Near the shore, the marine layer can keep rooms dim well into the afternoon; a few miles inland, typically somewhere between 5 and 15, it gives way to bright sun. A mirrored sliding door earns its place in a coastal bedroom on a gray June morning, bouncing what light there is around the room and doubling as a full-length mirror. Farther inland, frosted glass keeps a sunny room bright while hiding what is on the shelves. In older neighborhoods, the doors should respect the house. David Owen Dryden's Craftsman bungalows in North Park, Mission Hills and University Heights are known for built-in cabinetry and stained and leaded glass, and a wood-grain or flat-panel door suits that company better than a wall of mirror.
- Mirror: more light and a full-length mirror, ideal for smaller coastal bedrooms and condos.
- Frosted glass: soft light with the contents out of view.
- Flat panel and wood-grain: a quieter look for Craftsman and Spanish-style interiors.
- Bypass, bifold and room-divider doors: sliding panels on smooth top-hung tracks, bifolds for narrow openings and dividers to close off an alcove.