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The Oden sliding barn door hardware system in single and bi-parting configurations features a simple, modern design with truly concealed fasteners to maintain a clean track look.

Now, we are proud to offer a third configuration option—bypassing.

While most bypassing hardware require obtrusive metal braces to support the system, Oden's custom-extruded track features enough lateral rigidity to support bypassing configurations with the same hidden fasteners that give Oden its unique appearance. This means more attention where it should be, on your doors.

The bypass configuration can be installed in two ways. Install with a center mount to use door panels weighing up to 225 lb each for greater design freedom. While this method allows for heavier doors, the door panels will overlap by 10” to accommodate the center mounting point. This is the perfect solution for wider door openings where bigger, heavier panels are needed.

Install without the center mount for door panels weighing up to 150 lb for minimized door panel overlap. This more flexible method is the perfect solution for narrower door openings where every inch counts.

And all these options maintain the infinite adjustability of Oden's door stops. With just a twist of an Allen key—a unique feature to Krownlab systems—change your door travel in seconds.

Elegant, uncluttered bypassing doors—just one more way Krownlab architectural hardware leads an industry.

1. Use Glass

The best shower designs feature glass prominently. Not only does glass convey a premium design sensibility, as a material, it lets light filter cleanly through the bathroom to make the space feel bigger. Glass also works well to showcase one of the most beautiful features of a premium shower, the tiling.

“I prefer full glass panels and doors to enclose showers, as opposed to partial walls or curtains,” says Beth Kooby, owner of Beth Kooby Design. “Usually the biggest expanse of gorgeous tile is in the shower, so I want to be able to see that!”

Also, glass enclosed showers, especially frameless systems, show off a shower’s tilework even when a visitor isn’t actually using the shower. For frameless glass shower enclosures, consider sliding door hardware. A sliding door shower system will also cut down on dead-space due to door travel—of special importance in bathrooms.

“In most bathrooms, space is such a commodity,” Kooby says. “The great thing about a sliding shower door is the space saving capability!”

Less Dead Space for More Living Space

Traditional swing doors have long been the standard in home, office, and hospitality design. However, because of their sweeping door travel, a lot of space is rendered unusable, especially with bigger doors. Sliding barn door hardware systems, however, take up a minimum of space whether opening or closing—space that can be put to better use.

Here’s how to use sliding door hardware systems to save space and open up a building’s potential:

1. Keep Hallways Free Even With Multiple Doors Open

Use sliding barn doors in hallways with multiple doors to maintain access to all rooms at all times and prevent collisions from doors opening into passersby. Because a sliding door’s dead space due to door travel is only along the wall, it works especially well where there is multiple rooms opening into a single hallway as in retail spaces and clinics.

Over the years, we’ve heard time and again from architects and designers wanting doors that elegantly break the mold, are oversized, and completely customizable. After a fortuitous meeting with the team at Smith & Fong, makers of the Plyboo line of bamboo interior finishes, we knew we’d found the perfect partner. Together we designed the Plyboo Door, a door panel created specifically to pair with Krownlab’s sliding door hardware systems for total entrance solutions.

The collaboration was a chance to work with a company we admire and respect—and our efforts paid off. Recently, the product combination was named a finalist for an Architizer A+ Award. Here’s excerpts from a conversation between Stefan Andrén, founder of Krownlab, and Dan Smith, founder of Smith & Fong, about the design process behind the Plyboo Door.

We offer the Axel sliding barn door hardware system in three standard lengths, 70”, 94”, and 116”. All of these lengths come with mounting holes pre-drilled and will work for most installations. However, sometimes a door opening lands between sizes and the door travel needs to be modified. No problem. Simply order the next length up and customize your Axel sliding door track for the desired door travel. This is a very easy modification to do in the field with common tools. All you will need are:

• A drill ⅜” drill bit for metal
• Lubricant (optional)
• Masking or painter’s tape
• A small block of wood

Using these tools, perform the following steps:

1. Order your Axel sliding door hardware system in the next size up

If you find your door opening is in between standard Axel track lengths, simply order the next size up.

