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Murphy Doors Are the Coolest Way to "Hide" a Room

Photo credit: Haris Kenjar
Photo credit: Haris Kenjar

As any murder mystery fan knows, secret rooms and hidden passageways are the best hiding places. They're prime real estate for stowing valuable treasures or concealing top-secret meeting rooms. But they aren't reserved for sneaky detectives. To conceal a hallway bathroom—and, yes, appeal to her client's love of period dramas—designer Lynn Kloythanomsup of Landed Interiors and Home recently installed a Murphy Door in a San Francisco home.

Disguised as bookshelves, Murphy Doors put a cheeky spin on the traditional jib door. Rather than being entirely flush-mounted into the wall to create an "invisible" effect, the Murphy Door is meant to be seen—and even decorated with stylish objects. But just by looking at it, you wouldn't know it's a door at all. It's not until you push on one side of the shelf that the Murphy door swivels on its hinge, revealing the secret room on the other side.

While the primary purpose of the Murphy Door is is to hide the doorway to another room, they also have the bonus of extra storage. In homes or apartments where extra space may be limited, they make for a smart solution. According to the company, they can add up to 20 cubic feet of additional storage!

Photo credit: SARAH HEBENSTREIT
Photo credit: SARAH HEBENSTREIT

While added space was certainly a benefit for Kloythanomsup's San Francisco project, she says that the Murphy Door also added a needed level of privacy. "The powder room was right next to the kitchen. That can kind of feel icky," she says. "[The Murphy Door] creates a much thicker wall, so it helps with that feeling of privacy."

Beyond their standard bookshelf models, Murphy Doors are also available in single, French, or bi-fold door options. Need an extra spot to hideaway laundry? Murphy Doors offers a door with a hamper that's perfect for a laundry room. For the kitchen, the company offers a version that comes with a spice rack and another with built-in wine shelves. And to disguise a closet, you can snag doors with extra drawers, closet space, and shoe racks.

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