There’s something romantic and rustic about a farm. Don’t you find yourself gazing with intrigue at barns in differing states of repair as you drive down the interstate and think there must be a story behind it?
It’s no wonder that integrating farm elements such as sliding barn doors into a home adds oodles of character as well as functionality. Sliding barn doors can be rustic and earthy, or modern and sleek. And they can be used both inside and outside. Here are some examples to inspire you!
First, this is a house down the street from me that was converted from a barn to a post-and-beam home. I adore the painting of a cow peeked out behind a sliding barn door.
Here’s another example of a sliding barn door adding character to a home – this one is about a mile down the road.
And here’s one I saw on vacation at Cape Cod this summer. I love how the out-building mimics the windows of the home.
Sliding barn doors are fabulous on the inside as well.
Here are two black and white examples from House Beautiful that I just love.
Do you think this one needs a pop of color? If so, what would you suggest?
Like something a bit brighter? How about this example from Southern Living? This was from the 2009 Texas Idea Home. Sure makes me smile as big as Texas!
Here’s a great example from the now defunct Cottage Living Magazine. Rustic meets whimsy with a bit of functionality thrown it to make it absolutely amazing. (Side note: I love how the pantry has shallow shelving – much easier to find things!)
If you like something more modern and less-barn like, check out these amazing examples from glass sliding doors at SpecialtyGlassDoors.com
Pretty amazing, huh? Here’s another one.
Ready to make your own sliding barn door? Here’s how (at ehow.com). This Old House also has a tutorial, including video and a cut list.
If you do attempt this project, please be so kind as to share it with the rest of us!
45 comments
Susan you captured the fill of barn doors in a wonderful way here with your article. Some of your readers were asking where they could find doors. We custom build barn door hardware and sliding doors:
http://www.reclaimedlumberproducts.com/sliding-wood-doors
Thanks for a great post.I like it.For sure i will come back later.Enjoy your life…
Great post Susan, I like the idea of combining “traditional – modern” style for interior design. MMmm ..
I can’t locate your email address
Hi John,
I’d love to see it – would you be willing to email me a photo that I can post on the site?
Susan
I have a wood shop and have made some of these barn doors. I enjoy making them but they are a lot of work. It takes far more effort to make these doors look old than to make them look new. I just finished one for my own house that separates my daughter’s bedroom who is in college from the rest of the house. It looks 100 years old on our side and modern and beach color on her side.
Susan, you are beautiful….
It’s always been a fascination of what it would be like to live in a horse barn so this idea can bring the context into designing. I really like it!! My favorite is the yellow barn door.
Sliding barn
door
s are fabulous on the inside as well.
I really like these
pics these doors remind me the beauty of
door
glass
.
Try googling “Second Chance Wood” in your area and see what you find.
Has anyone figured out where you can actually buy these decorative barn doors like the white one, charcoal grey one, and yellow ones shown?
Good hardware suggestions. Whatever these are all quiet beautiful.
The last one image i like so much.
Thanks for sharing that helpful information.
For the traditional horseshoe style seen in the House Beautiful pictures try http://www.barndoorhardware.com.
For others, http://www.hangingdoorhardware.com has a lot of flat track styles and http://www.bartelsdoors.com has the more sleek contemporary styles like in the last two pics ($$$).
For more info try searching on “barn door hardware” or “sliding door track hardware”, and if you find a style you like, search on that specifically.
Hope that helps. I spent a lot of time trying to figure this out myself. I used the yellow door pic as an inspiration and had my father make a wood door that we painted and then got the hardware from hardwareandtools.com. It’s for closet door in our dining room, and it turned out out really cool.
L
Inunes…where did you find the info about the doors/hardware from the two featured in “house beautiful”? If you could forward that information… I would appreciate it. I looked on the house beautiful website and did a search but did not find any resources.
Thank you for your help,
Amy
I’ve done a lot of researching on the hardware – can be quite expensive especially as in the last two pics. Even the hardware on the two from “house beautiful” are fairly expensive, but the kind used on the yellow door however is very reasonable. It’s made by Stanley, National or Mintcraft and you can find it on the hardware/tool websites like hardwareandtools.com. You can get that kind of hardware for around $100.
They are quite beautiful.
Where do I find the white and black barn door? Like the one in the picture?
I love them…I get a lot of questions about where to find them, so if you have any tips, please share!
