Rarely does a kitchen exist without doors. Indeed, in an open space, steam and odors arising during the cooking process scatter throughout the apartment and are “absorbed” into upholstered furniture, carpets and curtains.
The problem is that most kitchens are not very large in size. If the battle is for every centimeter of usable space, there is simply nowhere to install the usual swing door, and you need to divide the space. In this case, the best solution would be sliding doors to the kitchen.
About the need for a door to the kitchen
An aesthetic and practical solution for a small apartment
Sliding doors to the kitchen are not a luxury, but a very functional element of the interior. They perform the main task: they do not release moisture, steam, or odors outside the kitchen, which cannot be avoided during the cooking process even in the presence of a good hood (and even more so in the absence of one). If the opening is not closed by a door, then the inevitable happens: carpets, curtains, wallpaper, upholstery of upholstered furniture become saturated with foreign aromas.
Sliding model in Khrushchev
Common mistakes
If the door is chosen incorrectly or errors are made during its installation, then it ceases to fully perform its functions and brings more problems than benefits.
Here are the main points that should not be allowed.
- The design was poorly chosen. Double-leaf or rotary doors in a narrow opening are impractical, and hinged doors are contraindicated in small kitchens.
- It closes loosely and loosely. This happens due to a mismatch between the dimensions of the door leaf and frame, deformation of the frame, sagging hinges, or installation errors.
- It slams noisily. The problem often arises due to improper installation of fittings. High-quality doors with seals and closers do not have such problems.
- It's skewed. A product made of natural wood must be pre-dried so as not to deform over time.
- The features of the room are not taken into account. The kitchen is humid, and, therefore, the coating must ensure the moisture resistance of the canvas.
- The design is not consistent with other interior doors in the house. They must be in the same style and have the same material.
Advantages of sliding systems
In addition to the most obvious advantage of gaining space, sliding systems also have other positive features. First of all, they are compact, that is, they do not require additional space for opening/closing. To operate the sash, a narrow strip of only 6-10 cm wide is allocated along the wall.
This is what the floor guide looks like
The usual width of the opening in the kitchen in typical apartments is 70 cm. After installing a swing-type door structure, the clear opening narrows to 63-65 cm. Bringing popular household appliances inside the kitchen becomes a difficult task; a refrigerator or stove may not fit at all. Installing a sliding door allows you to leave the opening without changing the dimensions or even expand it slightly.
Option for finishing the opening under the sliding door
A variety of custom designs is more appropriate than ever in this case. The door can be decorated with a mirror panel, adding light to the room, or made of plastic, solid or with a transparent insert. There are no restrictions, so it’s easy to allow yourself any sophistication of your imagination.
It’s not even immediately clear that this tree is a door
Kitchen wall cabinets with sliding doors
In the classic design, it is quite difficult to imagine wall kitchen cabinets equipped not with hinged or lifting doors, but with sliding doors. After all, any sliding system limits access to the internal contents exactly by the width of the door. And the kitchen wall cabinets themselves are small.
It’s another matter if you combine a number of separate cabinets into a single module. Then the sliding doors of the compartment will not prevent you from getting inside. One flap covers the entire section, and you can store kitchen utensils of any size in it.
The design of the kitchen cabinets itself is also attractive. Sliding doors made of frosted, transparent glass and glossy plastic look especially impressive.
The minimalist design style also implies restraint in the color scheme. Although bright accents can also be appropriate with the right approach.
Flaws
Many people are afraid of the relatively high cost of a retractable door. On average, prices are at least 30% higher than for a swing model of similar size and material. It is important to immediately take this point into account when planning your renovation budget.
Among other disadvantages it is worth noting:
- There remains a gap of at least 1 cm between the wall and the door. Since there is no ideal tight fit, odors, gas and sounds from the kitchen will inevitably penetrate into the apartment.
