I call it a Scooby-Doo bookcase.

[Atitagain]

Interesting project I’ve been working on last couple weeks. I call it a scooby-doo bookcase. 
Frame work done 

then to the shop and set up a false wall to same measurements. And with these hinges I built this.

deliver and install at job site. Flooring has protective paper covering the hardwood might look weird in the pics.

Hidden room is about 20x24 and will be decorated as a “speak easy.” Tomorrow I have final adjustments and final sanding. Bad news is most likely it will be the last time I see it. Which is normal a lot of times on projects like this, painters will finish this and I won’t be able to see the finished product. If contractor sends me a update pic I will post it.

[Fish Folk]

That’s awesome! Beautiful craftsmanship. Of course, it ought to be a Fishroom Speakeasy… 🍸🐡

[BigJ]

On 6/15/2022 at 8:38 PM, Fish Folk said:

it ought to be a Fishroom

This is exactly what I thought 

[Guppysnail]

  That is wonderful! Seriously ingenious.  I absolutely agree it should be a fishroom 😁

[lefty o]

nice, where's the hidden latches??? a hidden door needs a secret latch.

[Fish Folk]

On 6/15/2022 at 10:15 PM, lefty o said:

door needs a secret latch

I feel it ought to be a book in the shelf that when gently pulled forward unlatches the door. And since this should be a fishroom speakeasy, the book should probably be a nondescript hardcover edition of…

EXOTIC AQUARIUM FISHES

William T. Innes

 

Edited June 16, 2022 by Fish Folk

[Torrey]

ORD, and I love living in Nermlandia with everyone here😍

@Atitagain your craftsmanship is excellent!

[BigJ]

On 6/15/2022 at 9:31 PM, Torrey said:

your craftsmanship is excellent!

Yes, I've seen a few bookcase doors but this one is simply gorgeous and by far the best, are those hinges supporting all of the weight?

[Atitagain]

On 6/15/2022 at 9:38 PM, Fish Folk said:

That’s awesome! Beautiful craftsmanship. Of course, it ought to be a Fishroom Speakeasy… 🍸🐡

Yes of course I thought the same, I’ve done a couple other projects in this home and was thinking this room would make a perfect fishroom.

 

On 6/15/2022 at 10:15 PM, lefty o said:

nice, where's the hidden latches??? a hidden door needs a secret latch.

Of course there is a secret latch, I will get a pic of it today. 

On 6/15/2022 at 10:27 PM, Fish Folk said:

I feel it ought to be a book in the shelf that when gently pulled forward unlatches the door

He was not into that idea at all he wanted to keep the latch hidden as possible.

 

On 6/15/2022 at 10:31 PM, Torrey said:

ORD, and I love living in Nermlandia with everyone here😍

@Atitagain your craftsmanship is excellent!

i agree Nermlandia is an amazing place to hang out.

thanks everyone, I figured some would enjoy this especially since it would make such a wonderful fishroom. We are doing this job for a contractor not directly for homeowners and they are not living there yet. But if I see them I will definitely pitch the fishroom or atleast a huge tank, and let me build all the cabinetry and stands.

[Atitagain]

Here’s the secret latch it’s made from walnut and the rest of the bookcase is hard maple.

Took pic before final sanding all the putty is gone and trigger is ready for stain

[Katherine]

On 6/15/2022 at 9:42 PM, BigJ said:

are those hinges supporting all of the weight?

I'm wondering this as well.

 

This looks absolutely amazing!

[Atitagain]

On 6/16/2022 at 9:55 PM, Katherine said:

I'm wondering this as well.

 

This looks absolutely amazing!

Yes they do. Their industrial hinges and cost close to $100 each. I have not weighed them but I’d guess each “door” bookcase weighs in the neighborhood of 100 lbs. definitely a 2 person lift, but those hinges make it as smooth as a bedroom door.

