--- title: "Creative Home Engineering — Door Sales & Installation | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/door-sales-and-installation/creative-home-engineering-pfvwus-pf~1098922323 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1098922323.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Creative Home Engineering" category: ["Door Sales & Installation"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/a0a3b4930f5f72e7_4563-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "1325 N. Melba Ct., Gilbert, Arizona 85233, United States" latitude: 33.3354 longitude: -111.8153 phone: "(480) 926-1742" website: https://HiddenPassageway.com rating: 5 review_count: 11 best_of_houzz_awards: 5 followers: 327 last_updated: 2026-09-21 --- # Creative Home Engineering Original Houzz profile: [Creative Home Engineering](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/door-sales-and-installation/creative-home-engineering-pfvwus-pf~1098922323) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Door Sales & Installation - **Location:** Gilbert, AZ - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (11 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2014–2023), for Service, Design. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 10,000 Ideabook Saves We are THE premier builder of complete: ++ SECRET PASSAGEWAYS ++ HIDDEN VAULTS ++ PANIC ROOMS ### Services Provided - Custom Doors ### Typical Job Cost $2,500 - 40,000 ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Creative Home Engineering | | Address | 1325 N. Melba Ct., Gilbert, Arizona 85233, United States | | Phone | (480) 926-1742 | | Website | https://HiddenPassageway.com | | License Number | ROC203267 | | Followers on Houzz | 327 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Creative Home Engineering](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/door-sales-and-installation/creative-home-engineering-pfvwus-pf~1098922323) - **Website:** https://HiddenPassageway.com - **Phone:** (480) 926-1742 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2014–2023), for Service, Design. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 11 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### All 11 reviews **★★★★★ — Travis, Dec. 2022** > Steve and his team were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the entire purchase/scope and help answering questions during installation. The quality surpassed expectations and it's easy to see why CHE and Hidden Door Store are so successful. Highly recommend! > -Travis (North Carolina) **★★★★★ — jillmarie\_v, March 2016** > This was an incredibly long project for us, spanning 5 years due to putting it in a home we were building in another country. Creative Home Engineering was incredibly patient and flexible, and even honored the original pricing despite the time span. Building the item actually didn't take them that long, and the wood stain matches very well. They were always very responsive during the design stage, working with our builder long-distance, helping our builder when he built the opening wrong, assisting us with our first (and probably last) international ocean freight experience, and helping us long-distance with the installation. When there was confusion with the installation, my husband was able to visit the factory (we live close) and get hands-on explanation and training so the next time he traveled to the other country he was able to finish the installation. It was perfect. I can honestly say that I've had to use this when I was there by myself and the alarm went off while I was sleeping. Everything worked perfectly and I was safe. Creative Home Engineering knows what they're doing, and they always seem to have multiple options and ideas to offer. **★★★★★ — imtoddp, Dec. 2015** > I have a home safe; I have guns. The home safe is vulnerable (always) to home invasion and theft, as are the guns. However, I also have kids...and I don't want my guns accessible. I investigated getting a home gun safe...but the one(s) I wanted that would get the job done were over $3,500. Worse, due to the weight of the safe, the delivery charges would be another $500 and he risk of the uber-heavy safe falling through my second floor (which is where I would want the safe) was more than I was willing to risk. > > So I started investigating alternatives online. Breadcrumbs led me to www.hiddenpassageway.com and owner Steve Humble. From the second I inquired, Steve was ultra-responsive and treated me with unbelievable customer service. The job I initially described was going to be over $10,000. Having just invested a ton of money in a new home, I didn't have $10,000. However, Steve helped me arrive at an AWESOME solution that was less than half...$3,500...delivered. It's a wall-mirror (he has pictures) that replaced the door to my (un-needed) second floor upstairs laundry room. Instead of an un-needed additional laundry room, we turned the entire room into a HIDDEN ROOM that no one would EVER consider to be anything other than an elegant wall-mirror. There's a super-secret way of opening it too...one that (I assure you) my kids would never know, nor would a potential thief. > > ALL THAT SAID, there was a problem post-installation. It was a minor problem having to do with the door properly closing, but it was a problem nonetheless. In all my years of business, I've always held that "it's not the problem, it's how the problem is resolved" that matters. > > Steve Humble delivered on the solve in spades. No half-effort, no BS-ing, no trying to sell some kind of compromise...he just MADE IT RIGHT! > > All works perfectly now. I couldn't be happier. I'm of the age that this is going to be (God willing) my