- The weight of the door rests entirely on the wall, so partitions made of plasterboard (the kind that appear after redevelopment in a studio apartment) will require the installation of a reinforced aluminum frame. This will be quite expensive.
- Not all, but some models require a bottom rail on the floor of the room. Dust and debris “like” to get stuck in this rail. For fans of hygienic cleanliness, doors have been created with only one top rail (it’s even easier to install).
- If you want to put a lock on the kitchen door, then a regular one will not work. As a rule, hooks, chains or similar structures are attached to sliding sashes. It will be extremely difficult to put anything on the glass.
Latch design for sliding sash
Partition design
Sliding partitions are gaining popularity every year. In interiors, options that resemble window frames are often used. Light partitions equipped with wooden slats are suitable for Scandinavian interiors. With minimalism, matte or smooth glossy panels are used without any additional decor. Such partitions are made according to an individual project, taking into account client requests, on the website https://rialpro-msk.ru/. Now everyone can turn their design ideas into reality. Loyal prices, prompt completion of the task and professional service are guaranteed.
Types of sliding systems
The most popular type is a sliding door to the kitchen. These are the ones that are usually bought for a small apartment. One or two doors move on one or two rails that are attached to the floor and wall. But there are other models:
- Cassette - the sash slides into the wall, in which a special cage is mounted for this purpose. The design is complex and expensive, but easy to use.
- Cascade - special structures designed for installation where the thickness of the walls to the right and left of the opening is different.
- Intra-opening - consist of two doors that move freely along guides, but only inside the opening. As a result, at least half of the opening is always blocked. This option is for very wide openings, for example, in studios.
Cassette door
Glass
Most often, the guides are fixed only in the upper part of the opening, so as not to violate the integrity of the floor.
Door with glass between kitchen and hallway
Glass sliding partition
Glass partition with a pattern.
Sliding curtains with decorative patterns
White sliding doors to the kitchen
The classic door opens into the space between the refrigerator and the wall - ideal for a small kitchen.
The modern model moves along the wall, providing access to the kitchen preparation area.
Is such a mechanism convenient?
This question is individual for everyone. Among the possible disadvantages, it is necessary to note the throughput of such models - the smell and noise from the kitchen cannot be hidden. If this point is not important, then the operational characteristics of the system will only please you.
Source
Sliding door selection criteria
In order to successfully purchase and install sliding doors for the kitchen, it is important to initially determine their main characteristics:
- Type of sliding system. It depends on this what exactly needs to be added for this model: one or two rails, an internal frame in the opening, etc. Typically, the installation of the fastening system is coordinated with the weight of the sash, since the buyer is interested in the longest service life of the doors.
- Manufacturer. Imported models supplied from Italy or Germany are distinguished by their exquisite design, durability, reliability, reliability, and a wide selection of colors and sizes. There is only one drawback - the high price. Products from China are much more affordable, but their service life is shorter. An intermediate position is occupied by brands from Russia, offering a fairly wide range.
- Material. It affects not only the price, but also the weight and service life of the product. It's not worth saving too much. A cheap design will not last long, and since each family member enters the kitchen more than once a day, this fact must be taken into account.
- Accessories. These are not only hinges and guide rails, rollers, but also handles, latches, and decorative elements. When purchasing them, it is important to look not only at the color and shape, but also at the design, since not every model is suitable for sliding doors.
Internal door
Duo kitchen wardrobe: overview of possible options with photos
Sliding mechanisms are used to equip facades on cabinets for various purposes. Basically, where appropriate, their main advantage is the opening of the doors in the same plane, without going “outside”. The design component also plays an important role. As a kitchen, wardrobes are still a rarity, since the fronts of the cabinets are not voluminous enough to use sliding systems. But, nevertheless, sometimes they turn out to be just right.
