I could use some brainstorming from the clever folks here. I have an issue with my bedroom door and it's not the end of the world or anything, but I'd be happy to find a solution. Here's the story....
We have to keep my bedroom door open about 6" so my cats can go in and out. The door is only shut all the way when we need to keep pets safe when outside doors are being left open, like when the floors were being refinished. Otherwise, it's partially open. Our dog is much bigger than 6" across, and she has to come and go, too. The way I have it now is a makeshift do-it-yourself method: a 10-pound dumbbell inside a rolled-up bath towel (so it won't scratch the floor when it gets moved). This contraption is on the INSIDE of my room; IOW, there's a 6" space (or larger, after the dog goes in/out) that's open, with nothing between the door and its frame.
When the dog comes in/out, the contraption moves a few inches to accommodate her girth. I can't leave my door OPEN because I'm perpetually hot, and have a window AC unit plus an upright floor fan plus an upright desk fan...and if the door's open, the room doesn't stay cool enough (for me--everyone else claims it's freezing in here!
).
We've also tried the opposite arrangement, i.e., the object blocking the door on the OUTSIDE of my door, between it and its frame, but quickly discarded that as it left the door wide open every time the dog came in/out.
What I'm hoping for is an ATTRACTIVE but functional permanent solution. You know how screen doors automatically close by themselves? Or doors in commercial buildings with those....pneumatic THINGS at the top, that slowly close them automatically. Something like that but pretty. And that would stop automatically at about 6" open. But could allow the door to be SHUT shut when needed. My super-clever handyman is not available right now; I *know* he could rig something like this and make it pretty, too, but he's not an option.
I've omitted WHY the current arrangement isn't good enough: every time a HUMAN comes inside my room, and then leaves, the door is wide open! They have no way from the outside to pull the contraption toward them to [partially] close the door. Yes, I thought about tying string around it and placing that under the door, but between the cats, dog, and people, that's just NOT going to work!
Any and all ideas are gratefully welcomed. Sketches, too, if you'd like to show me visually.
Sorry for the long-winded post, but what else would you expect from me?!
We have to keep my bedroom door open about 6" so my cats can go in and out. The door is only shut all the way when we need to keep pets safe when outside doors are being left open, like when the floors were being refinished. Otherwise, it's partially open. Our dog is much bigger than 6" across, and she has to come and go, too. The way I have it now is a makeshift do-it-yourself method: a 10-pound dumbbell inside a rolled-up bath towel (so it won't scratch the floor when it gets moved). This contraption is on the INSIDE of my room; IOW, there's a 6" space (or larger, after the dog goes in/out) that's open, with nothing between the door and its frame.
When the dog comes in/out, the contraption moves a few inches to accommodate her girth. I can't leave my door OPEN because I'm perpetually hot, and have a window AC unit plus an upright floor fan plus an upright desk fan...and if the door's open, the room doesn't stay cool enough (for me--everyone else claims it's freezing in here!
).We've also tried the opposite arrangement, i.e., the object blocking the door on the OUTSIDE of my door, between it and its frame, but quickly discarded that as it left the door wide open every time the dog came in/out.
What I'm hoping for is an ATTRACTIVE but functional permanent solution. You know how screen doors automatically close by themselves? Or doors in commercial buildings with those....pneumatic THINGS at the top, that slowly close them automatically. Something like that but pretty. And that would stop automatically at about 6" open. But could allow the door to be SHUT shut when needed. My super-clever handyman is not available right now; I *know* he could rig something like this and make it pretty, too, but he's not an option.
I've omitted WHY the current arrangement isn't good enough: every time a HUMAN comes inside my room, and then leaves, the door is wide open! They have no way from the outside to pull the contraption toward them to [partially] close the door. Yes, I thought about tying string around it and placing that under the door, but between the cats, dog, and people, that's just NOT going to work!
Any and all ideas are gratefully welcomed. Sketches, too, if you'd like to show me visually.
Sorry for the long-winded post, but what else would you expect from me?!
