Hidden Rooms ... The "Scooby-Doo" Door.

If you have ever watched the original Scooby-Doo cartoons, you know that with every mystery there was a hidden room, space, or passageway to be discovered…or rather there was a disguised door. 

Well secret passages are not unique to cartoons; they can be found in many castles and century old homes.  Newer version of these rooms in modern day houses have been designed to include panic/safe rooms, storm cellars, or just an intriguing way of guaranteeing some much desired seclusion or needed security.

The hidden room is not a thing of the past; it seems to be making a comeback.  Perhaps, it has become a decorative trick to maximize wall storage space in one room, while still allowing access to another.   Offices, libraries and family rooms are a great place to take advantage of this structural element.  Instead of working around a door opening with cabintry and loosing valuable storage space…it is possible to create a door using a wall unit/book shelf.  The look appears seamless and is a fascinating conversation starter if it is information that you are going to share with your guests.  This door could lead to a powder room, hallway or cigar/wineroom … or perhaps it leads to a private office or a storage room for valuables that will remain your little secret.   These types of doors can also be used to disguise a laundry room that must remain in an area of the home that is less than desirable to the home owner.  What you don’t see, won’t bother you! 

I can imagine that children would love a hidden door to a secret playroom maybe even more than a tree fort that is only utilized in the summer … and lets face it, hiding the mess of toys that have not been put away is even a fantasy of most parents too.

Hidden doors can be more than just bookshelves or wall units…they can be stone covered, have a brick façade, or even a mirror or piece of art that disguises their existence.  Doors can be located in a cabinet, a floor or even in a staircase.  The internet is filled with examples of what has been done to create a secret place.

While there are definitely function based reasons to add a hidden or disguised door to a specific room, it is hard to overlook the really obvious draw…for many this is just an awesome childhood fantasy come true.

If you are planning on renovating in the Niagara Region, contact Vanderzalm Construction Inc at (905)562-4463 or (905)684-5823.  We are experts in the field and would love to talk to you about recreating your dream home.