2. Install your Axel sliding door hardware system

Complete installation of the Axel sliding door hardware system by following each step in the included instructions.

3. Determine and mark desired door travel

a. Move the door panel to the desired fully open position. b. Tape track with masking or painter’s tape. c. Mark the tape 9/16” from the trolley bracket as shown.

4. Slide door panel to fully closed position as shown

With any architectural hardware product, the foundation and reinforcement that you don't see can be just as important to the performance of your opening as the hardware you do see. For sliding barn door hardware, this foundation is wood blocking. It's required for proper installation of your hardware, and ensures smooth operation. We'll cover some of the basics.

What is the wood blocking actually reinforcing?

Blocking reinforces the header of the framed opening, and (along with drywall spacers) allows the weight load of the barn door hardware and panel to be properly distributed. This prevents any of the weight load being transferred onto the drywall.

Also, it is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to hit studs when mounting your track system due to the spacing of the attachment points. Wood blocking placed between the studs ensures that each connection point of your track system is securely fastened to the wall framing, no matter the spacing.

Even the best sliding barn door hardware on the market won’t function or look right without a quality installation. That’s why we’ve developed the Tru-Level™ System, a suite of adjustment features to adapt to any jobsite. The Tru-Level™ System includes the patent-pending Track Adjustment Feature and the patent-pending Vertical Panel Adjustment Feature, two ways to easily dial in your sliding door hardware for easy, quick, and most importantly, perfect installs.

Track Adjustment Feature

The Track Adjustment Feature component within the Tru-Level™ System absorbs the inevitable inaccuracies at the jobsite. Drilling a line of perfectly level holes with correct spacing is vital to ensuring a level track and smooth, consistent door travel. However, any installer knows that this can be the hardest thing to do in the field. We’ve solved for this. Our custom-extruded track was designed with a series of ridges that mate with a specialized washer plate—all hidden behind our track cover for a seamless, floating effect—to give ¼” adjustment at each mounting point. You can even tweak the height of the track at the mounting points after installation. It all adds up to a perfectly level sliding door system, even without perfectly drilled holes.

Vertical Panel Adjustment Feature

The second part of the Tru-Level™ System is the Vertical Panel Adjustment Feature in all Face Mount and Glass Mount configurations. This innovative feature allows you to control floor to door panel clearance with up to ¼” of play, even after installation. This is especially helpful for installs where:

Sliding barn doors are an iconic and useful element in modern design. They minimize dead space caused by door travel, are better for ADA access, and easily transform two static-use rooms into one living, adaptable space that can be divided or opened up according to need. Krownlab offers sliding door hardware in three configuration to fit projects with varying amounts of wall space and a wide array of intended uses. Between Single, Bi-Parting, and Bypassing, there is a Krownlab sliding door hardware solution to fit the project.

Single Door Configuration

Our Single Door Configuration is our most popular and is available with all of our sliding door hardware systems. Use oversized door panels to create an adaptable space that can easily change between open or divided depending on need. Create large, custom door panels to add design detail and tie in to overall interior decor. With Krownlab’s wide range of door panel weight capacities—the Oden, Baldur, and Ragnar sliding door hardware systems handle door panels of up to 400 lb—enjoy complete design freedom.

Pro Remodeler Magazine recently examined what’s driving the sliding door hardware trend and how it adds value to projects. Among other eye-popping statistics, one things in the article stands out: homes with sliding barn door hardware saw an increased sale value of over 13%. Featuring Krownlab hardware as an example throughout, author Tim Bruns, offers a complete analysis on the appeal of sliding barn door hardware:

It's official: Barn doors are incredibly hip.

A recent study conducted by website Zillow Digs found that these contemporary yet rustic sliding doors can help a home sell as many as 57 days faster and at a higher price point. The study analyzed descriptions on the listings of more than 2 million homes sold between January 2014 and March 2016 to see how certain keywords affect a home’s sale. Of all the terms analyzed, “barn doors” brought the highest premium, with homes whose listings mentioned this door type selling for an average of 13 percent above expected values. The “craftsman meets farmhouse” design concept is clearly resonating with today’s homeowners.

