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.