Narrow doorway on Poweder Room

I have a powder room off of a hallway that goes between the front door and the kitchen. The room is 6 ft x 3 ft without the toilet and cabinet. The in-swinging door is 28 inches and I realize that it will be a tight squeeze to enter the bathroom and close and open the door. I'm looking for an alternative door. My thoughts:

I do not want a bifold or outswinging door. I don't think that either are appropriate. Someone can try to change my mind. I do not really want to make the doorway smaller because I think it will look awful. I don't think I can go with an inside pocket door because of a support beam/stud - I don't think it leaves enough room. A interior barn type sliding door could work, but it would not be a nice fit when closed and it might stick out and interfere with your legs when sitting down.

We were thinking about the way a minivan door opens and closes. Is it possible to have the door slide from the left to the right, clear the jamb and then move forward to close into the door frame/jamb? I'm not sure what type of clearance or hardware would be required or if the hardware is available. How would I camoflage it on the inside of the bathroom so it didn't look bad?

Thanks for your assistance.

 

I don't think the hardware exists to do what you have in mind. The 'best' solution is a pocket door, but that would require framing the opening for it (rebuilding the entire wall) and you would have to relocate any electrical that may be in that wall. About the only other solution would be an accordian door, but with a 28" opening, that would only leave you a usable opening of about 23 or 24 inches.

 

Thank you. I don't care for accordian doors. I have a contractor who is willing to make the opening smaller for a 24 inch door. I would prefer a pocket door, even if the door will stick out into the opening somewhat due to a support beam/stud. A 24 inch door looks strange to me, but I think the contractor would rather make the opening smaller. Is it less work for him?

Why is it that what I am looking for does not exist? It sounds like a neat idea to me. (I always seem to be looking for something that is nonexistent!)

 

Those sliding doors in minivans have a guide above the door, but the major hardware for them is located beneath the floor. It just wouldn't be practical to try to work it into a house. It would leave a trough in the floor in the middle of the door opening that would collect dirt and probably break several ankles. Now, if you had a SUNKEN powder room, so the lower track could be arranged in riser of the step,... You just might be on to something!! Keep looking for things that don't exist. That is how everything that has ever been invented by man has come to be!

 

Now I understand. I didn't really think about the mechanism in the floor. Of course, that makes sense. For a heavy car door, that would be necessary. But for a solid core house door?? I wonder if you'd really need it in the floor. Just thinking out loud. If I was handy with this stuff, I might want to experiment with this idea.

BTW, does your handle mean that you are a left-handed person? Thanks again. If you think of anything else, please let me know. Regards.