Consumers like the distinctive, upscale look as well as the doors’ functionality when it comes to closing off large spaces. Barn doors are also easy to install and are amazingly versatile in terms of color, size, and door style.

The design inspiration behind the industry unique Baldur sliding barn door hardware system was sparked when Krownlab’s founder, Stefan Andrén, visited the workshop of a friend, and early Krownlab collaborator, Rob Roy. There on a table in Rob’s workshop was an enormous 8-inch bearing. Andrén put his hand through the inner race and rolled it back and forth over the table.

“You could still put your whole hand through the bearing and I was like, hang on a second, there’s something here,” Andrén said. “I realized you didn’t necessarily have to bolt through the center of the bearing like it’s originally intended to be used, but you could just clamp a portion of the inner race and get this awesome hubless look.”

Andrén set out on the journey of honing the raw inspiration for Baldur into a product that would hold up to Krownlab’s exacting aesthetic and performance standards.

“We now had to define how we could achieve this,” Andrén said. “We first looked at just a welded, bent bracket with an injection-molded piece of plastic in the gap between the bracket and the inner-race.”

While the early prototype proved the concept valid, Andrén needed to refine Baldur’s design and manufacturing process for it to become commercially viable. He recruited Jeff Miller from Development Works, a local manufacturing partner, to help develop the trolley bracket and how it clamps onto the inner race. They brainstormed many different methods before eventually landing on investment casting the bracket.

At Krownlab we believe quality attracts its own. Through 10 years of partnering with the best in the industry, we’ve learned how to build relationships and develop exciting new designs. We are proud to be collaborating with Harkavy Furniture, another Portland-based company, on their new modern collection.

Lead by brothers Dylan and Wesley, Harkavy is dedicated to creating the highest quality handmade furniture with a rigorous attention to detail. The Pacific Northwest is a unique place that has inspired countless arts, designers, builders and masters of every craft. Dylan and Wesley grew up here and pursued studies in fine arts and architecture, and their designs are shaped by this background.

As Dylan explains, selecting hardware is a major step in their process:

“The Buxton was designed to be a one piece office solution, functioning both as a desk and a credenza. From its function to its form, we wanted every aspect of the Buxton to be beautiful and clean. This desire led us to partnering with Krownlab. We were drawn to their stunning design, unparalleled quality, and fine attention to detail. Kor was exactly what we needed for the project.”

In the coming months, look for Krownlab’s full line of new modern furniture hardware and more additions to the Harkavy modern collection.

Skylab Architecture used our Baldur sliding door hardware system in one of our favorite recent projects. Skylab is a Portland based design firm specializing in contemporary architecture and interior design. Founded in 1999 on the ideal of designing environments that create lasting effects on the natural and built worlds, Skylab continues to thrive today and has won awards from OCAPA, AIA, ASLA among others. The firm is behind a number of high-profile projects including the W Hotel in Seattle, Nike’s Camp Victory pop up in Eugene, and the Summit Village at Powder Mountain, Utah.

Skylab refit the Black Box Building, a 1916 historical building located at the corner of SW 13th Ave and Burnside, to be a boutique commercial hub of the neighborhood and serve as their new headquarters. Skylab, according to local architecture writer Brian Libby, was uniquely qualified to update the building for modern use.

Mixing Industrial and Modern

DBW Contracting was founded by Darren Wark in 2006 and focuses on builds that mix industrial and West Coast modern looks. For the Rainbow House in Victoria, B.C. Wark was faced with a few space challenges.

“We chose to use sliding doors for very practical reasons,” Wark said. “The doors really did not have room for a standard hinge configuration.”

However, when Wark surveyed the market, he had trouble finding sliding barn door hardware that fit the house’s style. Briefly, he considered having the hardware custom made at his local stainless shop. That is until he found Krownlab’s Rob Roy sliding door hardware system.

“As soon as I saw the Krownlab hardware, I knew the fit was natural,” Wark said. “The hardware has such a simple, pure sculptural style that blended very well with other details in the house."

