You could forego a door.

Transoms? May not be cheaper than re-framing but would look nice:

http://www.doors4home.com/p-2646-mahogany-5-lite-double.aspx?gclid=CN-mvKqb2ccCFQsRHwodb0sJHg

Or build out the door with wide casing/ trim work so you can use a smaller door?

yeah, Cindymac, I could give up the door but I love the look of it. Otherwise it will just look unfinished.

That is gorgeous, Beagles.. but this is a very simple, mid-century house.. I also thought about just getting wide trim but I think it would still need reinforcement. That is probably the easiest way to go.

What a delightful idea! Reminds me of Sticky End Cottage in England, where I stayed a couple of years ago. The owners had converted the closet under the staircase into a library, and it was PERFECT. This is just a glimpse into the cozy little space.

Look in architectural salvage, habitat, antique stores? Have a custom door made.

Reframing is probably the easiest.

I love that closet. I have sort of a similar situation except the French door is the door into my office and opens in front of the open closet. Closet needs work but here are pictures. I'm trying to decide if I want to put sheers on the French door to cover my messy closet but seeing your photo makes me want to fix up the closet and not bother with sheers.

Drat - I can't seem to upload photos...

Funky, I just retuprpned from a roadtrip thru the south where we(my adult son and myself)toured several historic homes. There was one in Savannah where the lady of the house had a door installed w/narrow shelves to hold all the sterling trays, creamers/sugar bowls, and numerous other SS items. An entry door was on one side of the beautiful built-in hutch and she did it because she wanted semetry. It's an awesome i dea, especially if it's unused.

Jen, that's adorable and love the name! I love how the English and French have such an 'eye'. I've transformed the closet in my upstairs family room into a computer/office 'room'~it's wide, just not deep. I had to re-shuffle the shelves a bit, and the PC(though not used often these days!)sits on the bottom shelf with two other shelves above. I've added wall lamps to the side walls(there's also a ceiling light), and painted it black! A cute antique chair, pictures/small mirrors, etc, on the side walls finish it off. It always becomes a 'discussion' when it's a first time visitor. I just didn't need a full-on home office. ;)

Another try to post...

Funkyart - I like the bead board idea in your inspiration pic. I found a photo online somewhere with a similar closet and it had a hanging light fixture that looked really nice. I wonder how the shelves are supported?

What about a cute full length curtain hung on a tension rod and then swagged to one side? Might not have quite the same appeal, but it could be more economical. : )

The beadboard is nice, if it suits your house, but also rgrs' pic with the bookcase back wall painted the sMe color as the wall.

Can you use an exterior door? They come wider, don't they?

Thanks everyone!
If my closet was just a little deeper, I'd keep it open with a little stool or chair and a funky light fixture -- but it really isn't that big.

I think a curtain would be darling in a young girl's room but it's not the look I am going for.

I bought a long (78") white desktop with chrome legs-- not sure what color I'll paint the walls just yet. I lean towards gray. I really like the clean lines and look of a glass door.

Rgrs - I love your french door on the entry! That could work too but I just wonder if I'll want privacy. I'll have to give that some thought. Your closet is about the same size as mine!

The 36" was for an exterior door. I'll have to look around a bit more. I haven't done an exhaustive search. I've focused on old and antique doors thus far-- partially because I love them and partially because a new door cost 3-6x the price of those on CL.

Funkyart, it's a cute idea. When we had decorative glass installed in our front doors, the company used the same exterior doors and routed the middle for the correct sized panel. A glass shop should be able to use your door and install glass. If they don't do it, they will know who could. After routing the door and installing the glass panel, they used small trim around the inserted glass. Hope that helps. You may also have a company that installs these decorative panels. You might find one that has the mullions etched into the glass.

ETA-It won't let me upload photos from my computer for you, sorry. Don't know why. Do they only want us to use Houzz photos now?

Oh that's a good idea, Voila-- but this closet doesn't currently have a door. I suspect it had an accordion door at one point.

BPA, I like the bead board too but I am not sure it's right for this house or this room. I'll likely just paint it. I thought about painting the closet an accent color but the shelves will be pretty full. I'll probably just go with white.

Bf is in the "leave it open" camp but I love the look of the door. I'll proceed with the office plans and keep looking for a door.

Oh the door makes it! You will find something. Do you have a carpenter you could talk with and see what they suggest? There MUST be a way to make that door work!!!

I think so too, Tinam! I so don't want it to look like i made a makeshift bookshelf in the closet-- even though that is exactly what I am doing! Plus it is a small room with no real character. I think it will be smashing!

I have a carpenter I bring in on a project by project basis. I figured I'd get a door and then bring him in. I was hoping to do it ourselves but the only door I have found that is close to the right size is a heavy commercial exterior door. The style works but i think the weight would be an issue.

I am sure it is a matter of building a trim frame-- the door is not currently trimmed. NONE of the doors or windows are trimmed (that's a whole other thread. It is a mid century home with only baseboards. I'd like to add window trim but I don't want fight the mid century style of the house).

I shouldn't malign the room. I chose the small room for my office because I like the "energy" in it. I can get claustrophobic but this room doesn't give me that feeling-- even now when it is filled with spare furniture.

Don't suppose you have room for one of those barn like doors that slides mounted on the outside - you could have two.

rgrs, no-- sadly there's not enough room on the wall for a door like that. I saw an amazing one done with an industrial glass panel. It was a show stopper!

I think we may end up doing that kind of a door in the basement to segment off an office area (for the bf) from the living area -- but that project is further down the road. He's still out of state and not here full time.