that would give it authentic pizazz and nice hand-feel. Finally, I think that in this spot, you could paint the door the color of the wall rather than the trim. The linearity of the design would still be there, but it wouldn't be so loud. Have you seen some catalogs lately? This type of shutter door is making a big comeback - showing up on all kinds of furniture this season. Consider learning to love it, it's cheaper and environmentally friendly.

I think you just answered your own question! A DIY ventilated door. Just buy a solid interior door (like particleboard with luan-type veneer) and drill some holes in a pattern. I am seeing a nice larger-than-life abstracted vase with several cut flowers in it.

Paint it to match the wall. hang small pieces of art on the slats. I have done something similar with my furnace closet door, which is in my entryway.

I think you would be disappointed with drilling holes thru a hollow-core door. They're called hollow-core for a reason...there's nothing but air inside much of the door, and drilling would be a mess, I would think. Even drilling for a peephole through my "solid" front door revealed layers of plywood (though no air).

If you've got a cushy budget you can design a custom door through Trustile:

http://www.trustile.com/catalog/customdoors/?series=0

I was going to say a similar thing to what AmyRL said. Get an old door, drill/saw in various sized holes. Draw them on with a pencil first to make sure you like the look. And I wouldn't go too terribly big, as then you'll obviously see what the door is supposed to be hiding. But maybe a bunch of smaller holes on the bottom right that kind of float away, like dandelion poofs, like here.