Entrance to the New Bathroom Experience

As a hotel guest, you have likely experienced frustration over a swinging bathroom door that requires gymnastic maneuvers to get in and out of an already tight space. The use of a shower, toilet or sink ends up requiring multiple openings and closings, making you feel like it’s time for another shower.

Enhancing the guests’ bathroom experience is a common goal shared by many of the owners and operators of our renovation projects.  As highlighted at last week’s HD Boutique Exposition & Conference in Miami Beach (attended by TynanGroup), interior designers are increasingly specifying wall sliding doors to serve as the entrance feature for the modern bathroom experience. In addition to their aesthetic qualities, wall sliding doors offer many design advantages over typical swing-style doors, including increased freedom with bathroom fixture layouts.

TynanGroup has used both sliding pocket doors and sliding wall door applications.  We have found that sliding wall door applications are preferred for renovations because the common wall between the vestibule and the bathroom remains intact.  In addition, sliding wall doors are easily serviceable, more substantial and reliable.

Here are a few tips if you are considering wall sliding doors for an upcoming renovation:

• Review bathroom light switch locations; wall sliding door track may require j-box to be relocated.
• Ensure shower/tub enclosures are properly water sealed; wall sliding tracks create a small gap at the bathroom floor, and water can escape if the enclosure is not properly sealed.
• Study hardware and stop (rubber bumper) options; daily use can cause stops to fail and lead to door damage.
• When using this application on ADA designated rooms, pay close attention to door hardware to ensure it complies with applicable codes.
• Coordinate with consultants and contractors and keep everything off the common wall (such as electrical switches, thermostats, artwork). As in most cases, a model room will prevent potential conflict.

Wall sliding doors were installed in our recent renovation of the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago, our previous renovation of the St Regis in Aspen, and on the construction of the Four Seasons Silicon Valley.

St. Regis Aspen Wall-Sliding Door

Pros

• Space-saving track
• Greater flexibility for bathroom fixture layout (no swing considerations)
• Increased ambient light (in glazing applications)
• Sleek and stylish entry to the bathroom
• Solves key ADA handicap door swing issues
• Increases the perceived and actual size of the bathroom

Cons

• Costs more than a typical swing-style door
• Installation costs can be impacted if the selected wall is being retrofitted rather than rebuilt

Manufacturer:

Most major door manufacturers produce sliding wall doors, including:

Luvipol Doors

www.luvipol.com/eng.html
info@luvipol.com

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