Name: Jill
Location: Financial District
Favorite Element: That it was DIY, strengthened my character, and is a space saver
Today, I offer, with outstretched arms, a tour of my bathroom door. I have been building it for a number of weeks and it's finally up and--literally--running, along the wall outside my bathroom.
Comprised of two 1/4" large pieces of plexiglass (frosted on one side and clear on the other), my door is actually a sandwich with art on the inside. The door entrance was widened from the original claustrophobic 26" to a comfortable standard of 30" and the small wooden door that opened into the bathroom and cluttered the existing limited space was removed. I wanted to let light into the bathroom so I used plexi. I wanted to eliminate this remaining door in my home so I built a sliding door.
Do you have an idea for a house tour? Let me know! jill@apartmenttherapy.com
The inside of the sandwich is sewing trim ribbon hand sewn onto white netting fabric--the stuff that was used to make a 1950's poodle skirt's crinoline. The two plexis (with frosted side out) are held together with 'sex screws' and the entire ensemble hangs on sliders that run across a track attached to my ceiling with some serious anchors. There are rubber stops at each end to prevent over-enthused sliding action.
There are many steps to this ordeal, but if you have the right tools and a vision, it really isn't all that difficult.
I rejoice daily in the fact that the door provides visual privacy, retains heat inside the bathroom, and hasn't yet fallen down. Some future efforts include adding the doorway threshold and the trim along the door frame. In all, it fulfilled my desire to create art towards functional ends, and upped my drilling skills by 125%.
Originally Posted May 5th, 2005--Jill
this is Incredibly Cool. I need to make doors like these for my closet. Thank you so much for telling how you made them!
That is pretty darn cool JS! Way to go for taking on such a unique project and following through so successfully. Thanks for sharing.
Hi - where did you get the materials for this? I am particularily interested in the slide and in the "sex screws".
Thanks,
Jon
The track is and the wheels for the track are from Design Source on the Bowery. The 'sex screws' are from my favorite hardware store, Sid's, on Jay Street (Borough Hall--downtown Brooklyn).
Love those ziggy Jill-green ribbons. I've been thinking about doing something similar to the pocket door to my currently pepto-bismol pink bathroom. I have always thought that I'd need plenty of expert (and expensive) help but thank you to Jill, for showing the way.
I was 'over-enthused' when I saw the steel mounts above...and I love the sandwich design. Is it connected at the bottom to as well??
The bottom is not connected to anything but will have guides on each side of the doorway to keep it in line.
Plexiglass is definitely the new plexiglass. After years of working with the stuff (hating it) building exhibitions with it, calling it "chintzy sh--", I have finally turned a corner. Last week I completed a bird cage with a front mostly of 1/8inch plexi. Does anyone know where I can get a lucite dining room table?
I love the dramatic impact that light plays on your door and the photos really bring that to life. GREAT JOB
We might want to feature you on HGTV for a new show called Look What I Did!
Please call me!
Thank you,
Trisha Reece
818-755-4800 x.261
pls send me trisha bathroom cliping
thankyou for sharing you video
hot hot hot
perfect timing! making a sliding door is on my to-do list for the upcoming weekend. thanks so much for providing this information. it looks great!
you know, reading the article i really thought i'd hate this. i get very tired of those HGTV inspired 'home art project' ideas that always end up looking like something you'd buy at pier 1 and ARE NO SUBSTITUTE for real art.
but this is refreshingly different from all that stuff. it doesn't look so much like fake wannabe art as just an interesting design and a great solution. the ribbons are fantastic because when the light is coming through the plexi the lines and negative space are beautiful, and when the lighting is more natural you can really see the colors, which are lovely. this project succeeds in every way -- it's functional, saves space, and genuinely looks good without being fussy or too HGTV. brava Jill!
fantastic door! have been trying to accomplish something similar, but am bedeviled by the hardware. i see that you got the track system from design source -- can you tell me the maker (since i'm sadly not in nyc)? also, did you have baseboards that had to be removed in order to allow the door to go to the floor (and slide across)?
Brilliant! Reminds me of the plexi used in Russel Wright's home (Dragon Rock) which has butterflies embedded (click name for link -- see Annie in her Bath)
I loved it the first time, and I still do. Glad to hear that it is still working out for you.
Is it fairly airtight and soundproof? Privacy is particularly important in the case of a lavatory.
I'm guessing Jill lives alone -- that's certainly the only way I'd feel secure putting in a translucent bathroom door. As far as air - that's a good point. Nothing like filling the bathroom with hot water and steam to warm up on a cold winter night. My current bathroom is a bit over-ventilated and i can never get that important steamy effect when i want it.
I love this and have wanted to do something like this in my apartment to separate the bedrooms from the rest of the apartment. Can you share where you got the materials. Thanks!
Jill, very ingenious!! like martha I would love to make closet doors out of plexi. Where did you get it and do you think I could make folding doors with accordian hinges? my bedroom is small.