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Sun, Nov 18, 12 at 20:59
| My office is quite small. 6'9"x18'. I have an access door on one end for attic access and it sticks out like a sore thumb. How can I soften it and blend it in to the decor? White frames around it? Shelves? Bookcase to the one side of it? I'm at a loss..... |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by lukkiirish (My Page) on Sun, Nov 18, 12 at 21:11
| I wouldn't necessarily call the door an eyesore. I'd just treat it like any other door and decorate around it with some artwork. |
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- Posted by palimpsest (My Page) on Sun, Nov 18, 12 at 21:41
| You could paint it out the wall color. |
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| How big is the door? it is hard to tell from the picture. |
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- Posted by AnnieDeighnaugh (My Page) on Sun, Nov 18, 12 at 22:06
| I would go further than paint it out....I'd get rid of the molding around the door and replace the door with a flat panel and replace the knob with a push latch. You could fix the base molding by replacing the areas that were cut in. Then the door will essentially disappear. |
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| Ok, here's the problem. My hubby renovated the room just in the past few months so I have to live with the door, the trim and the white paint. Gmp3- the door is probably 3'x18"? |
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| I think either a modern style framed leaning floor mirror, or a similar sized large framed bulletin board or fabric covered ribbon criss cross memo board would work great. Just easily move out of the way when access is needed. |
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| I like Julie's idea. Something decorative and temporary would be great. The door sounds like the one Cousin It from the Adams family used! |
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| How about using a folding decorative screen at that end of the room? I bought one once very inexpensively at Ross or Marshall's, and I'm sure other places have them. Funny that I bought mine to hide a small door also located in an office study, and the door was to access storage under our stairs. The folding screen I found was metal scroll design--so was not solid, but I happened to find some linen-like fabric that was the exact color of our walls and put that fabric on the back side of the screen. The scroll work looked open so it actually created the illusion that you could see through it and there was nothing behind it, but it hid the door perfectly. |
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- Posted by AnnieDeighnaugh (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 7:40
| A large fabric wall hanging or decorative carpet. When I see that door, I keep expecting a hobbit or a munchkin to emerge!  |
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| A small rolling cart or file cabinet would disquise the door and give you extra storage at the same time. |
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- Posted by palimpsest (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 8:46
| Before: After: I would have customized the height up to the ceiling but the client was happy enough with the standard height. |
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- Posted by matildajane (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 9:13
| How about placing a white bookcase with minimum height casters in front of the door? (You could apply trim at the bottom of the bookcase if the casters raise the unit higher than you want.) What home office can't use a bookcase? Your door knob will probably have to be replaced with something like this, as you'll want minimal protrusion. Now we're talkin' practical camouflage! |
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| I have the same problem - but, mine is in the upstairs bedroom. Palim was lucky as her's is at a corner so the folding screen works perfect. Yes Pali, I would have had it a bit taller too. Mine is in the fricken middle of the wall- I was thinking about putting up a large heavy picture and then a chest underneath mine - but, the room really isn't large enough. I've looked at screens and the standard heights aren't tall enough. I still don't know what I'm going to do with mine - but, I'm tossing around putting a large mural on it - maybe one that looks like it's a view to the outdoors or just having a custom screen made. The poor room has too many doors for it's size. |
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- Posted by bronwynsmom (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 10:19
| I like the folding screen idea - I think it only sticks out because there is nothing else on the wall. I'd consider filling the wall with a gallery assortment of pictures, a mirror, and a bulletin board, and then you might find that the problem is solved. If you have to keep rolling things away from the door, it could quickly become annoying. |
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- Posted by grandmaof3 (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 14:11
| I would put a small bookcase on rollers. That would hide the door (may have to change the knob for a smaller one) and treat the wall as any other....picture over the bookcase, pretty books and knick-knacks in the bookcase. Can be rolled out of the way when you need to get to the attic. |
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| I like the gallery wall idea and if you put a large print/poster in the center of the door and surround it with other prints with wide white frames I think the door will disappear. |
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- Posted by cliff_and_joann (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 14:26
| I love that little door and think it's charming. I would make a little sign that says 'Hobbit House' ... really. You could make a decorative mantle top for the door and another idea is make a bookshelf on both sides ( the right side looks Like I said, it's unique and charming, look to enhance that sweet little |
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| I've turned the picture so that it's easier to see. |
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| Thanks for all the really neat ides! I'll post a pic when I get it done! |
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- Posted by jterrilynn (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 14:47
You could put some sort of wall mural on that end wall. With this one I would hand paint a few wisps of the plants across the door and call it a day.  |
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- Posted by cearbhaill (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 16:36
| I'd do an Alice In Wonderland theme around it. Like a great tall table with a bottle labeled "Drink Me" and a pair of white gloves. |
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- Posted by jterrilynn (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 17:04
| How about Alice at the beach lol? This is not easy on the computer but you could paint the door into the mural.