Pretty amazing! Sliding barn doors can be rustic and earthy.
There are some places that sell old doors that can be used for this…I like the idea of re-purposing.
where do you get these great sliding doors?
Hi Andrea, if you’re referring to the glass door example shown above, that’s from a company called http://www.SpecialtyGlassDoors.com – it’s gorgeous, isn’t it!
I’d probably opt for the wood version because of kids fingerprints, but there are many companies that do this sort of thing. Google around a bit and let me know what you end up doing! Sounds like a great project!
I want to put the sliding barn door in my master bedroom. Where can I find the one you put in your room? Thanks!
Hi Tiny! Glad you liked the idea!
Sam – I’m on my way over now! 🙂
Now….where could I put some barn doors in my house? LOVE them! Thanks for the post.
Stop by and say hello at my new blog. I need some visitors! 🙂
.-= Sam´s last blog ..Hooked on Vintage Handkerchiefs =-.
I’ve never really given barn doors much thought, but this was a great tour of ideas and options. Thanks for sharing!
.-= The Tiny Homestead´s last blog ..Front Porch Mini Makeover =-.
Hi Jane – oh, we’ve got lots of preppy barns out here. lol
Linda – my front door is cherry red! But not a barn. 😉
Angela – I love the yellow too…guess if you tire of it, you could repaint it a different color too.
Pat – Great idea to layer orientals over blue carpet! Cozies it up too I bet!
Great doors. i love the yellow one. I must say I have some blue carpet (only 2 rooms) and I put orientals over it. That’s a great house, looks like it has good flow.
.-= Pat Smith´s last blog ..Bracelet Replacement =-.
They certainly add some personality to a space. The yellow one is very eye catching! Beautiful photos.
Thanks for starting a new blog party it will be fun to be part of.
-Angela
.-= Angela @ ImagineCozy´s last blog ..Redecorate your Fireplace Mantle =-.
I love the little outbuilding that mimics the home, too cute! We don’t really have that many examples of ‘barn architecture’ over here in Oz, and I love them!
I would paint the white door in the white wall cherry red if it were my house, but I’m a red girl! I’d paint the black door cherry red and put an orange vase on the table in the view behind.
The turquoise would look great too!
Linda. 🙂
.-= Linda aka Heartfire At Home´s last blog ..Look At These Alphabet Drawers In Solid Oak…An Investment Piece Of Furniture =-.
Wow, I’m jealous you even HAVE barns in your area!
That red one is my fav! Jane T.
.-= Atticmag´s last blog ..Roasted Cauliflower =-.
Awesome! By the way, it’s really fun to say “Steampunk” – just sayin’! 🙂
When I designed my Steampunk bedroom for clients, I incorporated the barn door idea. It is so cool and actually it has made an appearance in the model homes near us!
.-= Alycia Wicker´s last blog ..“Moving Up” or Not Really =-.
Hey Kelly – how did you know turquoise was my fav color! 🙂 Sorry to hear about the folding doors…be strong…we’re here for ya!
Diane – I totally LOVE what you did to cover your TV! I’m going to borrow that idea someday!
Ah, I love barn doors. Some beautiful examples here. I designed a custom barn door to conceal our TV in the living room. We carved out a small space into the adjacent room (like you would a closet) and added this poplar door with regular old barn door hardware. Everyone who sees it loves it! And I love no having an armoire or entertainment center in the living room.
Top row, right picture at this link:
http://www.inspiredroomdesign.com/pages.php?tabid=11&pageid=113&pagetitle=See+my+work.
I absolutely LOVE the look of sliding barn doors. I REALLY wanted to add one with windows to our hallway to close off the living room when it’s not in use. But hubby is anti-barn door and is making boring bi-folds instead. Boooo!!
A sliding barn door is definitely on my dream home wish list 🙂
I would paint the black barn door turquoise 🙂
Kelly @ DesignTies
.-= DesignTies´s last blog ..Happiness is a warm puppy =-.
Yes indeedy! And for the record, I did not stage this house. 😉
But seriously, can you envision what it COULD be? Hey, maybe I’ll buy it!
Susan
Ooh, see what you mean about the sky blue carpet! There is a lot of blue in that home.
In general, this is a great look, if you can spare the space on the inside for it to open. I LOVE that red one!
.-= Struggler´s last blog ..Are you a pattern-phobe? =-.