Can flush door systems be used in period properties?
Flush doors are a smart and flawless interior feature which are designed to fit seamlessly into a sparsely decorated scheme. They are a simple, modern door system with the primary design characteristic of being completely smooth and flat with no prominent features. This means they have no surrounding architrave or door panels, they have hidden hinges and, in many cases, also have integrated flush door handles which are sunken into the door’s surface.
With no decoration or any features sitting proud of the flat surface, flush doors are perfect for modern buildings, whether they are contemporary homes or commercial buildings, but can flush doors also be used for period properties? Given they are ideal for the minimalist chic on which many modern properties are based, you would think that flush doors are only suitable for modern buildings, but that is not necessarily the case.
What makes flush doors unique?
Flush doors are made using a specially engineered frame which means there is no framework or architrave protruding from the door surface, and hence they sit flush to the wall finish and provide clean lines and perfect, flawless visibility. This detail-free lack of ornamentation provides a flat surface that is easy to clean and maintain, as no dust or dirt settles on it. Flush doors are also more affordable than many other types of door system as the lack of decorative features and carved panels means they are easy to machine and manufacture.
The minimalist appeal of the flush door does lend itself to the clean, geometric and sparse design scheme you usually see in a modern building, but flush doors can also be used in properties with a more traditional feel, so let’s look at that in more detail.
How flush doors can be used in period properties
The phrase ‘period property’ offers visions of homes and buildings from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras. These used ornamental finishes, heavy decoration and much more depth and artistic flourish. A period property would ordinarily have wall and ceiling carvings, and it would have skirting boards with profiles that matched door and window architrave. A more traditional home, ie. a 21st century home built in the 1970s or 80s, may have fewer of these kinds of features but would still have a more decorative feel than a modern property.
A flush door with its clean lines and plain finish won’t look out of place in a period property, because there is literally nothing that can clash. You might not use a flush door as a statement feature, for example as double doors leading between a living room or dining room, as that is a centrepiece of a room, but you can use flush doors as interior doors leading into and out of rooms, as they ease transition between different design schemes used in different rooms, and act as a neutral break-point before introducing new colours or styles in a different room. Of course, it can also be possible to use flush doors for lesser-used or more functional rooms also, such as an en-suite, a toilet, a pantry or a utility room.
What you need to think about when using flush doors in a period property
So yes, it is possible to use flush door systems in a period property, but there are a number of things you need to consider and keep in mind:
- Design schemes – Flush doors won’t necessarily work in heavily ornate spaces, such as formal rooms decorated in a Victorian or Georgian style, but they are ideal for transitional spaces and for functional rooms.
- Listed buildings – Some period properties have preservation orders or are bound by conservation rules meaning you can’t make certain changes. Be careful to check that you can install modern door systems such as the flush door before you make too many installation plans.
- Finish – It is possible to opt for a flush door finish which has a more traditional feel, even if the overall design is very modern. So you can choose a timber or wood grain finish, which may suit a more traditional property better than the shiny plastic finish you would use in a modern building. This may retain the character of the property better.
You can select from our range of flush doors here at MB Direct.