Accordion doors: They were highly touted back in the day as a space-saving and room-hiding innovation. And, I think they most definitely can have their uses today, with the caveat that you want to look for a high-quality product, not one that’s flimsy. Looking back at a story on unusual accordian plastic window shades, I see that clever reader Joni tipped us to two places where you can get full-size accordian doors. I did even more research and tallied four to consider — including three that have been in business for decades. Above: Beautie-Vue’s vintage illustration of possible ways to use accordian doors.
Thanks so much to tipster Joni, who wrote:
Home Depot has a few acrylic accordion doors on their website–they’re kind of plain, but could be really cool with a textured window film on the acrylic panels. (Solyx has some nice window films at decorativefilm.com)
Woodfold.com has been in business for 50+ years and has woven wood, acrylic, and really cool perforated aluminum accordion shades.
#1 — Accordian folding doors from Panelfold:
Panelfold says: Panelfold is the first company in the world to invent, patent and commercialize folding doors incorporating flexible panel connector hinges.
Indeed, I count nine different series of doors. Lots of different design options — and materials — to choose from.
#2 — Accordian folding doors from Woodfold:
A company that’s been in business since 1957? You know that’s one of the top things that makes my heart go pitter-patter. Here’s what Woodfold says about their company on their website:
We’ve been crafting value for more than 50 years. Woodfold Mfg., Inc. was established in 1957 in Forest Grove, Oregon. Since then, we’ve grown into one of the nation’s leading suppliers of custom-crafted Accordion Doors, Roll-Up Doors, hardwood Shutters and Bookcase Doors for both residential and commercial installations. And even though times have changed, some things at Woodfold haven’t. At least, not the values that really make a difference to our customers.
According to their catalog, they have quite a few series, depending on your usage/needs. Finishes include natural hardwoods, woodgrain vinyls, solid vinyls, textured vinyls, custom paint finishes, custom stain finishes, high pressure decorative laminate finishes, aluminum — including perforated aluminum! — and applied murals.
#3 — Accordian folding doors from Spectrum and Marley, available via Home Depot:
Meanwhile, you can also head to Home Depot online to check out their selection of accordian folding doors from Spectrum. There are a handful of designs from a company called Marley, too. Home Depot categorizes these as closet doors. They run the spectrum in terms of cost, based on the materials they are made of. Some of them look to be basically PVC-framed. Others, much more expensive (like the one shown above) are laminate over MDF.
#4 Don’t forget New Old Stock Beauti-Vue accordian fold woven wood doors:
If you wanna make a big retro statement with your accordian door, get yer Beauti-Vue products before all their rolls of New Old Stock woven wood are gone! Yes, they can make them into accordian doors — see this story on that product line — LOTs of really great vintage photos to ogle, too.
- Beauti-Vue was one of our biggest discoveries ever on Retro Renovation. Right behind the now-defunct World of Tile. See all our stories about the products you can still get made from New Old Stock woven woods — while they last — by clicking here.
Poking around the google, I see there may be other brands as well. If you’re in the market and want to be super thorough, keep researching.
Steve Ward says
Recently cleaned up a set of a Panelfold of doors separating the Jack-n-Jill bedrooms in this 1956 Edward H. Fickett, F.A.I.A. design in Encino, CA. Still to this day, they work flawlessly.
http://modernhomesla.blogspot.com/2016/09/pristine-mid-century-modern-edward-h.html
Cindy Friday Beeman says
If you have cats, BeautiVue is not an option, just sayin’ They think it’s a scratching post.
Mary Fryar says
We rehabbed a 1956 ranch and needed a door between the kitchen and den. An accordion door was the perfect solution. Privacy when wanted.
Wish I could add a photo here.
Birgitta Hietala says
We have Ra-Tox Fashionfold doors on our three closets. I have the brochure that came with them which is why I know the brand. Our house was built in 1956.
Joe Felice says
Throughout my life, I’ve associated accordion doors with mobile homes. “But why,” I ask, “can’t they be more upscale-looking?” Indeed, you have shown some that are. And why can’t we paint scenes or designs on them? Or cover them with wallpaper or self-adhesive vinyl. When you look at them in this way, they become a blank canvas, and can be turned into works of art.
