The Bookcase Door to the Secret Room
So this is before... An awkward room in the basement of my old Colorado house (the flooring had to be removed and the drywall cut away due to the flood awhile back). I figured I could do something with it... I get bored sometimes! Lol
Before.
Space under the stairs. I thought that was a power outlet, but it wasn't. So I had to make it one!
Adding the outlet by flashlight.
Black chalkboard paint for the walls and ceiling. Lots of it.
Not too bad, considering how much paint I used.
Putting in the underlayment for the floors. Yashe was quite a help, when she wasn't walking through paint.
Installing the hickory flooring. This stuff is really easy to install, actually. It only took me a couple of hours.
Evidence of the new, working power outlet. :)
Cedar fence pickets. Many of them! Inexpensive, and should have good visual drama against the black paint.
The same wall from earlier, after chalkboard paint and cedar trim. I think this looks pretty cool!
The cedar installed on the walls. Took me a few hours to get it all up.
I built this little cabinet under the stairs. Eventually, if this turns out to be a kids playroom (as it likely will), a TV can go on top, a PlayStation in the cabinet, and a few bean bags for seating. What kid wouldn't want that?
I had to build out and square up the left side of the doorway for the next step in the project...
Starting on the bookcase.
Squaring the corners.
Figuring the spacing for the shelves.
Testing the swing.
Staining. This took awhile...
By this point everything has been stained, and I have trimmed out the opening and started on the door for the bottom of the cabinet.
One book had to perish in order to complete the secret passage: "The Plains of Passage" by Jean M. Auel. Fortunately, I have already read it, but I still felt weird willfully destroying a book.
Built, stained, and installed the door. Books were purchased for $1 apiece at Goodwill.
It works great! All that's left is the bookcase latch.
The bookcase latch is completed.
And there it is. The secret opener for the secret door to the secret room. This was a REALLY fun project, I have to say! I had wanted a secret passage like this ever since I was little kid watching Scooby Doo--and so I built it! It was good practice for the one I built later. :)
And here is a video of it in action!
There it is, working beautifully! :)