When the kitchen cannot be closed with a door due to its absence, various inconveniences appear. They are expressed in the spread of cooking odors throughout the apartment. And those housewives who love to bake cannot heat the room to the required temperature for the dough to rise. In rooms where the cooking area is combined with the living room, sliding doors to the kitchen simply suggest themselves. In addition to the practical side, they will also solve many aesthetic problems.
Types of sliding doors
The entire rich range of retractable doors can be divided according to three criteria:
- presence of bottom guide: without bottom rail. The entire weight of the structure rests on the wall, leaving the floor smooth and without a threshold. Such models require reliable fastening to a wall made of durable material (concrete, brick, etc.);
- with bottom rail. More reliable, but less practical models. The weight of the structure is partially transferred from the wall to the floor, which allows them to be mounted even on plasterboard partitions (additionally reinforced with aluminum profiles). But the presence of the lower guide visually spoils the interior and adds difficulties during the cleaning process (dust and dirt get clogged into the grooves very actively);
- partitions. They are made by analogy with wardrobe doors. The frame of aluminum profiles is filled with glass, chipboard, MDF, or similar materials. Such doors are quite thin and airy. The design is lightweight and has almost no restrictions on overall dimensions, but has lower noise insulation rates;
doors. Ordinary door leaves are used as leaves, which are attached to guides. The design turns out to be more massive and solid, but has a number of restrictions on dimensions;
- sliding The doors slide along guides and slide to the side along the wall (or hide in a special niche);
In addition to functional differences. There is a great variety of design solutions. Depending on the style of the apartment, sliding interior doors can be made from both artificial and natural materials.
Varieties
Decorating kitchens with sliding wardrobes is a rare phenomenon. That is why there are very few ready-made options on the consumer market. Users who equip their kitchen area with such a product often order furniture according to individual drawings with a clearly selected design. Kitchen cabinets with sliding doors can be divided into 2 types:
- built-in - such models are most optimal for placement in large kitchens. Having a free niche, you can easily fit the cabinet into the room. The model has advantages, including huge capacity, a variety of internal contents, and the ability to use the product as a storage room. The user himself decides how high the shelves will be, how many drawers are needed to place utensils, and whether hooks are needed. Sliding doors in this design are mounted at the end of the wall and ride on roller guides located on the floor;
- cabinet - a stationary sliding wardrobe is suitable for small-sized kitchens. Its dimensions can also vary according to the preferences of the owners, however, it is much easier to find such a ready-made model than a built-in one. The contents of this option usually contain shallow shelves and a small number of drawers.
According to the shape, cabinet models are angular and rectangular. The first option is appropriate in the case of a free unused corner in the kitchen. The interior of such a cabinet is spacious, but it is inconvenient to place dishes here.
Built-in
Hull
Pros and cons of sliding doors
The main advantage of sliding doors when separating the kitchen and living room is the freeing up of additional space. There is no need to allocate part of the room for opening the doors, allowing for functional use of the usable area.
Another advantage is the fact that such a partition allows you not only to isolate the kitchen from the living room, but also, if necessary, to combine them into one continuous room, which cannot be done when installing standard swing doors.
The main disadvantage of sliding partitions between the kitchen and living room is their price. Such structures can only be installed using high-quality fittings, and their cost is quite high.
It is also worth considering that it will not be possible to properly isolate the kitchen from the living room in a studio apartment with a sliding partition. There will be a technological gap around the perimeter of the sashes, which is necessary for the free movement of the sashes. Through this gap, some of the smells and sounds will penetrate into the living room.
Considering all the pros and cons of such doors, we can highlight five cases in which their use would be most appropriate.
Bar counter as a partition between the kitchen and living room
Zoning the kitchen and living room using a bar counter appeared in Russia only at the beginning of the two thousandth. In the USA, where the design idea originated, the peak of popularity of this division of the room occurred in the nineties. To create the interior of a room divided into parts, use:
- Full metal bar. Such models are more expensive, but their service life is many times longer. Ease of care and universal design have ensured the popularity of the partition.
