Westfield Santa Anita
400 South Baldwin, Suite 2175
ARCADIA, CA 91007
T 626 446 1465
F 626 446 1329

For more information contact@slidingdoorco.com.

After 10 years living in a two-bedroom walkup condo, it was time to reinvent the space. I had considered making condo improvements for years, but had been busy as an entrepreneur building my own company. Then along came the girl. It is a typical story, though special to us. Boy meets girl, we fell in love, became engaged, and now needed to plan where we would live. Just as my life had been re-energized with this relationship, it was time to do the same to my space.

The idea (which I must credit to my fiancée) was to remove a wall from the small second bedroom to create on open space extending from the kitchen and dining area. My goals were: 1. Give the space a new open and modern look. 2. Create a multi-functional area comfortably suited for entertaining, working, and hosting overnight guests (which could also serve as a future nursery). 3. Maintain two-bedroom status for future salability. To maintain the two-bedroom status and provide privacy for overnight guests, installing sliding doors that could be hidden behind a shelf wall seemed the way to go.

With no previous experience, I assumed the role of designer, hired a contractor, and we started construction. Prior to this I had investigated different door partition options at various home stores, and had been very disappointed in the poor quality and weak finishes offered of their sliding door offerings. The Sliding Door Company was different. As soon as I walked into their showroom, I knew I had found the solution I was looking for. I was immediately impressed by the modern look and solidly engineered construction of their doors and rail system.

The people at the The Sliding Door Company were wonderful. In just two short visits to their showroom, they helped me put together the entire design including the specific measurements for my contractor. Thanks to their advice on designing the opening to use standard sized doors they kept in inventory, the project was completed from concept to house warming party in 4 weeks! This included the design, space cutout, door measurement and ordering, painting, and installation. My friends could not believe it was the same condo.

It’s now 4 months after the installation and I’m still coming up with different uses for the space. Even though the doors were designed to spend most their time hidden behind the wall, I sometimes pull them out because they just look so darn good!

We thought we had to move. We had a baby on the way. Four years ago we had purchased a one-bedroom condo. We thought that buying our first place when we got married was a wise investment—that in three years we could make a substantial nest egg selling the place—knowing that kids would be on the way. Things changed. The economy spun out of control and the housing market became a complete joke.

Brian and I looked into selling the place once we found out our first little one was arriving in nine short months. The verdict: dismal to say the least. The notion of losing a-whole-lot-of money on our place and financing a down payment was, oh, how do you say? Not in the cards. How was this going to work?

My response to this situation: “We’ll make it work.” Brian’s response: “We’re screwed.” Our place was spacious for a one-bedroom. I knew we could make it work.

We were so excited for the little one’s due date, but the last thing we wanted was to live in a cluttered, dysfunctional space upon his/her arrival. We wanted a cool, sleek condo that could manage all three of us. Our baby needed a proper room, proper space for their stuff, and sane parents. This was going to be a challenge.

A good friend recommended we check out The Sliding Door Company. She suggested we turn our dining room into the master bedroom (with the use of the doors); and make our (current) bedroom into the baby room. I loved the idea, Brian thought she was nuts. Despite his hesitation, we ran with it.

The doors were installed and even though our condo walls were crooked, they looked amazing. It created a cool contrast—a nice modern accent to our vintage space. The unobtrusive look was perfect; the doors were versatile and let light shine through—maintaining the condo’s open feel. We moved our bed, we installed blinds, we hung artwork, and wouldn’t you know it? We had one rockin’ room. I commonly refer to our new digs as our ‘spa bedroom.’ There’s lots of light, a low bed, and of course… the frosted doors.

Our space was really “working.” We actually liked our new setup better than the previous design. We were amazed at how much space we actually had in our little one-bedroom pod. We now had a two-bedroom condo complete with a nursery—making for two happy expecting parents. We discovered: we did not have to move… and more importantly we did not have to lose every last cent of our savings. I love our place; I could stay here forever. I even mentioned to Brian, “Do you think we could fit another one in here?” Probably not, but then again, you never know.

We are extremely excited to invite designers, architects, developers, builders, and home owners to our newly-designed, expanded San Francisco showroom. Our beautiful new showroom is located within the Sobel Design Building on 8th Street.

What: New Showroom Grand Opening
When: May 5, 2010
Where: 680 8th Street #163, San Francisco CA 94103

Sliding door idea on track

Company fills a niche by offering standard-size and custom glass dividers that can be easily installed to create new rooms or maximize interior space

Centuries ago, Japanese homeowners sectioned off interior spaces using shoji screens made of paper and wood.

Today, materials of choice are tempered glass and aluminum, but the goal is the same: to create interior walls easily, inexpensively and quickly.

