Stories of treasure and trivia behind hidden doors abound and I have actually created one in my basement to hide the boiler, how water heater, water meter, and electrical box from my well appointed Man Cave! First I must relate a Texas Tale from a lady who was purchasing a silver coffee grouping from my wife and I. This lady bought old homes from they who needed to downsize or whose estates needed settling, she had one acquisition in particular that was a pleasant and profitable discovery for her.

She tells of having purchased this property with two full floors and a dormered attic with ‘turn of the century’ architectural amenities. As she was clearing remaining furniture and cleaning rooms she kept returning to the large fireplace in what may have been the library. She imagined this would be a great place to have a hidden room or storage area if it could be disguised to burglars and other vagrants? There were book shelves on either side of the fireplace stonework and she began to feel and touch areas of each and then grew passionate about the possibilities and spent an entire day and more exploring for secret latches. She found one! When pressed the bookcase clicked slightly open and she could then gently push one side and the bookcase turned 180 degrees exposing storage shelves and nooks on the back side! Many interesting glassware, silver, firearms and noted antiquities! The seller was notified and they asked for some nostalgic items returned and granted her the remainder, they were extremely grateful for her find as the family had been searching the last decade for these nostalgic memorabilia! Everyone was a winner.

My own hidden door was a result of necessity. My Man Cave/Family Room in the finished basement is rather long and narrow. Establishing a TV theatre was a challenge as the room is narrow enough that the seating in front of a TV on the end wall was not enough for even four persons and the double folding doors for the utility room were right in the middle of the long side wall. Placing the TV in front of the doors was the right place but awkward when access to service was required. I removed the bi-fold door set and stored them in a bedroom closet. I constructed a composite shelf unit to fit the double opening in the wall. I placed a space in the center of the unit for the TV set. I installed double wheels on the bottom right side, middle and left side–striking an arc on the bottom surface to align the wheels for opening the shelf as a large door hinged on the left side. This shelf door opens by gripping one of the right side shelves and pulling forward, the angled wheels allow smooth open and close! Very decorative and functional. We get a lot of complements from they who visit.