A "Tiffany blue" bookcase in a hallway... with a secret door hidden inside!
In one section in this hallway full of bookshelves, there is a secret door which allows a whole column of the bookcase to swing open and allow access to a hidden room. Can you pick out the door?
Maybe this "before" photo will help.
Our client was a children's book author, and she loved books so much that she had them double-stacked in her bookcases, which were beginning to sag. She knew she would need sturdier shelving, and she also wanted to make the best use of the hallway where she kept her home library.
Unfortunately there was a door to her attic which couldn't be blocked. So a hidden bookcase door was a natural solution, especially for a lifelong reader of mystery novels!
She also had a few other sagging bookcases in the same hallway which she was eager to replace, including this low pair of shelves just above her stairs...
Unfortunately there was a door to her attic which couldn't be blocked. So a hidden bookcase door was a natural solution, especially for a lifelong reader of mystery novels!
She also had a few other sagging bookcases in the same hallway which she was eager to replace, including this low pair of shelves just above her stairs...
...and another skinny stack at the end of the corridor.
We started by designing the large set of bookshelves with the hidden door. To save costs, we used a pre-made unit from Murphy door and matched the other two bookcases to the Murphy door.
Because of the configuration of the door, we knew we would have a lot of unused space above and below the shelves... and since our client has a flair for dramatic home decor, we suggested an old-fashioned dentil molding style of trim that went beautifully with the home's period architecture.
Because of the configuration of the door, we knew we would have a lot of unused space above and below the shelves... and since our client has a flair for dramatic home decor, we suggested an old-fashioned dentil molding style of trim that went beautifully with the home's period architecture.
Here's another view with the bookcase door open. We were lucky to have just enough room in the narrow hallway for the door to swing!
In case you're wondering how the door stays so well hidden, here's a series of photos from the Murphy door website. The secret lies in the double layer of trim around the edges.
The inner layer of trim is the door itself. One piece of the outer trim (on the left side in these photos) is attached to the door. The rest of the trim disguises the gap around the case. It all works on a pivot hinge.
Since our client wanted the other two bookcases to match the style of the large one, we included the double trim detail on all of them.
Since our client wanted the other two bookcases to match the style of the large one, we included the double trim detail on all of them.
We had a little fun with this model... do you recognize the book covers masquerading as wall art? They're classic mystery stories for children.
Since the smaller bookcase would have looked a bit odd with heavy crown molding, we sourced a scaled-down version of the trim.
It's these little details that set custom-designed furniture apart from the site-built kind of shelving you'd get from a trim carpenter.
It's these little details that set custom-designed furniture apart from the site-built kind of shelving you'd get from a trim carpenter.
Back at the workshop, we temporarily set up the door and tested the pivot hinge. It opens and closes like a dream.
After we'd done as much work as possible in the studio, it was time to install the project on site.
This may have been one of our most complicated installations to date... not because of the secret door... we had planned very well for that and it fit perfectly. The challenge was in the floor and ceiling!
This may have been one of our most complicated installations to date... not because of the secret door... we had planned very well for that and it fit perfectly. The challenge was in the floor and ceiling!
Can you tell how wavy the plaster is? The floor also had a one-inch drop in the center, below the door.
Fortunately we knew about this ahead of time, so we were able to make up the difference with careful trim details. This is another advantage of custom bookcases: they look like a seamless part of your home... even if that home is 100 years old and doesn't have a single level line to work from.
Fortunately we knew about this ahead of time, so we were able to make up the difference with careful trim details. This is another advantage of custom bookcases: they look like a seamless part of your home... even if that home is 100 years old and doesn't have a single level line to work from.
By the way, there was another off-beat aspect to this custom bookcase design. If you scroll up and look at our original drawing, you can see that the three bays of shelves are different widths. There was no way to avoid this due to the location of the door... but you probably wouldn't notice it when you see it in person.
That's because you always see the unit from one side or another. It just looks like a trick of perspective!
The next piece we installed was the case at the far end of the hallway. Check out the heavy-duty trim and the wonderful Tiffany blue shade (which we matched to the existing color on the walls).
This is one of our favorite of the three pieces, because it's so over the top. It almost looks like a frosted wedding cake.
That's because you always see the unit from one side or another. It just looks like a trick of perspective!
The next piece we installed was the case at the far end of the hallway. Check out the heavy-duty trim and the wonderful Tiffany blue shade (which we matched to the existing color on the walls).
This is one of our favorite of the three pieces, because it's so over the top. It almost looks like a frosted wedding cake.
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Normally we build in a much simpler, more classic style, but this design was the outcome of our visit to the customer's home before we drew the design.
You see, one of our goals in our first visit is to get a sense of your personal taste so we can create a piece that works with the furniture and art you already have.
And this customer definitely decorates with flair, so she was thrilled to see that our design departed from the traditional Shaker style.
You see, one of our goals in our first visit is to get a sense of your personal taste so we can create a piece that works with the furniture and art you already have.
And this customer definitely decorates with flair, so she was thrilled to see that our design departed from the traditional Shaker style.
In fact, she told us she was so happy with the project that even before it was finished, she spent a whole hour one evening sitting in her hallway and drinking in the details.
The bookcase in the stairwell also turned out nicely. The uppermost shelves are just within reach. Of course, we had measured all of this carefully to make sure it would work for the homeowner.
The final product turned out beautifully, and it will continue to bring value (and intrigue!) to the home for many years to come.
The final product turned out beautifully, and it will continue to bring value (and intrigue!) to the home for many years to come.
If you have a special project you've always wanted to try, whether it's a secret bookcase door hidden in your home library, or an elegant set of bookshelves to warm up a room, give a call. We'll help you design the storage you've always dreamed about.
