Dear Internet:

My washer and dryer are in my main bathroom, tucked behind two bi-fold doors.

Well, they were.

When the dryer flaked out, my landlord replaced both with new, cool, state-of-the-art appliances.

That are two inches deeper than the closet.

So what was a nice(ish) bathroom just off my living room now looks like a utility closet.

I'm trying to get him to do something to make it nice again, but the best suggestion he's had is "shower curtain rod". Which, um, I don't dig.

The opening to the "closet" has 18-24" of drywall on either side (i.e., the closet is the width of the room, but the opening is not).

I have a few ideas about alternatives in mind, but don't really know how to articulate them, but I'd also be game for any professional suggestions / recommendations on how to do this. (One option, of course, is to demand appliances that fit!).

Thanks in advance.

 

Since you have a landlord, what we think is beside the point... unless you can talk him into doing what we suggest...

Frame a new wall in front of the existing one. Drywall it, tape and finish it, and paint it. Install new door jambs that are just as wide as the entire wall thickness is (both new and old) and then hang new doors.

If you don't want to build the WHOLE wall out, just build out the section where the doors are, in a similar manner... screw 2 or 3 2x4's flat onto the wall on either side of the existing door opening and across the top. Then build a jamb for the new doors, plumb and level it up with shims inside that rough opening... cover the 2x4's with trim... hang new doors.

 

That's very true, but I wanted to present some options... And also have an idea of what is involved. They have a good painting/carpentry team, but understandably don't want to do more than the minimum.

I know they won't build the whole wall out. I'm trying to envision your second alternative.

And more ideas are always welcome!

Thanks

 

I have the same setup in a bathroom. I extended the laundry alcove depth by doing what Xsleeper suggested. It's not a difficult job and material expense is minimal.

Anyone else hate bifold doors?

 

Bifold doors did the job - covered up, kept neat, held in noise. So they beat the current alternative?

Anyone have any other suggestions - easy-to-install / lowish cost.

Gonna try to get maintenance up later this week.