Kristen says
My 1956 ranch has accordion doors dividing the house in half. As you enter the foyer, to the left is the hallway with bedrooms and bathrooms. Turn right, go through the accordion doors and it’s the living area (living room, dining room, kitchen, den). They aren’t the cool types shown here, but simpler louvered panels, small with only two panels per side.
I’ve always wondered who put the hook and eye on the bedroom side of the doors. I’d always thought it should be on the living room side to keep little ones from sneaking into the living room. Now my kids just lock us in the living room.
Rick G says
Thanks Pam – I’ve always liked these doors, I may just be looking into installing them for the basement; it would be a much better option than a solid door in that area
ineffablespace says
The country club in my town was designed by someone who had interned under Frank Lloyd Wright and it had Philippine mahogany accordion doors dividing several spaces allowing them to be fully opened or fully closed off. At some point one of the areas was remodeled with walls and pocket doors and it really was not as multifunctional anymore, it became a mostly closed-off dining room.
There is a c. 1970s rehab of an 1830s house where I live and the kid’s room floor and the master bedroom floor both have areas that are able to be separated by large expanses of accordion doors. If there is an uploader coming up I will try to remember posting a photo, if I can, it’s from a real estate listing.
An entire room could be created by accordion doors on the kid’s floor. When I went through the house, one of the comments was how “dated” that particular aspect was, but they were not seeing that it made the entire floor of the house pretty flexible. I don’t know whether this house has survived unscathed and I am not sure I want to know.
There is one area in my house (1965) that these would be perfect, and compatible with something the architect would have done, but because they aren’t already there I am “not allowed” to put accordion doors in, it will have to be pocket doors. 🙁 Or it’s one of those compromises that people make when they live together and both have ideas about design.
Robin, NV says
How timely! I just bought a 1955 ranch and I was thinking of using accordion doors in a bedroom closet that’s missing its sliders. My grandmother had accordion doors between the dining room and the TV room, so I’ve always felt a little nostalgic for them.
Maria says
When my grandparents built their home in 1954, they had pocket doors, but no accordion–at the very least, when they divided up the basement, they should have had pocket doors instead of solid walls in some places! The old basement stairs are no longer in code and have always been pretty steep and dangerous, so now it means tearing out walls covered with awesome “party” Mid-Century wallpaper (martini glasses, olives, clarinets, records, cocktail wieners, etc.). Anyway, there was a pocket door dividing the kitchen from the dining room, and for three bedroom closet doors.
Here’s the wallpaper, by the way: https://scontent-dft4-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/292960_3382183164832_2101685803_n.jpg?oh=14f4210157dcf7757472df034ee8e2ec&oe=586CC884
pam kueber says
That wallpaper!!!!!
Carolyn says
Oh, oh! Is there any way you can dismantle the walls instead of busting them up? Salvage what you can, install it on the new and “frame” it somehow or use somewhere else. It would be a shame if this paper was destroyed.
pam kueber says
I am not the expert but I have heard that if there is liner paper underneath it could conceivably be salvaged. I think by steaming it off, but I am not sure — find an expert who can advise. That said this old paper often is quite brittle, may be hard to save.
Maria says
Honestly, I don’t think my uncle (who owns the house, and is not one for spending money on authentic period restorations) would put in the effort. The better bet would be to just get some high-res photographs and reproduce it.
Here’s Christmas dinner in the basement: https://get.google.com/albumarchive/114044518618760560706/album/AF1QipPt1Wi1lgbileBFPrF1dUAYrkdc21MU1-NdNx6g/AF1QipMsW-bxo5mOe0ktaKiLuF7C07qzsUGhVH_GRKMU?authKey=CLWhkbiUpLy8YA
Note the Noritake plates (which were not “Blue Hill,” but something close to it)… Grandma turned them upside-down to keep them clean for the guests who haven’t sat down yet. Truly, it was a different era!
Ranger Smith says
Want that wallpaper. It would be great as wrapping paper too! Lucky you to have it and to have a place for it!
Marie A says
My 1967 home has wooden folding doors for the laundry area. I love them and they work like a charm. Also plastic accordion doors on the bathtubs and I’ve grown to love those too–easy to care for, take up very little space.