You want 2 single bi-fold doors mounted on regular hinges (3 panels each door). Or you can just get French Doors custom made to fit your opening (I'm assuming the size is too small for standard French Doors).

We had a similar situation for our master bath. I wanted a double vanity but couldn't fit it if I had a 30" door swinging into the bathroom. I believe the carpenter fashioned french doors from two side lights to which he added a piece of wood to widen them a bit. The result is fantastic. We used a cremone bolt for the knob and closing mechanism.

I think you are talking about a Dutch door? We had one in our old house - the top could be opened independently from the bottom and vice versa.

Our basement also opens into the kitchen. We are getting a single panel door, and I am painting it with magnetic primer then chalkboard paint so it will hold magnets that don't stick to the SS fridge and it will be our little "message center".

What is door like now? Is there no chance there is a pocket already there? (We had one forgotten one in a wall but couldn't salvage it.)

Could you add a pocket? That's what we did--we enlarged one wall the depth and width of the pocket and made the opening about 6-9 inches deep faced with a wide oak board. Solved a lot of problems with heat ducting in the wall and plaster on the back side that we didn't want to disturb.

We put in one pocket door to basement (not bearing wall) and one to dining room (bearing wall). We're so glad now that we don't have doors swinging in that area--it's all along a walkpath and the doors won't be opened that often anyway. If we could have pocketed a third door we would have (sigh).

Seriously? If I buy sidelights I can make doors? That is AWESOME! I never thought about that. I want glass doors to my bathroom and closet, but the openings are only 24" wide (because of the big swing issue and pockets didn't work out), but they don't come that small. Maybe I can do this now. Yippie!!!

Lagrant, love the marble, LOVE the pendants!!!

Lagrant and Cheri, you solution is clever and wonderful. Great idea, folks, if you don't intend the basement doors to be open most of the time!

lagrant...are you on the finished kitchens blog? I couldn't find you. I'd love the details of your gorgeous kitchen!

Lagrant, love the door! Would you please tell me where you purchased the doors? Will definitely do this instead of a micro lamb to put in a pocket door.

Thank you all for your ideas! I truely appreciate it! If anyone has an idea where we could purchase these doors please share. I live in NJ. Thx.

Lagrant, I love your basement door! I have an odd question -- how much of the basement stairway can you see with the door closed? Our unfinished basement is so dreary that I painted the steps bright purple and the walls polka-dotted. It definitely puts a smile on my face when I go to do laundry, but it doesn't exactly flow with the main floor decor. I love those french doors so much I'd be willing to lose the polka dots, but I can't bear the hassle of repainting the steps, so I'm wondering how much is visible when you're standing in front of the closed doors.

Sure, NOW I see this post! We just took the door completely off and finished the doorway to look as if there was never a door there. We just made the stairwell landing part of the kitchen.

Now I see this and want to whine, "Why didn't I think of that??" We could have even left one side open for the kitties, without intruding into the kitchen or walkways.

Fine. Whatevs. *goes off to pout*

cflaherty and others...I'm so sorry - I was away and I didn't make it back to this post.

Let's see - I can't recall the manufacturer of the doors, but many companies carried them when I was looking - 5 lite interior french doors was my search. I think Masonite and Craftmaster come to mind. I would go to HD and ask. My contractor ordered them thru his supplier. They were wood and had to be painted. Good luck! I will remember to come back and check for additional questions.

Jenva - Depending on the time of day I can see very well down there or almost not at all. I would say that it depends on your house position and where you get most of your sunlight.

Stephct - I'm sorry, but no, it's not on the finished kitchens blog. I don't want to hijack this thread, but if you start a new one, I will reply with the details of my kitchen.

Hope this helps, everyone!

bump

I like the design of your house and of the doors! It's neat and nice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Basement Entry Systems