Secret rooms/passage ways
Author
Discussion

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

276 months

Saturday 26th June 2010
quotequote all
Call me eccentric but I love the idea of having secret rooms/passages in a house - the sort of thing you see in the movies... accessing rooms by moving a book on a shelf which opens a door etc.

Any one done anything like this in their house? There was a Grand Design a couple of years ago in which they had a secret library (accessed by the method above). I think it was next the Albert Hall iirc.

I expect it's not something that can be easily done in a two up two down!

I think if I ever win the lottery and have the opportunity to build my own place I would build a secret den somewhere in the house (and not tell the wife)

Jasandjules

71,917 posts

252 months

Saturday 26th June 2010
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My plan for our en-suite if we ever get around to knocking the two rooms together is to run a set of wardrobes along the wall in front of the current en-suite so that the middle "wardrobe" door will actually be the entrance to the en-suite.

headcase

2,389 posts

240 months

Saturday 26th June 2010
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I did an AV install in a house once where when you pressed on the wooden panelling in the living room it concealed a pasageway into an indoor pool. Just dont abuse the privelige and keep a second family locked in there wink

Nolar Dog

8,786 posts

218 months

Saturday 26th June 2010
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shout Joseph Fritzl: Your thread has arrived.

wiffmaster

2,616 posts

221 months

Saturday 26th June 2010
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Jasandjules said:
My plan for our en-suite if we ever get around to knocking the two rooms together is to run a set of wardrobes along the wall in front of the current en-suite so that the middle "wardrobe" door will actually be the entrance to the en-suite.
The place we rented a couple of years back had this setup. But instead of accessing the en-suite, it led to a sizeable dressing room. It took us over a month to actually discover it, as the agent never mentioned it. Always thought it would be a useful hiding place in the case of zombie-apocalypse.

poo at Paul's

14,545 posts

198 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
My plan for our en-suite if we ever get around to knocking the two rooms together is to run a set of wardrobes along the wall in front of the current en-suite so that the middle "wardrobe" door will actually be the entrance to the en-suite.
Precisely what I am building just now! Got the wardrobe gap finalised today in fact. The rear of the wardrobes acutally form the bathroom en suite wall as they are in a lovely Olivewood veneer too.
Double doors in the centre open to reveal entrace to bathroom, they are narrower than the wardrobe doors, but same material and have some tiny portholes with frosted glass in, just so I can see if I left the light on!

A month to go and room will be complete, we hope. Started it in Jan!

zollburgers

1,284 posts

206 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
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I always close my eyes when I walk in my bedroom. I force others to wear a blindfold. Does this count?

Jasandjules

71,917 posts

252 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
quotequote all
poo at Paul's said:
Precisely what I am building just now! Got the wardrobe gap finalised today in fact. The rear of the wardrobes acutally form the bathroom en suite wall as they are in a lovely Olivewood veneer too.
Pics please !

And Wiff - yep, I can understand that, and that was part of the appeal (though you'd have thought if letting it would be a rather good plus point for the tenant but I bet the EA didn't know about it!), people just not knowing it was there.

Mag1calTrev0r

6,481 posts

252 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
quotequote all
poo at Paul's said:
Jasandjules said:
My plan for our en-suite if we ever get around to knocking the two rooms together is to run a set of wardrobes along the wall in front of the current en-suite so that the middle "wardrobe" door will actually be the entrance to the en-suite.
Precisely what I am building just now! Got the wardrobe gap finalised today in fact. The rear of the wardrobes acutally form the bathroom en suite wall as they are in a lovely Olivewood veneer too.
Double doors in the centre open to reveal entrace to bathroom, they are narrower than the wardrobe doors, but same material and have some tiny portholes with frosted glass in, just so I can see if I left the light on!

A month to go and room will be complete, we hope. Started it in Jan!
Have you considered a PIR sensor in there with lights on a timer? Lights will come on automatically and go off as well.

poo at Paul's

14,545 posts

198 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
quotequote all
Yes, I condsidered it, but then want the option of a nightlight for them too!

I've actually ordered some of them touch pads that hide behind tiles following a PH tip!

Mag1calTrev0r

6,481 posts

252 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
quotequote all
poo at Paul's said:
Yes, I condsidered it, but then want the option of a nightlight for them too!

I've actually ordered some of them touch pads that hide behind tiles following a PH tip!
Ooh,tell me more! link?

oldbanger

4,328 posts

261 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
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wiffmaster said:
Jasandjules said:
My plan for our en-suite if we ever get around to knocking the two rooms together is to run a set of wardrobes along the wall in front of the current en-suite so that the middle "wardrobe" door will actually be the entrance to the en-suite.
The place we rented a couple of years back had this setup. But instead of accessing the en-suite, it led to a sizeable dressing room. It took us over a month to actually discover it, as the agent never mentioned it. Always thought it would be a useful hiding place in the case of zombie-apocalypse.
my sister in law's previous home had a similar arrangement but in the kitchen - a wall of kitchen units opened up to reveal a washing machine and a short corridor to what was originally the outside toilet.

Solitude

1,902 posts

198 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
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Fritzels the lot of ya !!!!!

m3jappa

6,883 posts

241 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
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Would love to see pics of the hidden ensuite, doing mine soon and there are wardrobes next to the existing main door, thinking how cool it would be to have it hidden.

eliot

11,988 posts

277 months

Sunday 27th June 2010
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m3jappa said:
Would love to see pics of the hidden ensuite, doing mine soon and there are wardrobes next to the existing main door, thinking how cool it would be to have it hidden.
great until you stagger in one night after a skinfull and slash over your suit. smile

Steve_W

1,566 posts

200 months

Monday 28th June 2010
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Mag1calTrev0r said:
poo at Paul's said:
Yes, I condsidered it, but then want the option of a nightlight for them too!

I've actually ordered some of them touch pads that hide behind tiles following a PH tip!
Ooh,tell me more! link?
Here you go: touch sensitive switch

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

276 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
eliot said:
m3jappa said:
Would love to see pics of the hidden ensuite, doing mine soon and there are wardrobes next to the existing main door, thinking how cool it would be to have it hidden.
great until you stagger in one night after a skinfull and slash over your suit. smile
Nice.

Any one got a got a fireplace that turns around at the touch of a button hehe

goblinslayer

48 posts

252 months

Monday 28th June 2010
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dirty boy

14,819 posts

232 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
I remember going round a house that was being built, the guy was doing it himself, lovely place, overlooking the sea. Anyway, two of the bedrooms (for the children) were linked via 'secret' passageways, he thought they'd have fun (the first time) fooling friends and visitors by swapping places etc.

IIRC, the rooms were seperated by another room, and the passageway was bricked into a built in wardrobe or something, many years ago, but I remember thinking how cool it would be.

Mag1calTrev0r

6,481 posts

252 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Steve_W said:
Mag1calTrev0r said:
poo at Paul's said:
Yes, I condsidered it, but then want the option of a nightlight for them too!

I've actually ordered some of them touch pads that hide behind tiles following a PH tip!
Ooh,tell me more! link?
Here you go: touch sensitive switch
Thanks