A Sliding Door Hides the TV in This Attractive Living Room
See how a designer transforms the barn door concept using walnut veneer and modern styling over a fireplace
Erin Carlyle
April 4, 2019
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
Photos by Marc Fowler of Metropolis Studio
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Michelle Graham of Michelle Graham Design, her husband and one of their sons and his girlfriend
Size: 240 square feet (22 square meters)
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Kitchen and bath designer Michelle Graham and her husband bought this triplex home in 2004 as an investment property. It had been divided into three apartments in the 1940s. Recently they renovated the main level — where they live — including adding on to the east side of the property, where they previously had an underused side yard. They rent out the two apartments above their own.
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Michelle Graham of Michelle Graham Design, her husband and one of their sons and his girlfriend
Size: 240 square feet (22 square meters)
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Kitchen and bath designer Michelle Graham and her husband bought this triplex home in 2004 as an investment property. It had been divided into three apartments in the 1940s. Recently they renovated the main level — where they live — including adding on to the east side of the property, where they previously had an underused side yard. They rent out the two apartments above their own.
Here’s a look at the addition to the century-old home from the outside. The black steel structure is the living room seen in the previous photo. The fence in front creates plenty of privacy.
Architectural designer Steve Ardington of Ardington and Associates Design created the plans for the addition and renovation and Graham acted as her own general contractor, hiring and working directly with the trades who built out the plan. While the work was underway, the family lived in the apartment above the main level.
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Architectural designer Steve Ardington of Ardington and Associates Design created the plans for the addition and renovation and Graham acted as her own general contractor, hiring and working directly with the trades who built out the plan. While the work was underway, the family lived in the apartment above the main level.
Find an architect or building designer near you
Graham considers her client for this space her husband — and his request was not to see the TV. The couple had lived abroad for several years and gotten away from watching broadcast television, though Graham’s husband retained his love of watching sports (mostly hockey). Other than for games, news or the occasional Netflix streaming, the TV is usually off. “This is our living space, this is our entertaining space — we didn’t want it dominated by a television,” Graham says.
The 1,500-square-foot apartment is full of sliding doors, which Graham considers “the most effective way to close off spaces in a small space.” She designed a sliding walnut panel above the fireplace that hides the TV. In this photo, it’s open.
Wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
The 1,500-square-foot apartment is full of sliding doors, which Graham considers “the most effective way to close off spaces in a small space.” She designed a sliding walnut panel above the fireplace that hides the TV. In this photo, it’s open.
Wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
Graham used a standard black barn door rail to mount the door. But instead of placing the rail hardware on the front of the door as it is typically done, she put it on the back so it doesn’t show. “I wanted a much cleaner, modern look,” she says.
Aligning the fireplace, TV and adjacent shelves took careful work to be sure everything fit precisely. First the tiler installed the black slate tiles for the fireplace surround. Next came the box that holds the TV in the wall. Then came the mantel, followed by the display cabinet to the right of the television. The last steps were installing the door and the slats on the wall above the door. Local cabinetmaker Mike Hilchie made the door, mantel and display cabinet shelves and installed them to line up precisely.
The slats have a walnut veneer and are all cut from a single large sheet. “The whole sheet was sliced and numbered so that the grain remains consistent across every slat,” Graham says.
Centered on the fireplace surround is a marble engraving of an Inuit family that the homeowners purchased some 30 years ago.
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Aligning the fireplace, TV and adjacent shelves took careful work to be sure everything fit precisely. First the tiler installed the black slate tiles for the fireplace surround. Next came the box that holds the TV in the wall. Then came the mantel, followed by the display cabinet to the right of the television. The last steps were installing the door and the slats on the wall above the door. Local cabinetmaker Mike Hilchie made the door, mantel and display cabinet shelves and installed them to line up precisely.
The slats have a walnut veneer and are all cut from a single large sheet. “The whole sheet was sliced and numbered so that the grain remains consistent across every slat,” Graham says.
Centered on the fireplace surround is a marble engraving of an Inuit family that the homeowners purchased some 30 years ago.
Find barn doors in the Houzz Shop
A vent at the top of the unit releases some of the heat created by the gas fireplace so the TV doesn’t overheat — and also so it’s more comfortable to sit in front of the fireplace.
In terms of the furnishings, the rug was something the homeowners already had. The tables on either side of the fireplace are antiques, the one on the right from Graham’s great-grandparents. The art on the right side of the fireplace is an original oil painting that Graham’s parents purchased when she was a child, and the art on the left was bought by the homeowners at a charity event.
The floor is maple. Beneath it Graham had hydronic radiant heating installed.
Flooring: Logs End
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In terms of the furnishings, the rug was something the homeowners already had. The tables on either side of the fireplace are antiques, the one on the right from Graham’s great-grandparents. The art on the right side of the fireplace is an original oil painting that Graham’s parents purchased when she was a child, and the art on the left was bought by the homeowners at a charity event.
The floor is maple. Beneath it Graham had hydronic radiant heating installed.
Flooring: Logs End
More on Houzz
Read about other living rooms
Find a pro
Shop for products
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I think it's brilliant!
Love the slats and also the blue velvet pillow sofa <3