Hello,
I’ve reached a point with a topic in our new build (move-in September 2024) where I really need some input. Let me give some background...
We have a niche on the ground floor intended to be used as a storage space for beverage crates, vacuum cleaner, sports bags, and other items. Having lived in the USA for over five years, we fully understand the purpose of a closet space, and when this niche was left over in the planning, we immediately decided that we wanted a closet space as well.
The niche (135 cm (53 inches) wide and about 110 cm (43 inches) deep) is currently just an empty spot in the hallway.
During the construction phase (wood frame construction), when I started looking for a door system for it, I realized that this type of system is really uncommon here in Germany. I found a German supplier offering folding doors (two or three-panel elements) and got in touch with several carpentry shops selling this system, but the cost was around €3000. So, the project was put on hold. One carpenter also mentioned that the doors would need to be fixed at least once on the floor, which would require drilling into the floor tiles (about 6 cm (2.4 inches) long screws). Since we have underfloor heating, we were not very comfortable with that.
Now, this corner is starting to annoy us, and I would like to know if anyone in the forum has ever taken on such a project with folding doors (not the plastic accordion-style ones). Currently, we have the following idea: build a frame from wood (with a transom window, which my husband wants) and hang floating doors from this structure (my husband has carpentry experience—he built two wooden platforms for the children aged 10 and 16 leading to the visible roof truss!).
We can locate the sturdy beams of the wooden structure by knocking, so we can attach the frame there. We would lose about 20 cm (8 inches) in depth. Where there are no beams, the walls are just single-layer drywall.
Has anyone implemented something like this and what kind of "hanging system" did you use? There are several suppliers on eBay, but I would much prefer to rely on experience.
P.S. We do not want a sliding door system, as we want to keep the opening as wide as possible…
P.P.S. The whole project should definitely stay well under €3000.
I’m curious if someone has found a good solution and would like to share it. :-)
Best regards,
Gaby
I’ve reached a point with a topic in our new build (move-in September 2024) where I really need some input. Let me give some background...
We have a niche on the ground floor intended to be used as a storage space for beverage crates, vacuum cleaner, sports bags, and other items. Having lived in the USA for over five years, we fully understand the purpose of a closet space, and when this niche was left over in the planning, we immediately decided that we wanted a closet space as well.
The niche (135 cm (53 inches) wide and about 110 cm (43 inches) deep) is currently just an empty spot in the hallway.
During the construction phase (wood frame construction), when I started looking for a door system for it, I realized that this type of system is really uncommon here in Germany. I found a German supplier offering folding doors (two or three-panel elements) and got in touch with several carpentry shops selling this system, but the cost was around €3000. So, the project was put on hold. One carpenter also mentioned that the doors would need to be fixed at least once on the floor, which would require drilling into the floor tiles (about 6 cm (2.4 inches) long screws). Since we have underfloor heating, we were not very comfortable with that.
Now, this corner is starting to annoy us, and I would like to know if anyone in the forum has ever taken on such a project with folding doors (not the plastic accordion-style ones). Currently, we have the following idea: build a frame from wood (with a transom window, which my husband wants) and hang floating doors from this structure (my husband has carpentry experience—he built two wooden platforms for the children aged 10 and 16 leading to the visible roof truss!).
We can locate the sturdy beams of the wooden structure by knocking, so we can attach the frame there. We would lose about 20 cm (8 inches) in depth. Where there are no beams, the walls are just single-layer drywall.
Has anyone implemented something like this and what kind of "hanging system" did you use? There are several suppliers on eBay, but I would much prefer to rely on experience.
P.S. We do not want a sliding door system, as we want to keep the opening as wide as possible…
P.P.S. The whole project should definitely stay well under €3000.
I’m curious if someone has found a good solution and would like to share it. :-)
Best regards,
Gaby
S
Sonnenseite1221 Jul 2025 17:10wiltshire schrieb:
In that case, a kind of vertical shutter like the ones used in old filing cabinets could also work. I need to think about that...S
Sonnenseite1221 Jul 2025 17:26Here is a summary again:
Niche is 135 cm (53 inches) wide and 110 cm (43 inches) deep (we want to lose as little of this space as possible).
The "space" should then be fitted with shelves to maximize the storage area.
Preferably at floor level without a baseboard or skirting to allow safe and easy entry and exit without tripping.
Picture 1 shows an image from eBay (the fittings can be purchased there, but the panels need to be sourced separately).
Picture 2 shows my current premium solution, which unfortunately is ruled out due to cost and the deep drilling required into the floor.
Picture 3 shows a supplier selling the fittings but unfortunately does not show a picture of the finished version.
Picture 4 I just found while searching for examples and it is probably in the style that @ypg mentioned.
If anyone has already attempted something like this as a DIY project and would like to share their experience, please feel free.
I would prefer to avoid drilling into the floor and would rather have the doors fixed only at the wall at the bottom (or use shorter screws if the panels are light).
Niche is 135 cm (53 inches) wide and 110 cm (43 inches) deep (we want to lose as little of this space as possible).
The "space" should then be fitted with shelves to maximize the storage area.
Preferably at floor level without a baseboard or skirting to allow safe and easy entry and exit without tripping.
Picture 1 shows an image from eBay (the fittings can be purchased there, but the panels need to be sourced separately).
Picture 2 shows my current premium solution, which unfortunately is ruled out due to cost and the deep drilling required into the floor.
Picture 3 shows a supplier selling the fittings but unfortunately does not show a picture of the finished version.
Picture 4 I just found while searching for examples and it is probably in the style that @ypg mentioned.
If anyone has already attempted something like this as a DIY project and would like to share their experience, please feel free.
I would prefer to avoid drilling into the floor and would rather have the doors fixed only at the wall at the bottom (or use shorter screws if the panels are light).
Is the niche opening in your case full ceiling height or only about door height?
To show you the vertical slats, which have the advantage that when open (unfortunately I don’t have a picture of that), they do not protrude into the room:
This is the niche before the vertical slats were installed:
And here you can see the slatted curtain at full height, unfortunately not at full width because the hallway is too small, so this is just a second section
To show you the vertical slats, which have the advantage that when open (unfortunately I don’t have a picture of that), they do not protrude into the room:
This is the niche before the vertical slats were installed:
And here you can see the slatted curtain at full height, unfortunately not at full width because the hallway is too small, so this is just a second section
Have you ever watched videos about folding fittings, for example from Hettich or Häfele or similar, to see if you could install them yourself?
They are usually explained really well.
Then you could use folding doors from a hardware store or Ikea Pax/Method, for example.
You just need to check if the dimensions match standard doors and which sizes the folding fittings are designed for.
They are usually explained really well.
Then you could use folding doors from a hardware store or Ikea Pax/Method, for example.
You just need to check if the dimensions match standard doors and which sizes the folding fittings are designed for.
S
Sonnenseite1221 Jul 2025 21:05kbt09 schrieb:
Is the niche opening in your case from floor to ceiling or just about door height?
Floor to ceiling… I like that. And it doesn’t flap around so much that it becomes annoying?
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