Glass partition element Source rosgranitsa.ru
Glass furniture Source bezkovrov.com
- Glossy body of the bar counter. Such models are selected to match the tone of the kitchen set. To ensure that the design of the counter also matches the design of the living room, you can use self-adhesive or stickers that echo the interior. But this is not required if the bar fits harmoniously into the color scheme of both zones.
- Matte bar counter. A case made of matte plastic is more difficult to find among offers on the furniture market. The elegance and simplicity of this option will conquer anyone.
Transparent partition Source vsetke.ru
- Bar counter with a geometric pattern. When choosing such a model, it is important to remember the combination not only with the kitchen set, but also with the furniture in the living room. A more suitable option is a Scandinavian style stand design. The depicted circles, squares and triangles in the same color scheme as the room will echo the design of the zones.
- Bar counter made of wood and metal. This is a universal option for rooms designed in loft, cubism, minimalism, American, urban and other styles. The surface is highly wear-resistant, thereby increasing its service life.
Design of a living room-studio with a kitchen Source www.pinterest.com
2 or 4 high chairs are purchased complete with a bar counter. When choosing, it is recommended to choose models with plain leather seats, as they are wear-resistant and retain a pleasant appearance longer.
Studio apartment
Such a popular apartment layout does not take into account the features of the kitchen. Therefore, there is often a desire to separate the cooking area from the rest of the room.
Since in the studio there is only one window for the entire area of the kitchen-living room, it is impractical to divide the space with a stationary opaque partition.
The best solution for such apartments would be a glass sliding partition. It reliably zones the space, while leaving enough light in both parts of the room.
To prevent large sliding doors from resembling a storefront, it is better not to use ordinary glass for them. Depending on the interior style, glass can be:
- matte;
- embossed;
- stained glass;
- with an image.
Or you can combine several materials in one partition. For example, the lower part, which is easiest to break (by hitting it with your foot, or moving furniture), is filled with MDF, and the upper part is made of glass.
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.
Khrushchevka
For some reason, during the time of Khrushchev, it was believed that 6 m2 was enough for a kitchen. Now it is almost impossible to fit all modern kitchen appliances into this area, while still leaving room for a dining area.
This problem is often solved by replacing the wall between the kitchen and living room with a partition door. Depending on the selected design, the separation can be very conditional (if a light, all-glass partition is used), or more pronounced (when only part of the wall is removed, blocking the resulting passage with sliding doors).
With this layout, the dining area is moved into the living room, making the kitchen a place for cooking rather than eating.
Organization options
In studio apartments, a sliding wall area is often created instead of using door leaves. The moving canvas can have a design of any complexity: from a strong structure with a frame, suitable for placing cabinets, to thin partitions designed to highlight thematic areas. With this solution, the kitchen passage can become a place for relaxation with interior elements and various household appliances located in it.
The implementation of this version of sliding doors to the kitchen is quite simple. The moving parts are based on powerful hidden wheel mechanisms. The upper part of the structure is equipped with support mechanisms that move along a guide rail.
It is thanks to the guide element that the correct movement and clamping of the structure to the floor is ensured. This design is one of the simplest engineering solutions, requiring a minimum of components, but at the same time having a high degree of reliability and ease of adjustment.
Pencil door
The design of cabinet doors can be installed in apartments with a wide kitchen passage without walls. To do this, using drywall, a hollow partition with a hole on the side is made. This imitation wall will occupy some part of the opening. When opened, the door leaf will fit into the plasterboard partition, thus hiding inside it. This design has a very neat appearance and is quite practical to use.
When strengthening the partition with power elements, it can be additionally used as a supporting wall for installing kitchen shelves or cabinets. This ensures a convenient door system and, at the same time, creates additional mounting space in the form of a wall.
In order to create a larger usable space, a structure with one door leaf is installed. However, if desired, you can assemble a sliding door to the kitchen, consisting of two panels. For this purpose, two hollow plasterboard partitions are made, placed on both sides of the passage.
Coupe
This solution is very popular when the mechanisms used in sliding wardrobes are used for sliding doors to the kitchen. The door leaf itself has a standard appearance. To effectively place furniture in the kitchen, standing close to the walls and located to the side of the entrance and to create maximum free space, a system with two leaves is used.