“Sliding doors don’t require a permit and don’t leave construction dust,” said Ron Jacobs, president of The Sliding Door Company of Texas, which owns showrooms in Houston, Chicago, New York and Florida.

“All you need is a screwdriver, a glue gun and a space that you want to divide.”

All the rage in the 1950s and ’60s, sliding doors are making a comeback, Jacobs said, especially in areas where real estate is pricey. In fact, Jacobs said, some of his best clients are expectant parents looking to maximize space in their postage-stamp-size New York apartments.

“If you need to create a new room, like a nursery, or want to add a space without doing construction, sliding doors offer you options at a lower cost than renovations,” Jacobs said.

“Part of the attraction for Houston is that this is a style that’s been here since the ’50s, and people are starting to respect the design of their ’50s houses now,” said Ernesto Maldonado, a partner in Glassman, Shoemake, Maldonado/Architects and past board member of the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architects. “People are always wanting to refine their spaces, and this offers a smooth look with clean lines.”

Doors range from $800 on up

The company was founded in California four years ago by one of Jacob’s childhood friends. A longtime homeowner in Houston, Jacobs left a lucrative position as CEO of a logistics company to open its eastern region operations in Houston.

Originally from Israel, Jacobs earned an undergraduate degree and an MBA from the University of Buffalo.

Products at his company range from $800 closet doors made of frosted glass or mirrors, to $1,500-and-up room dividers that stand 10 feet wide and 80 inches tall.

Customers can choose between using standard-size products that the company stores in its Houston warehouse — including closet doors, room dividers, cubicle walls and more — or choosing to create custom units, which require 10 to 12 weeks for delivery.

“We’re very conscious of the fact that by the time someone receives an order, they’ve been waiting awhile, so we want everything to be perfect,” Jacobs said. “Our product is returned less than one percent of the time.”

Emphasis on quality products

While other companies make their sliding doors in Western Europe, which Jacobs said raises the cost, his company manufactures in Taiwan. He’s quick to stress the company’s emphasis on quality.

“We only use DuPont parts, and our glass is … thicker than most sliding doors,” Jacobs said. “It’s also tempered — so even if kids run into it, it won’t shatter.”

According to Jacobs, the Houston warehouse — which serves the entire company — uses two containers’ worth of doors each month, but the Taiwanese production facility has the capacity to produce a container-full each day.

He plans to add three showroom locations this year, including in Washington, D.C., and Austin. The Houston showroom is on West Alabama off U.S. 59.

“Our storefront in Chicago is actually a three-story house decorated to look like a home, so people can get a feel for the doors in an actual house,” he said.

Looking at Boston, Philadelphia

For now, Jacobs said, the company is considering other markets where space is at a premium, including Boston and Philadelphia.

Sixty percent of the company’s business involves residences, while the remainder is divided among offices, hotels and restaurants — “anywhere they need to divide a space with something that’s functional, safe and easy-to-use,” Jacobs said.

While first-year annual revenues companywide ran $500,000 in 2006, last year’s revenues hit $15 million, according to Jacobs. The company’s Web site is www.txslidingdoor.com.

‘Sam the cooking guy’ is a cooking show about an everyday guy (ok, he’s got 11 Emmys) who has found a way to make cooking casually understandable. Click here to see how Sam Zien remodeled his kitchen using sliding doors from The Sliding Door Co. for his skinny pantry. Looking good, Sam …

On April 2010, we will open our doors in San Francisco in a remodeled showroom located at Sobel Design Building.

Our new San Francisco address will be:
680 Eighth Street #163
San Francisco, CA 94103

Thanks again for all the help received from The Sliding Door Company.   Whether at your showroom or ours the sales staff were always very helpful.  The installers were very professional, receptive to queries and never spoke above a whisper.  Even when supplies were missing it was good to know that you were able to recoup, get the supplies needed and finish the job so that ultimately the order to install process went smoothly.  Kudos to you all!

Enjoy the pictures and have a great day!

Linda

Doors are very high quality very please with the way they open and close
Duane C.

these guys were helpful and great
Fred L.

looks beautiful! Very quiet opening
Jody J.

I worked with Gina and Jordan throughout my project. Both were professional and courteous.  Gina went out of her way to make sure I got what I wanted.  Product was exactly what I wanted and came when they promised.
Joe T.

Doors looks great. Quality is good. Professional install
Michael B.

Fast-polite-clean and well organized Thanks!
Peg G.

As usual, great service by Manny!
Joe B.

First rate job. We’re very satisfied.
Louise L.

Live the doors thanks!
Kelly S.

Fast, Efficient, Beautiful!
Donald N.

They are absolutely beautiful! Everything I imagined! Thank you!
Lisa F.

Great doors look very nice and gave the room a totally different look.
Installer did an excellent job
Noemie P.