Secret Passages and Hidden Spots
What's behind that door — a bar, bath, laundry room or loo?
To me, the coolest part of being a superhero would have to be the hidden lair. Superman has his Fortress of Solitude, Batman the Bat Cave. (Side note: Why are they all cold and filled with stalagmites? I'd kit mine out with at least a comfortable seat or two.) But do you have to fight crime in order to get a little secret space all to yourself? No way. These clever homes prove that anyone can have their own spot hidden away from the world — no cape required.
Bathrooms are a popular room to hide. I get it; you don't like to share your loo. (Can't say I blame you.) An ornate mural like this one is a great way to camouflage the entrance from snooping guests.
Pay no attention to the rectangle inside the mural! Even if it's just a coat closet behind there, it instantly becomes cooler by going incognito.
Ian Fleming never mentions James Bond doing laundry. Probably it's because 007 is too busy on covert missions, but maybe, just maybe, it's because he keeps his laundering facilities cleverly sequestered behind a pair of sliding bookcases.
Nothing to see here folks...
Sneaky! The space under the stairs is prime real estate for a hideaway.
I like to think that up those stairs is a comfy armchair, just right for escaping with a good book.
This grand library has a secret: The shelves at the lower left of the image are actually a door to the home's master bedroom. What a clever way to outsmart the boogeyman!
This handsome cabinetry may look ordinary enough — there's a TV inside, right? It's actually a doorway to a home office beyond.
Curtains closed, it looks like a window. Curtains open, and you're gazing on your own walk-in closet and seating area.
Okay, so you've got no room for a lair. At least your spices can have their own private hideaway to decompress after a long day of fighting bland food ... or something.
Next: 5 Ways to Decorate Around a Flat-Screen TV
Next: 5 Ways to Decorate Around a Flat-Screen TV