A guide element in the form of a rail is placed above the doorway. The door structure itself is thus installed in a hanging position. If desired, it is also possible to install a lower guide. If it is present, the main load falls on the lower rail and the floor underneath it.
However, despite the fact that the design with two oppositely installed guides increases the reliability of the entire sliding door mechanism in the kitchen, in most cases it is preferable to use only the top rail. This is due to significant inconveniences that arise during operation. The presence of a lower guide rail creates a threshold, and the holes for moving the roller mechanism quickly become clogged, which impairs the sliding of the carriage and leads to the fact that the doors may get stuck.
If it is impossible to use the upper guide as the main power support, the rail installed below is cut deep into the floor plane. With this installation method, no noticeable threshold appears.
Mobile partition
This system is a type of sliding door system. In the closed position, the canvas completely covers the entire passage. During the opening process it moves to the side. Quite often, instead of conventional material, transparent or frosted glass is used as the door of such a system. If transparent glass is used in the open position, the canvas does not distort the appearance of the walls.
In addition, there are absolutely any decorative solutions used in sliding kitchen door panels. It is also possible to use camouflage design. Its appearance is similar to the walls, which allows it to create the feeling of a solid wall when closed. When sliding doors with a similar decor used for the kitchen are in the open position, they merge with the wall they are adjacent to, which looks very unusual both in reality and in the photo.
The advantage of such a canvas is that there is no need for additional design of the opening. Plastering the box will be a sufficient measure.
The penal or coupe system can be designed in a techno style. The main feature that distinguishes the use of such styling is the use of massive parts coated in the color of steel or chrome. Glass used as a canvas does not lend itself to any special design. Only matting of the canvas is acceptable.
Accordion door
Modern models of accordion-folding doors are made using MDF materials. It is possible to use glass inserts. A wide color range greatly simplifies the selection of a design suitable for the main interior of the kitchen.
In the closed position, the door, despite the fairly large number of panels and connections, is able to effectively perform sound insulation functions, as well as protect against drafts and the penetration of foreign odors beyond its boundaries. In the open position, the product takes up a small amount of space.
Pendulum
This door design system is applicable when there is a corridor-type passage to the kitchen. Sliding doors of this type, installed for the kitchen, have an original distinctive feature. The door leaf, thanks to the scrolling roller carriage mounted on the upper guide, is capable of not only moving in both directions relative to the doorway frame, but also rotating 360 degrees around its axis.
Thus, if necessary, it is possible to attach the canvas to the wall of the passage. In such a system, only one canvas is applicable. With its help, the design of the kitchen space can be decorated in absolutely any style. The door itself can also have any colors and textures, since the main element of this design is the roller mechanism.
Thus, you can choose sliding doors for the kitchen from many options. The main thing is to choose a design suitable for your apartment or house, without forgetting about compliance with the design of the premises.
Small rooms
In this case, sliding doors become the only available solution. In order not to take up useful space when opening the sash, the leaf is run along the door, freeing up space.
In this case, a single-leaf door is usually sufficient. Large structures from floor to ceiling in small rooms will create psychological pressure. The design of such a canvas is easy to choose. There are many options: from classic to modern and high-tech style.
Kitchen cabinets instead of pencil cases
When the kitchen is quite spacious in area, most often a set of high cabinets is allocated for building in a refrigerator, household appliances and organizing a separate storage system for large items.
In general, there is nothing stopping you from using sliding doors to decorate the façade of such a complex. And this solution not only looks stylish. Using sliding wardrobes in the kitchen is also convenient.
Big kitchen
The vast space can be divided into two parts. Zoning the room with sliding doors to the kitchen and living-dining room will help keep all the fumes and splashes that arise during the cooking process only in the work area.
By partitioning off the work surface, you can achieve a more comfortable atmosphere and pleasant microclimate in the dining area.
Materials
Many materials are used to make door panels. Wooden canvas is popular. But even a tree has a strong difference. For example, a kitchen door made entirely of solid wood differs in quality, functionality and cost compared to models made of chipboard and MDF.
