Thinking of taking off the kitchen door - is there any downside, or alternatives?

Jeepers_Creepers

Try it - almost certainly it'll work for you.

We did it - two doors - and it makes the whole area just easier to work with. Lawdie, even mil did it in their last bungalow.

Cooking smells? Yes, whilst things are being cooked - which, as said above, should be a welcoming smell. It should disperse shortly afterwards - just as it does from the kitchen itself (you don't currently walk into your kitchen and wrinkle your nose at old cooking smells, do you?!)

If you have a smoke detector that is triggered by cooking steam and smoke - cough - then either turn up your extractor fan, or replace it with a heat detector. We had to fit an additional detector in a hallway between the kitchen and the new extension, so I made this a heat type as it was located just outside the non-existent kitchen door.

And, if you really don't like it, replace the door. Bet you won't, tho'...

TELLIT01

"Concertina door" takes me right back to the hideous Marley vinyl concertina door in my parents home between their kitchen and dining room.  It was viewed as the height of home design at the time.  We are talking about the late 60's / early 70s when the Bay City Rollers were also fashionable which may excuse them.

FreeBear

Doozergirl said:

Deleted_User said:

Put in a bifold or cocertina door.

Sorry, but 🤢

Agreed, concertina doors are, well, just...

Depending on space, how about a pocket door - Wired up to a motion sensor, and you could have something from USS Enterprise.

Rosa_Damascena

FreeBear said:

Doozergirl said:

Deleted_User said:

Put in a bifold or cocertina door.

Sorry, but 🤢

Agreed, concertina doors are, well, just...

Depending on space, how about a pocket door - Wired up to a motion sensor, and you could have something from USS Enterprise.

A pocket door would involve constructing a stud wall, but yes they do work well. An over-sliding barn door on an external track is the other option if wall space is available. I can imagine it offering a degree of privacy but again be a very limited weapon in the Battle Against Kitchen Smells.

Jeepers_Creepers

I cannot remember the last kitchen - of anybody's - I was in where they actually closed the door to it, even if just for cooking.

Anyhoo, the StarTrek door sounds a goer - apparently if you press against the side of your nose to block off one nostril, and give a short puff out t'other, that'll give you the required sound.

(Oh you dirty beasts - clean up your screens  now :-( )

cajef

To gain access to our fridge/freezer we had to close the kitchen door it was the only place the big FF could go, I took the door off after a few months as it became a pain every time we wanted to open the FF, we have a good extractor fan and never get any smells, we have a smoke alarm in the hall but that has only gone off if we accidently get excess smoke when frying anything, been like that for years now even after we had a new kitchen fitted. 

GaleSF63

I turned my door round (well, had it done) so that it opened into the living room not the kitchen, as it felt intrusive in the small kitchen, and it has worked very well. It means a bit of the door frame needs turning as well. 

MrCheeseman

Thanks for all the advice - in the end, I took the door off but am keeping it just in case. I've not got any kind of curtain etc, I might get one later but for now being able to access the extension without moving the kitchen door is much better. 

Monsternextdoor

Id be worried about the possibility of a fire sweeping thru what could be the exit in the house, But again it is your choice.

carefullycautious

You could always install a full length saloon door