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- Posted by matildajane (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 17:44
| With all due respect, it's just plain silly to do anything to enhance or lightly camouflage the access door to the attic. Since the door is rarely used, it should be totally blocked from view. A cabinet, bookcase or small armoire on casters or sliders would achieve that while providing storage space. |
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- Posted by jterrilynn (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 18:19
| It doesn't look like there is enough room for a cabinet, bookcase or small armoire. Unless...can the desk be moved further back? |
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| Between the wall and edge of the desk there is 3'3". The door actually measures 4'3"x 2"6' The theme of the office is Hollywood glamour. The walls are Tiffaney Blue, shiny white furniture, maybe a zebra print throw rug and a crystal chandelier. I found this cart that also comes in what looks to be a Tiffany blue color. Perhaps this in front of it with a plant? |
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| Here's the other one |
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- Posted by AnnieDeighnaugh (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 20:01
| Hollywood glam to me says folding screen covered in a sumptuous fabric or large mirror leaning against the wall. |
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| I do like the idea of a leaning mirror there. My only concern is that I have 2 small children and the thought of them running in and knocking it over frightens me. So...perhaps I should go with a leaning bulletin board with a frame around it? |
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| What about turning the desk so the door is behind it and then doing the gallery wall as others have suggested? Something like this:
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| I would just change the door knob, it is the "focus" of that door if you ask me. How often do you have to use the door? |
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- Posted by jterrilynn (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 22:24
| Oh Hollywood glamour! I like geokids picture above. |
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- Posted by AnnieDeighnaugh (My Page) on Tue, Nov 20, 12 at 7:54
| Yes at the very least, change the door knob to something flat...then whatever you put there will sit easier. You could make a nice sized quilted bulletin board where you take the board, wrap in batting then cover in fabric and staple to the back of the frame. Then add ribbons to hold items. It would certainly make for a softer landing if a kid flies into it.... |
Here is a link that might be useful: How to padded Bboard
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- Posted by lazygardens (My Page) on Tue, Nov 20, 12 at 12:44
| If you have any wall paint left the quick fix is to paint straight across the door and woodwork with that color, leaving the white trim at the bottom so it looks like baseboard. Then decorate that wall with some art and stuff., perhaps putting one of more items on the door, as if it were just part of the wall. A more elaborate fix would be wainscoting |
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| Thanks for the suggestions. Re-painting it really isn't an option so I think either working it into the decor or a bulletin board in front are my options. I do love the picture that geokid posted, I'll have to play with turning the desk. May be too big. |
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| Is the desk one piece or two? Can it be reconfigured? If not, then I would keep it the same orientation but move it so that it is against the right wall in the photo. The short arm of the desk will be between the small door and anyone entering the room. When you are at the desk, your body will cover it up. And that gallery wall fits in perfectly with your theme. |
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- Posted by fav.auntx2 (My Page) on Fri, Nov 23, 12 at 21:57
| check at your hardware store. There is leaning mirror hardware available to anchor the mirror to the wall while still allowing it to lean. Then the kiddos will have to try really hard to knock it over! |
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| I think the door stands out so much because there isn't much else in the room yet. Your eye is immediately drawn to the white door. Is the regular door into the room painted the same white? Does it stand out as much as this door? My suggestion would be to finish furnishing the room before you decide on what to do with the door. Put in an area rug and window treatments. "Furnish" your desk with a desk lamp, your computer, a glam blotter and in/out trays or the like. Add a reading chair or small loveseat and a floor lamp and some bookshelves. Put some artwork up on the other walls. Then see how much the door bothers you. You might not notice it nearly as much as you do now. You also need to take into consideration how often you use the door. If you use it weekly, say, you will want the simplest and easiest to move solution. If you only use the space for holiday decorations, you can go with the more awkward, heavy, hard to move solutions. If you use the space a lot, you will get tired of moving things back and forth in front of the door very quickly. |
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