Material for the manufacture of sliding systems
Among the most popular materials for the manufacture of sliding doors, it is worth noting the following:
- Chipboard or laminated chipboard. The most affordable option. Its drawback is its short service life. On average, after a year (in very neat families - after two), chips, cracks, scratches, and abrasions appear on the sash. It makes sense to install such a door only as a temporary one, in order to later replace it with a more durable one.
- MDF. Eco-friendly and durable material has inexhaustible possibilities for decoration. The design can use lamination, patination, insertion of glass or mirror elements, milling, etc. Such models look stylish, are affordable, and last a long time.
- Glass. Nothing prevents the sash from being made entirely of glass. Fittings for such solutions are available in a wide range, so if desired, such kitchen decoration can be ordered without any problems. There are many possibilities for decoration: stained glass, alternating shades, sandblasting, photo printing, etc. The advantage of glass is its ability to transmit light, which is always very important in any home.
- Metal. It is used less often, but creates a very special atmosphere. The door can be made of a single sheet of stainless steel, composed of forged elements, assembled from an aluminum profile, etc. The price of such a model will be high, but its service life is practically unlimited.
- Tree. Solid wood doors look presentable and expensive. Such a door has only two flaws - high price and considerable weight. Both can be circumvented: choose an available type of wood and reduce the thickness of the sash to a minimum. Sliding wooden doors have an important advantage - they can always be repainted and restored.
Wood never goes out of style
Drawing design
Regardless of the material of the doors, the presence of glass inserts in the canvas and other parameters, an image can be applied to each surface, which will undoubtedly emphasize the individual taste of the owner:
- A popular solution in recent years has been applying photo printing to the surface of the doors. The image can be panoramic or individual, on each section of the “book”. When printing, an offset plotter is used, which maintains the resolution and quality of every detail, regardless of file scaling.
Folding design with photo printing
- When using glass or a mirror insert on sections, the owner of the room can choose a product with a pattern applied by sandblasting or laser engraving. This method of applying an image is the most reliable and durable.
Foldable design with laser engraved glass insert
- In a children's room, or in a room with creative decoration, hand-drawn images with animated characters are often used, or decorated in accordance with the general style of the room. Such pictures are applied to the surface of the product in the same way as photo printing.
Folding canvas with animated children's image
When choosing a drawing or photograph, you should take into account that folding doors are installed in rooms once, with the expectation of many years of use. The image should be selected in such a way that it does not go out of fashion, lose relevance or become boring after a few years.
What interior style does a sliding door suit?
What’s especially pleasing is that sliding kitchen doors are easy to match to any style. This design looks very interesting in combination with popular country or modern styles, and with a successful selection of materials it is easy to give the interior the sound of Asia or the Mediterranean. There is only one limitation - the financial capabilities of the buyer.
An example of country style design
Getting around such a difficult obstacle as the inability to install a swing door in the kitchen is quite simple. You can use a sliding door; fortunately, the variety of models will impress the most discerning buyer. And if you don’t find a suitable model, you can always use the services of an atelier and make an individual order.
Features of selecting kitchen doors
The main thing when looking for a kitchen door is susceptibility to deformation from moisture or temperature changes.
In a small room, kitchen doors are located close to hot and cold steam, splashes of grease and various foods, which will then need to be washed with water. Therefore, its resistance to these negative factors is necessary. For example, a laminated canvas or lined with eco-veneer may be suitable.
Since eco-veneer is natural wood (and it can be deformed), you can choose an artificial material. It is easier to care for - you can wipe it with a water-alcohol solution or a soft damp sponge.
In spacious rooms, where the cooking area is 2-3 m from the doorway, you can choose any material.
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Such different doors...
Currently, there are a huge number of companies producing interior doors. Therefore, the choice should always be made according to several criteria at once. The very first criterion that comes to mind is the type of door opening.
There are a surprising number of these types, but here are the main ones:
- swing;
- sliding;
- tilt and turn
- folding;
However, it's a difficult choice. In fact, it depends on many factors: the room itself, the location of the door, design, or the banal desire of the owner of the house.
