Swing Door
Swing doors open easily in both directions, making it a classic choice for kitchens and laundry rooms
A swing door has spring-loaded hinges that keep the door in place when it's not pushed open. Swing doors open in both directions; because of this feature, a window at head height in the door is advisable, possibly even necessary, for the safety of passersby.
A swing door is easy to push open with a full laundry basket in hand.
Don't open a swing door until you check to make sure the coast is clear. Windows, whether plain rectangles or portholes like the one here, keep you from bumping into someone on the other side of the door.
Before open floor plans were popular, kitchens often had swing doors, also called service doors, to keep the cooking action hidden from view.
Swing doors traditionally served another practical function; they allowed servants holding trays to open the doors with their backs.
A nice coat of red paint on the swing door makes a strong statement in this kitchen.