The solid mass shows the richness of finishing, aesthetics and a pleasant home microclimate. It is suitable for a cooking room, but natural wood can be deformed under the influence of water or steam. Therefore, it is better to install such options in a room with an area of more than 10 square meters. m., provided that nothing gets on it during the cooking process.
Interesting! Mount 100% array only in a solid concrete opening. An array is not installed in an opening that has been narrowed with plasterboard, because the wood is heavy and the plasterboard will not withstand the load.
A good replacement for 100% solid wood is veneering with natural veneer. It consists of light solid pine on the inside, and natural thin cut wood on the outside. They are more resistant to humid air, but cannot withstand direct exposure to water.
Another more economical option is eco-veneer. It consists of mixed wood chips and glue, which are then formed into a thin sheet. The result is a very durable, practical and safe material that costs little and does not deform from moisture, temperature changes and is suitable for cooking. Animal owners often use it because eco-veneer does not show minor mechanical damage; it is also called anti-vandal.
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Products of the economical category are covered with PVC, enamel, and laminated fabric. Despite their low cost, they are suitable for the kitchen space. If you choose a model covered with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film that imitates natural wood, it will fade from direct sunlight. Enamel coating has almost no disadvantages - it is practical, safe and looks attractive. But if you cover it with white paint, kitchen dirt and scratches will be clearly visible.
Kitchen doors with glass can be installed by housewives who love frequent cleaning, as fingerprints remain on the surface. Alternatively, to retain light and minimize cleaning, you can install a wooden panel with glass inserts.
Plastic is also used in the production of kitchen doors. Its advantage is easy washing and lack of deformation. It is better to choose two or more chamber packages to retain heat and protect other rooms from foreign odors. You can install a plastic model with glass, then you will get additional light. The main thing is the quality and smell of plastic; it should not be caustic.
No hood
Modern hoods can reliably rid a room of unnecessary odors and fumes, but there are a number of cases when the installation of such a useful device is prohibited:
- the presence of a gas boiler in private houses;
- top floors of multi-storey buildings;
- in a kitchen with a gas water heater there is only one ventilation duct.
In these cases, dividing the space is simply necessary. Otherwise, the smell of fried fish will be enjoyed by residents not only of their own, but also of neighboring apartments.
Depending on the square footage and layout of the room, there can be two zoning options:
- only the part of the kitchen in which the work surface is located is separated;
- The entire kitchen is separated from the living room.
Both kitchen-living room designs with a sliding partition look quite interesting, and such separation does not interfere with the functionality of the room.
Design selection
It is clear that when choosing a model, everyone will be guided only by their own taste. But there are a number of important points that need to be taken into account when choosing a method for dividing zones:
- bottom guide. Its presence or absence must be determined at the stage of leveling the floor. Because its installation may require better leveling (if there is a slope, the sashes will move to one side);
- children and animals. If there are small children or large animals in the house, then when choosing a model you should be guided primarily by safety. If you need to install transparent doors, then let it be triplex or tempered glass, which will not injure household members when it breaks;
- partition or door? When choosing a way to beautifully separate the kitchen from the living room, you need to imagine the final option. In one case, a floor-to-ceiling partition will organically fit into the interior, and in another, it will become an inappropriate bulk;
- installation method. When installed, the door leaf can move along the wall (compartment) or hide in a “pencil case” (special niche). Both options have a number of advantages and disadvantages, so the installation method is selected individually for each specific case (it is still better to install a glass door in a niche, this reduces the likelihood of damage to the panel);
- door frame. Installation of a sliding system does not necessarily require a door, but in some cases there is a need to refine the doorway. In this case, you need to take into account that when installing a “compartment”, the distance from the wall will be wider so that the canvas does not crash into the casing during movement.
Otherwise, the design of a sliding door for a kitchen combined with a living room is limited only by the imagination of the apartment owners.
Posting rules
Stylish kitchens with sliding wardrobes are an original method of interior design. By choosing the right place to install this piece of furniture, you can completely transform the design of the room. To install built-in models, it is necessary to have a niche or unused space where the construction of a cabinet is allowed.