[OnlyGenusCaps]

That is awesome!  Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted a secret room, and watching reruns of Scooby Doo probably contributed to that significantly.  Someday when I get to design my own house...  Someday.  Someday... 

[PineSong]

Atitagain, that is just beautiful and I love the Scooby Doo connection. I hope you're proud of your work--it's great! 

[Atitagain]

@OnlyGenusCaps thank you, this does get the imagination running. I wish we could’ve used a book or a side light wall sconce for a latch release. 
 

@PineSong thank you so much, I’m very happy with the product and proud of it. But it’s not until it’s painted and loaded with books/ Ornaments and in use. Then I’ll be able to sit back and enjoy it for what it is. Changes and design adjustments from homeowners is very common with projects like this.

[Brandon p]

That is what I need to separate my fish room/den from the rest of the house. I it has French doors now and that because I used it as an office at one point. I would have to hire some for that. Amazing, what amazing skill.

[OnlyGenusCaps]

On 6/18/2022 at 5:15 AM, Atitagain said:

I wish we could’ve used a book or a side light wall sconce for a latch release.

I know zero thing about construction, so I am genuinely curious; is this because of a difference in functionality for those sorts of releases, or because of an aesthetic or personal preference?  You know, just in case I can afford a hidden room some day!  Like that will ever happen.  🙄  But I am still really curious.

[eatyourpeas]

On 6/15/2022 at 7:15 PM, lefty o said:

nice, where's the hidden latches??? a hidden door needs a secret latch.

I love hidden latches! I have a desk from 1930 that has a secret compartment, and in order to access it you have to remove the correct drawer and push the latch. This is more my scale.

Beautiful work, @Atitagain! 😍

[Atitagain]

On 6/18/2022 at 9:16 AM, OnlyGenusCaps said:

is this because of a difference in functionality for those sorts of releases, or because of an aesthetic or personal preference?

Personal choice, I already had a plan that I was gonna go with for a book. But I was hoping for light sconce switches, would of been an interesting challenge. 

[Torrey]

On 6/17/2022 at 5:30 AM, OnlyGenusCaps said:

That is awesome!  Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted a secret room, and watching reruns of Scooby Doo probably contributed to that significantly.  Someday when I get to design my own house...  Someday.  Someday... 

Are you going to enter your design in the Nerm Week festivities? There's a design competition, for either a room or a whole house.

[Atitagain]

@Brandon p thank you, I feel now that i worked out the does and donts I could easily modify any existing door frame. Might not have a lot of people actually pay to have it done but it will definitely be a cool highlight in our portfolio of jobs.

@eatyourpeas thank you, that desk sounds really cool! Ive done a couple smaller scale hidden doors but they were very simple for hiding laundry shoots, then one for hiding furnace room.

this one unfortunately I did not get to help on much (consulting only) but was done by our company.

[OnlyGenusCaps]

On 6/18/2022 at 3:29 PM, Atitagain said:

But I was hoping for light sconce switches, would of been an interesting challenge.

Ah, the craftsman seeking the increased challenge.  I love it!

[Patrick_G]

@Atitagain, the bookcase is super cool. Our last house has something similar. You have to be careful about what you put on a swinging bookcase! 

[Atitagain]

On 6/18/2022 at 7:58 PM, Patrick_G said:

@Atitagain, the bookcase is super cool. Our last house has something similar. You have to be careful about what you put on a swinging bookcase! 

Was thinking of adding a small cleat to front/ top of shelves. Or possibly some galley rail

Im meeting homeowner on Tuesday, he wants a different latch from inside the room to make it easy to open (he did not like the way I set it up) I will be asking about this and adding if wanted.

[Patrick_G]

On 6/19/2022 at 3:43 AM, Atitagain said:

Was thinking of adding a small cleat to front/ top of shelves. Or possibly some galley rail

Cool, that’s the first time I’ve heard it called a galley rail, in boat building we call it a fiddle rail even though it’s usually in the galley.