Great Pulteney Street Hotel Ballrooms
This was the first bookcase I did with a secret door, although I went back to take some photos and video with my digital camera I made the bookcase in 1998 and according to the client has worked perfectly. The door leads to a small flat.
The hotel was converted into apartments and to the right of the bookcase are columns which you can see in the black and white photo was how it looked in it's hay day. I built another less grand bookcase to the right of the columns in the adjacent room which you can see here.
Hidden bookcase door Great Pulteney Street
Hidden bookcase door open showing access to small flat
I inlaid a nice Marquetry to form the centre piece of the bookcase column
I constructed a new square column to match the one in the corner, this gave me a logical return for my bookcase.
Photo of the old Great Pulteney Street Ballroom showing the columns be for the flat conversions
Detail of inlay and hidden join in secret bookcase, the inlay takes your eye away from the gap
Mahogany curl with inlay and cross banding showing turned fluted columns
This was a cock up and the turned beading should of been on the cut, this was my first bookcase with a secret door and was 20 years ago, I've learnt my lesson
Detail showing base of square column
Mahogany fluted columns and curl veneer panels with inlay and cross banding
Other secret bookcases
Arched bookcase hidden door in mdf with cupboards below
Bookcase open leading to a small flat
arched bookcase open revealing the entrance to the flat
Childs secret bookcase door leading to his den
Secret door open
Bookcase in mdf with a secret door leading to a utility room
I have made this bookcase ready to fit by the builders as the project was in Surrey. The shelves are adjustable and the doors are on soft close hinges.
The client wanted the secret door to look like a contemporary oak door from the extension side, this made it tricky because of the clearance gaps needed but carefully positioned and machined doorstops it worked a treat.
Freestanding secret bookcase door ready to deliver, just needs screwing in the pre-made opening.
Hidden bookcase door on a standard 30 inch internal door
Close up of faux book spines, the one sticking out has a finger pull on the underside.
Door open revealing hidden room
Hidden bookcase door on a standard 30 inch internal door, this shows how thin the over all door is.
Standard 30 inch - 762mm internal oak door from the inside, clad with faux books on the outer side
Resin Books
Real paperback book spines
Faux book showing finger pull, this is a real book with a birch ply insert, this was coated in resin to make a strong job.