To install the cabinet according to all the rules, it is recommended to pay attention to the following tips:
- place the compartment along the wall opposite the window - this will give you a better view when accessing the dishes;
- installation near the kitchen door will hide the cabinet from the view of guests;
- if there is a large area, it is recommended to install a U-shaped compartment above the door and on the sides of it;
- with the help of a cabinet you can easily divide the kitchen into zones - then the product on the blind side should have a corresponding design.
The sliding wardrobe must be mounted so that there is easy access to the doors. Do not place the product near heating radiators.
Installation requirements
Installing a sliding door to separate the kitchen and living room has a number of limitations:
- heat sources must be located at least one meter from the canvas;
- The structure should not be exposed to water (splashes when washing dishes, etc.);
- There should be no additional vertical load (a mezzanine cannot be installed above the sliding door for storing household items, etc.).
Otherwise, the installation requirements remain the same as for other rooms. An installation example is discussed in detail in the video below.
Installation in a “pencil case” with the construction of a niche:
Kitchen renovation: Plasterboard partition and installation of sliding doors
Installation of a “coupe” without bottom rail:
Sliding door installation by Empire Grand
Stained glass partition between the kitchen and living room
The main advantage of a glass partition decorated with stained glass is that it allows light to pass through, but the room cannot be seen through it. This will limit the space without depriving it of additional lighting from the adjacent room.
Brick wall in the interior Source diz-kitchen.ru
A stained glass partition does not always fit harmoniously into the design of the room. Before you begin installation, it is important to choose a pattern and design that will match the composition and color scheme of the room. Designer recommendations:
- Black and white stained glass is suitable for a room with a minimalist design. It will complement a kitchen or living room in loft, cubism, brutalism, hi-tech, constructivism and industrial styles.
- Floral patterns will be combined with animalistic, boho, eco, country, bonika.
- Abstract figures depicted on a glass partition will be appropriate in any environment. When combining colors, this option will fit well into the interior of the room.
In other cases, transparent glass partitions decorated with stickers or fabric roller shutters are preferable.
Uniform style with a partition-bar counter Source bezkovrov.com
Care and operation
Do not forget that the kitchen is one of the dirtiest and wettest rooms in the apartment. An abundance of mirror elements or small embossed details on a sliding door will turn cleaning into torture.
At the same time, it is worth considering that natural materials (rattan, wicker) cannot be cleaned with aggressive detergents, which again will add difficulties to the cleaning process.
For a sliding system to last a long time, it needs not only proper installation, but also regular maintenance:
- dust from protruding elements must be wiped off at least once a week;
- do not use aggressive chemicals or metal brushes during the cleaning process;
- if there is a lower guide, regularly clean the groove from dirt;
- if necessary, lubricate the moving parts of the structure with purified machine oil;
- eliminate all deformations (it is advisable to avoid mechanical impact at all, but if the guide pin is bent due to a sharp opening, then it needs to be leveled, etc.).
With proper care and operation, this method of dividing space does not cause problems, but only pleases with its appearance and functionality.
Design of a kitchen apron in the form of sliding wardrobes
Wide, voluminous compartment doors look most attractive in modern interiors. And the kitchen is no exception. To achieve the desired effect, you can combine the cabinet and kitchen apron area into a single cabinet.
The functionality of this solution is beyond doubt: virtually the entire wall is used for storing numerous jars of spices, cutlery and other kitchen accessories. At the same time, there is no feeling of redundancy and clutter; everything is hidden from prying eyes by sliding panels.
Only the apron area can be equipped with sliding doors. This achieves optimal zoning: on the “apron” you can place small jars and kitchen utensils in one row, and use the cabinets for full storage.
Not just any sliding system can be used to implement such an idea. Since it is better to keep the working surface intact, without damaging the top layer, installing mortise guides is undesirable.
- The lower guide of the sliding system should be compact and overhead, or even absent altogether (as in hanging compartments).
- The lower rollers should be designed so as to eliminate the possibility of scratching the tabletop and jamming.
- It is advisable not to frame the panels of the sliding apron with a side profile at all. This creates a feeling of massiveness and does not fit into the design concept.
- In addition, material of different thicknesses can be used as sliding panels. But it is advisable to use acrylic, tempered glass and plastic with a thickness of 4-5 mm.
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