Finding Matching Elements

Stainless Steel detailing plays a large role throughout the Rainbow House including the kitchen splashback, the schluter in the tile of the powder room, and the railing on the home’s focal point — a single stringer stairwell. Rob Roy, in Krownlab’s classic No. 4 Brushed Stainless finish, complemented the aesthetic ideally.

“The Rob Roy barn door hardware was a perfect partner to the other elements we introduced in the house,” Wark said.

Initially, it was these striking stairs that led DBW Contracting to sliding door hardware. The office door slab was 48" × 96", but the opening was too close to the stairs to work with a traditional hinge door. Sliding door hardware for the office door was all the plan called for originally. Then Wark found Krownlab.

“We also used Rob Roy hardware on the master ensuite and the master walk in closet,” Wark said. “We could have chosen to leave these as a pass through, but the Krownlab hardware is just so great looking we HAD to install it. Once again the Krownlab hardware made these doors both a feature piece of the house and a practical solution. We like wins like this.”

Goforth Gill Architects is a small firm specializing in residential construction and renovation work in the Seattle, Washington area. Established in 1992, the firm has been recognized in several publications. These include Northwest Home + Garden as the AIA Home of the Month, Fine Homebuilding, and in Seattle Magazine as one of the Top 50 Northwest Architects.

They partnered with Ventana Construction to extensively remodel this West Seattle residence with an expansive Puget Sound view. The interior alterations include a master bedroom addition, a new stairway, a remodeled kitchen, a dining and living room, a mudroom, a laundry, a powder room, and finally a new master bath. For the master bedroom and bathroom, Kimberly Goforth, principal architect at Goforth Gill, used a nyatoh wood-framed door with the Oden sliding door hardware.

​”The client brought this to the table,” said Goforth. “We used the doors in the master bedroom and bath. It is just the two of them living in the house and they wanted doors that they could easily leave open and that looked nice.​”

The Oden sliding door hardware system lends complete design freedom with 400 lb weight capacity, ADA pull force compliance, and premium finish options. For this West Seattle remodel, Goforth opted for the Brushed Stainless finish. This classic No. 4 directional finish is consistently our most popular. The hairline, linear graining is smooth to the touch but adds a sophisticated texture to the hardware.

The CYRK Building is a 14,500 square foot commercial and residential gem located in southeast Portland. DECA, an independent architecture and interior design studio in Portland, Oregon, designed it as a live-work environment. The owner maintains a primary residence on the second floor and a business office on the ground floor. An additional 1,200 square feet is set aside on the ground floor for commercial and retail use.

The LEED Platinum certified CYRK Building is a pillar of innovative and environmentally focused architecture. The elegant design features a green roof, solar panels (both PV and hydrogen), a ground-source heat pump, FSC certified lumber, and passive and active solar shading. Krownlab's Baldur sliding door hardware is featured throughout the interior.

When we moved into our new building in the Northwest Industrial district, we used glass walls throughout. Glass walls are the perfect way to update an industrial building with modern elements. We used our Oden sliding door hardware system for the entrance. Take a moment to see our work.

Oden was designed with glass in mind. We know that glass is not a forgiving material to work with, which is why we’ve built flexibility into the system. Our door stops are continually adjustable and can be set anywhere on the track. Krownlab’s trolleys can be adjusted on the jobsite in a number of directions. Set the exact distance between the fixed glass panel and the moving panel to clear any obstructions on the jobsite and install acoustic seals to control noise pollution. With systems compatible with glass panels between ⅜” and ¾” thick, pick the right glass thickness for your project.

Not only do sliding barn door systems have a modern aesthetic, they are compatible with fully frameless glass panels and glass walls, go-to modern office elements. And because sliding door systems work so well with glass, you can incorporate more of it into your design. This gives you the option of using local glass and easily upping your LEED ranking.

Taking high quality photographs in an interior space is deceptively challenging. Everything from technical concerns like lighting and composition, to equipment settings and cropping can undermine a shoot. However, there is hope. Krownlab’s in-house photography team, Akiko Noguchi and Steve Savas, have some basic best practices that can elevate you photos to match the quality of your installation.

