Dave & Jenny Marrs Disguise A Door To The Garage In The Smartest Way

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Indoor access to your garage can have several important functions. Rather than leaving your garage and having to re-enter through the front door, you are able to walk straight into your home. However, an additional door can be an eyesore — especially if it is connected to your main living space. Dave and Jenny Marrs, of HGTV's "Fixer to Fabulous," have presented a genius solution to this aesthetic issue. In Season 2, Episode 7 of their hit series, they wanted to maximize the functionality of the floor plan without compromising the visual appeal. With the help of vertical wooden slats, they developed a unique workaround.

Mounting a series of vertical slats is a brilliant way to turn a door in your home into a stunning finished feature wall. Jenny Marrs wrote on their blog: "The slats also provided a seamless camouflage for what would have otherwise been an awkward door leading to the garage, a feature Jessica wanted and that the house lacked." Upon the reveal, the client was presented with a stunning mid-century fireplace with walls of slatted wood on either side. Dave Marrs worked with his construction coordinator to design slats that would create a seamless transition from door to wall. He wrote on Facebook: "The slat wall / hidden door was one of my favorite projects of the season. I couldn't have done it without Kim. Kim personally made sure the grain matched perfectly on every piece so the hidden door was truly invisible." As Dave highlighted, the key is to make sure the wood grain continues across the break where the door frame begins.

Not only can wooden slats or panels add visual texture and warmth, but they can also enhance a room's sense of cohesion. Whether left in natural wood tones for a Scandinavian-inspired vibe or painted for dramatic contrast, there are endless design possibilities to suit your space. Jenny Marrs wrote, "The wall of vertical wood slats played up the mid-century design and, most importantly, centered the fireplace, giving the symmetry needed to make it the focal point of the room. Painting black over the original brick gave just the right contemporary look against the dark grain." This is a perfect reminder that small architectural details, like slatted feature walls, can anchor a space while blending vintage character with modern style.

If you're working on a tight budget, TikTok can show you how to DIY your own wooden slat wall. For an affordable option, consider these Pohare Panels as a pre-finished alternative to real hardwood. If you choose to opt for the real thing, choose a thin format and use a brad nailer to attach the panels securely to your wall. You can also take the wooden slat design a step further and mount shelving to display additional accessories and decor. For example, this DIY wooden slat bookshelf wall will turn any room into a personal library.