Why you should install a sliding door in your home

A great way to make your space look modern and chic is by installing sliding doors. Modern sliding doors have been around since the 19th century and were mainly used in barns and castles. Some archeologists believe that they were used as early as the first century CE in Roman houses. Obviously things have changed dramatically since then and sliding doors are a lot more advanced. There are two main types of sliding doors; hanging doors which require a wall or ceiling mount of some kind and bottom rolling doors that have hardware that is attached to the floor. Both are great for any sized home and can be used indoors or outdoors.

Some great contemporary designs are made out of stainless steel and can be used in any modern home. If you are into a more “shabby chic” look then there are many designs that are made of wood and have a more antique look.

What’s really great about newer models is that they are very versatile. Any size door can be installed in any sized home. In some cases there is sliding door hardware that can support up to 2500lbs. This is great if you are looking to install doors for a mansion sized house or if you are looking for an opening gate at the entrance of a large estate. There are also models that are ideal for smaller setting such as bathroom doors, bedroom doors and even closet doors.

Another great thing about these doors is that they are real space savers that anyone can use. When you open and close a traditional door you are basically unable to utilize the space that the door takes up. Traditional doors might slam and damage your walls and if you have younger children they are more likely to run head on into an open door and get injured or even damage their limbs, but with sliding doors these issues are less likely to occur. Sliding doors are also great if you have seniors in your home who are unable to operate doors because of arthritis or joint injuries. They move smoothly in one easy motion.

Sliding doors are a great way to make your home look great and serve as a very practical solution for all kinds of households. They can be customized to fit any sized home and are available in many different styles. So if you are looking to change the look of your home without making a drastic change to the architecture, consider installing a sliding door.

Shabby Chic -- a history of style and decor

The term “Shabby Chic” was initially coined by The World Of Interiors magazine back in the 1980s, but first became really popular in The US in the 1990s, when there was a surge in decorating styles, especially in cultural metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Furniture that takes on the description of shabby chic is usually designed to feel like it has been through the ages, and been painted and repainted to give it a natural layered look. Often an item will be painted, before having parts of it rubbed or sanded away to display the underlying wood or base coats. This process is known as “distressing” a piece of furniture’s finish.

There are multiple opinions on what shabby chic items should really be in the furniture world. Some purists believe that real shabby chic items should be naturally old pieces of furniture that have been handed down from person to person, and can often be found in auctions or car boot sales. In the world of shabby chic, a scratch or imperfection on a chair or table is seen as something of a bonus instead of a problem that needs to be repaired.

A great example of how shabby chic’s popularity grew in the late 90s onwards, is when it became the main focus of a famous episode of Friends called “The One With The Apothecary Table” which originally aired in 2000. The storyline of the episode surrounds Rachel attempting to imitate the shabby style décor look in her flat by visiting Pottery Barn and purchasing a couple of items of furniture. Her housemate Phoebe detests the idea of the store so Rachel lies and tells her she just picked the furniture up from a flea market. Phoebe eventually finds out the items are new and goes on to fall in love with more furniture at Pottery Barn. This episode nicely demonstrates the irony of the shabby chic design philosophy – even though shabby chic furniture looks old and unique, it can still be mass produced.

Shabby chic can be wonderful for those on a budget, as well as for those who have young children or animals, who may not be as kind to your furniture as you would hope. You can beautifully imitate a rustic country home feel and give your interior décor an antique and vintage feel. You can find lots of shabby chic items at flea markets and also online. In fact, there are some gorgeous shabby chic inspired furniture and home accessories from Sylvester Oxford.