Please help me describe then find this door!

Hello, I think I am going nuts. What we want is simple, but I cannot find it online or anywhere. I have made doeznes of search on all kinds of terms, but I just can't find it - and I can find anything! :-)

We have a standard kitchen door we want to replace with a door that is essentially two half doors split vertically. You might call it a French Door, but that is not quite it. A Cafe Door is close, but not full length. Same goes for Saloon Door. We may like a door with shutters or louvres, but "Shutter Door" also doesn't seem to be the thing. Bi Fold isn't right either, but it is close - the doors would be sized like a bi fold, but they would not fold - each would have their own hinges attached to the door frame. We want the doors to have a dual hing action so they can open either way, but go back to being closed.

Please, does anyone have a great door place or site I can visit to find this thing? What should I call it?

 

Shutter doors: http://www.allaboutshutters.com/shutter-door.htm

Louver doors: http://www.allaboutshutters.com/shutter-louvers.htm

 

I think what you want is a double door that has a pin top and bottom that they rotate on. Depending on the size of your opening you may be limitted to 1 swinging door unless you have them custom made.

 

Any pair of full length doors would presumably work for you. The tricky part is finding the correct type of hardware. First of all, the doors: take any two doors that together would fill the opening, make the edges rounded, and attach pivot hinges. Door problem solved. Now for the hardware:

The swinging door hinges you need are a pivot hinge that allows the doors to swing both ways. They comes in many styles and sizes, some of which are very light duty for hollow doors or half sized doors; some that are designed for heavier doors. They are sometimes called "Cafe Door Hinges" and sometimes (correctly) called "two-way swinging pivot hinge." This hinge has a pivot point, and is attached to the top and bottom of the door rather than the side, which allows the door to swing both ways so you have access to your room (often a kitchen) by pushing the door in either direction. Many will stay in the open position if opened 85-90 degrees. Usually accompanied by a push plate instead of a dummy doorknob so handprints/fingerprints don't wear the door. If you want to "do it right" what I described above is the way to go. There is also a different type, called a "two-way hinge" which is light duty and usually made for 3/4" to 1-1/4" doors. Most commonly seen on lightweight half size saloon-door types.

Research them at

http://www.door-hardware.net/newhinges.html (possibly the best site)

http://www.hardwaresource.com/Store_ViewCatLevel3.asp?Cat=25 (a great source)

http://www.chown.com/cgi-bin/lansaweb?PROCFUN+HP1466+HP1466A+HDW+FUNCPARMS+ZXMLNR(S0100):0000000000+ZXJENR(S0100):0000032250 (another great source)

http://www.mysimon.com/9000-11020_8-0.html?mlpid=33666460 (very cheap if you're looking to do it on a shoestring budget)

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/dr_hardwood/article/0,2037,DIY_13796_2273196,00.html (An article on how to install)



You can do a google search for "cafe doors" to get lots of possibilities.

 

Dutch door, they used to be used often on exterior entries, but are very hard to seal tightly so they are rarely seen anymore.

 

Thanks All! It is very hard to describe this on email, but TruBlue got exactly what I was looking for - thanks! We have two doors that can be cut down and customized to make this work, but your advice on the hardware is fantastic! Thanks again!

Oh, Just Bill, the other side of the kitchen has a Dutch Door (split horizontally) from the kitchen to the outside that was original equipment on the house (95 years ago). It really isn't bad in terms of being sealed - the split between the upper and lower is at a 45 degree or so angle and that seems to keep the air out. It's a fun door - I often feel we should be selling ice cream out of it or something!