Doors, doors, doors - concealing the school stuff and keeping wee ones out at the same time!

As I mentioned before, we will have a room dedicated to schooling (ie, a place for all the STUFF). We will no doubt still school all over the house as we tend to do now, but at least a lot of the stuff will be contained and have a place to go when the schoolwork is complete for the day.

On that note, I'm considering some options for that room....and yes, it'll have a door!

The room will be one of the bedrooms and will be off of the open area at the top of the stairs. No doubt I will be spending some of my time in the open area/playroom/gameroom/whatever we decide to call it when we settle in, with Miss Baby while the other children work on things that don't require my immediate supervision. One other thing I'm excited about is the ability to close the door so the older girls will have a quieter environment to work in when they're completing their work after the younger ones, ie, the boys, are done for the day and hoopin' and hollerin' (playing for those of y'all who don't know what's involved in "hoopin' and hollerin') all over the place.

Now, a few thoughts about this door - it'll come as a regular six panel door, like so:



I'm seriously considering changing this door for a few reasons.

1. Even my children aren't perfect (ha ha) and I suspect a bit too much chatting going on behind closed doors if I'm in the play area outside and that door is shut - which leads to schoolwork taking FOR-EV-ER to be completed.

2. I'd like to be able to peek in on them w/o distracting them from what they're currently working on.

3. I'd like to be able to peek out if I'm in the room helping someone w/something and I leave Mr. A and/or Miss Baby to play for a few moments (and yes, there will be a BIG, STRONG gate at the top of the steps and this won't be happening much, if at all, until Miss Baby is much bigger!

So....I've come up with two options so far.

1. A door like this with glass panels I can see through. I'd probably add a roll down shade on the inside in case we ever needed to actually use it as a bedroom with company or some such...or even curtains or something.



and

2. A door like this - I just learned it's called a "dutch door" and I remember these from days of watching Mr. Ed (they call it a "stable door" also) and maybe even Donna Reed had one of these on her house for the back door....hmm. They come with glass panes on top or solid, not sure which I'd ultimately choose, but the ability to keep the top open or closed is very exciting - the bottom would act as a built in baby gate - whoo hoo. I like it. They're also touted for increasing ventilation, say on your laundry room....oh CKB....can I have one there too???



Thoughts? Other suggestions? I have a few months to think about it, so bring 'em on!