1. Use natural light

Whenever possible, use natural light. Not only does it help bring a space to life, it prevents strong shadows and color casts.

“Natural light is always my first choice,” says Noguchi. “Unless it’s necessary, such as in windowless rooms or a low light office environment, I don't use any artificial light. Open your blinds!”

This rule maintains even if the weather outside isn’t cooperating with sunshine.

“You don't have to worry so much about weather,” Noguchi says. “Actually light is more stable on cloudy days, and you can always adjust with longer exposure.”

If the natural lighting isn’t quite highlighting what you’d like, consider using a reflector rather than flipping the light switch.

“I am a heavy user of reflectors to cast the light just right over the hardware,” Savas says. “It helps spotlight what should be the focus of the photo.”

A Trip to Japan Inspires a Home Remodel

When Joe Mansfield, co-founder of Grovemade and owner and founder of Pacific & West, went on a small business exchange trip to Japan, he was looking for inspiration for his company. What he came away with was a vision for how to remodel his 1950’s ranch-style home.

“We had the goal of creating our dream kitchen, increasing southern exposure, and opening up the floor plan,” Mansfield said. “We strove for a balance between mid-century and minimal modern. Inspired by a trip to Japan and the resilient shou-sugi-ban siding there, we decided to torch our siding and the sliding door panel inside.”

To match the beautiful charred wood on the exterior of the house and the sliding door panel within, Mansfield used to the Baldur sliding door hardware system in Top Mount and Black Stainless finish.

“The minimal, hubless bearings of Baldur and the Black Stainless finish were a perfect fit for us,” Mansfield said.

Dividing Space Without Dividing the Home

Mansfield’s custom sliding door panel is made from ten 52” wide beams that are bolted together with one continuous threaded rod. He scorched the beams to match the exterior charred siding. The massive door panel creates tremendous space adaptability. It can either be opened to join the house, or closed to divide it in two.

As Krownlab continues to design and manufacture the leading sliding door hardware solutions for office, hospitality, and residential projects, we’ve added to our team. Rounding out the sales and production departments will allow us to continue to produce the obsessively-engineered, iconic sliding door hardware systems we’re known for while expanding our offerings of architectural hardware.

Jesse McFadden, Technical Sales Representative

McFadden supports incoming and outbound sales and customer support and comes to Krownlab from Tesla Motors Inc., where he oversaw day-to-day operations of the Portland Delivery Center, including hiring/onboarding staff and long-term strategic planning. Previously he’d been a business specialist for Apple Inc., managing more than 250 B-to-B accounts at any given time.

Scott Wilson, Technical Sales Representative

Wilson held numerous sales and management positions for Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. and has extensive experience as an account manager and trade specialist. He supports incoming and outbound sales and customer support for Krownlab.

The Numbers Behind 10

We make our sliding barn door hardware to the highest industry standards. Our 10-year warranty stands toe-to-toe with any product on the market and matches most other construction warranties. Our confidence behind our warranty comes from precision engineering and manufacturing, an everyday commitment to quality, and—perhaps most importantly—exacting testing procedures.

Teaming with LiftMaster

We teamed with LiftMaster to create a testing system that could put our hardware through the most strenuous, constant wear trials possible. This testing system is able to run multiple hardware setups simultaneously with loads of up to 400 lbs each. While the testing system operates, we examine everything about our sliding door hardware systems from performance to aesthetic. We are relentless in throwing anything that isn’t perfect, in function or appearance, back on the drawing board.

How We Measure Use

Each one of our systems, from Axel to Baldur, has been tested through 130,000 open and close cycles. Why this specific number? This is the equivalent of 10 years of heavy, commercial use. Let’s say you have a conference room that is used for 12 meetings a weekday with the door opened and closed twice during each meeting. That is 48 cycles each day, 261 work days a year, for 125,280 cycles in 10 years. Each one of our sliding hardware systems has passed that lofty mark. The result is a warranty that isn’t just a random number, isn’t a projected product life cycle, but a fact backed by extensive, rigorous testing.