Alternative Hinges...

For some reason pivot hinges are a rare find. I’m not sure why - I Love them.

Pivots create a simple streamlined opening. Closed they create a typical separation between rooms, and open you almost forget they’re there. Unlike traditional hinges affixed on the side, these attach at the top and bottom without a frame.

Contemporary doors on pivot hinges give a room a clean modern vibe, but they also work well in a traditional space on vintage doors. This image from my save file illustrates how they work, but as to where it came from or when, I have no idea - other than it appeared on page 98 of a magazine I love…

Pivot hinges are not just for doors. I used one on an interior window in my own space, so it rotates open on an axis. Imagine spinning it like the wheel of fortune, but rather than top to bottom, pivots rotate side to side like another favorite of mine - the swivel chair. The placement of the hinge, although subtly different, results in a far more interesting look than your average side hinge.

BTW I also love using piano hinges. They add an industrial look to a vintage door and work amazingly well for the "heavy weights". After all most vintage doors are solid wood, thicker, taller, and heavier than today's doors. But the best part – if you install a piano the full length of the door, there’s no gap in between hinges. Instead you get a consistent metal seam from top to bottom - polished and sleek…

So think about style the next time you hang a door, and consider one os these alternatives - pivots or pianos. They're fun, functional and be warned - highly addictive….