Whether they are fully opened or tucked away for later use, pocket doors are a great way to add interest to your kitchen. Simonne Pace discovers the ins and outs of this space-saving concept.
Saving space in an apartment by having your kitchen neatly packed away in pocket doors seems to be the latest trend in home design. Besides making the most of both wall and floor space, pocket doors fill an average space with architectural charm and help it mesh with any interior design.
The attention nowadays is more on sleek, minimalist trends that look clean and are appealing to the eyes. It’s all about quality and design
Pocket doors don’t take up as much floor space as typical swing doors, thereby allowing more flexible arrangements of space, an especially useful feature in smaller rooms. In larger spaces, pocket doors provide elegant transitions between rooms.
Property developers and home owners, especially those with a passion for design, are moving away from the normal, traditional-looking kitchen and mostly seek a simple yet chic look. The attention nowadays is more on minimalist lines that look clean and are appealing to the eyes.
The beauty of the concept lies in the fact that it gives the designer the freedom of really thinking outside the box and creating something unique.
The idea originates from the basic need to conceal the clutter of kitchen appliances or chaotic preparation areas, wanting them to be out of the way as much as possible. So, the concept serves its purpose mostly in the kitchen, where anything you might want stacked away neatly out of sight, such as hoods, fridges, freezers and even sinks, can actually go inside these pocket doors.
A pocket door slides into a metal and wood cage that is installed as the walls are framed. In older homes, a sliding pocket door was used to create privacy and separate a living room from a parlour or dining room. The door disappeared into the wall when it wasn’t being used, but was convenient to pull out when needed.
This concept of camouflaging areas in the home has been around for a while. However, the idea is only just picking up in Malta, with quite a few developers, interior designers and architects buying old character houses, especially in Valletta, and choosing to convert them into a cluster of tiny studio flats that are beautifully designed, says Noel Pace, manager of furniture solutions company Onepercent Group in Valley Road, Msida.
“The clever design of a pocket door continues to be a space-saving solution today, especially when one is designing a small kitchen,” explains the furniture enthusiast.
“However, maximising space in space-restricted areas is not only a necessity, but also an aesthetic feature. And the beauty of it all is that you literally end up having a fully-equipped kitchen in a cupboard as a result.”
The pocket door, which slides in and out of the wall, is the perfect solution in a small kitchen, where floor and wall space, or even storage, are at a premium. Whereas in a traditional kitchen, one was accustomed to seeing hanging cupboards, fully-fledged islands with pots and pans swinging above, or even hoods hanging from the ceiling, this new idea of camouflaging the kitchen creates a neat and beautiful setting that does away with all the mess and clutter.
Mr Pace, who has been in the furniture business for many years, says it’s all about design and needs. Concealing certain parts of the kitchen becomes a need in confined areas – obviously due to lack of space – while the kitchen concurrently turns into a better, innovative space in terms of aesthetic beauty and more flexibility.
Pocket doors allow the kitchen to close off from the rest of the space when in use. When the doors are open, both spaces feel larger.
As Mr Pace browses through a stash of home furnishing books, he focuses on a range of pocket doors imported from northern Italy: “What you’re seeing here is the ultimate in concept design. Some people are willing to spend a lot of money on space-saving gadgets such as pocket doors and designer cooker hoods tucked away below the work surface when not in use, simply to create an innovative design in their apartment.”
He then walks towards a hob in one of the many kitchens on display at the showroom, presses a button and a stainless steel hood ejects smoothly and silently.
“These gadgets look beautiful, but the good thing about them is that they also turn a kitchen into a fully functional space.”
The idea of having a concealed hood in the kitchen is becoming very popular in Malta, especially among those who want to have an uncluttered island in tandem with other space-saving solutions and gadgets.
Interior designer Kevin Micallef, who works on high-end residential and commercial properties, says there are a number of reasons that made him go for such a concept in his kitchen.
Primarily, because it’s a new concept in kitchen design. “I like the uniformity, the straight lines and the cleanliness. You can simply shut the pocket doors if you have guests over, and cover the mess. I thought the space would be less functional but, in actual fact, I use it a lot, especially since my coffee machine, toaster and other appliances are all placed there. The fact that there are two electrical sockets is also a huge plus.”
The interior designer, who studied at London’s KLC School of Design and has had this new-concept kitchen for just over two years, loves the sense of uniformity, the veneer and especially the matt glass of the lower cupboards.
“I like contemporary design, so the kitchen, with its straight lines, totally reflects my style. The kitchen is usually the messiest room, where everyone mostly hangs out,” the designer points out.
He thinks camouflaging a kitchen is a great idea and very useful, especially in open spaces.