last home I ever live in. But if it weren't, I'm telling you, the $3,500 investment would deliver 10-fold upon resale. No kidding. Absolutely not kidding I haven't exposed the room to many...but those who I have just went nuts. > > Do not hesitate to engage with Steve Humble. Do not hesitate. > > Sign me, > > Happy and Safe. **★★★★★ — noelle\_grainger, Nov. 2015** > Just completed a major master bathroom renovation and we wanted to incorporate a secret door to into a closet. Contacted Created Home Engineering and they were very helpful guiding me to one of there stock mirrored secret door. Ordering was very simple and the pre-hung door came very well packaged resulting in no shipping damage. My contractor followed the very well prepared installation directions and I am now enjoying my secret closet door. Looking forward to my next secret door project with Creative Home Engineering. **★★★★★ — jag1948, July 2015** > I couldn't be more pleased with the workmanship and quality of my hidden passageway through a bookcase! The cabinets and desk match perfectly and even includes a hidden compartment in the desk. The design was creatively executed. Absolutely satisfied in every way! Highly recommend Creative Home Engineering!!! **★★★★★ — mxmomma, March 2015** > We worked with Steve on this project who created 2 high end bookcase/passages for us. No one even questions that they are anything other than a bookcase. Steve was very professional and he followed up and answered our questions quickly. They handled themselves as professionals throughout the project. We are very pleased with the end result and we would absolutely use them again. We would also highly recommend them. **★★★★★ — kellivv, Nov. 2014** > Steve and his team did an amazing job with our project. At the start he spent a lot of time on the phone and email helping to understand what we needed and making sure he was going to provide what wanted. He sent pictures and drawings of the different options. Install was done by local contractor. I called Steve on a saturday to leave a message about getting help with some final adjustments and to my surprise he answered the phone and spent over 45 min with me helping with the adjustments....all on a day when the office was closed. That is true customer service! I would highly recommend them to anyone. They were amazing with our bookcase and mirror project! **★★★★★ — dixinvixin, Aug. 2013** > Creative Home Engineering is the most amazing group of talent. Two entirely separate projects were completed in my home and they have completely changed the space...for the BETTER. Having two secret passageways seems like a bit extreme but they are both completely functional and usable. > > The team drove out from PHX to LA and were extremely reliable, quick and the most of all respectful - AKA....they kept the house clean, didn't drag the project out longer than needed and put their heart into the finished product. > > thank you thank you thank you! **★★★★★ — clarkson9, Aug. 2013** > I only work with smart, creative people and the people Creative Home Engineering are some of the sharpest I've met. They tackled a difficult job and made it look and function perfectly. **★★★★★ — Louise Kircher, Aug. 2013** > This company has all the resources to provide a totally custom project for any interested party. They use computerized drawings to show the customer how the project will look and function. They have a massive manufacturing space to create the actual product. Their staff is friendly, reliable, and very competent in what they do. The hidden room in my house makes a memorable impression to anyone who sees it, and the mechanics of it opening and closing are very well made. Just dream your project and they will deliver! **★★★★★ — darrencampbell72, Aug. 2013** > Steven and his team did an amazing job installing a hidden passage/custom bookshelf in my office. The hidden door leads to a vintage 80's style arcade. I am very pleased with the process and the final product. > > I would highly recommend Creative Home Engineering to anyone looking to create a fun and Functional showpiece for their home or office. ## Selected projects - [Secret Mirrors - Master Closet / Jewelry Storage / Beauty](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/secret-mirrors-master-closet-jewelry-storage-beauty-pj-vj~1676218) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - [Game & Play Room - Kids' SECRET ENTRANCE!](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/game-and-play-room-kids-secret-entrance-pj-vj~1607442) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - [Bookcase Secret Passageways](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bookcase-secret-passageways-pj-vj~893251) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: These secret passageways built by Creative Home Engineering feature a concealed structural steel support truss that prevents sagging or warping. They can open automatically when a special book is tilted, when a candlestick is twisted, when a certain sequence of musical notes is played or when a fingerprint is scanned to name just a few. See more photographs of this and other similar projects at www.hiddenpassageway.com - [Secret Rooms Under Stair Cases](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/secret-rooms-under-stair-cases-pj-vj~38730) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: Put the space under your stair case to beautiful use - and no, you don't need to be Harry Potter! Using a secret passageway can turn once unused space into a stunning place to store valuables (gold, art, documents, jewelry, wine, etc) but also just to keep unsightly cleaning supplies out of sight. People also use secret passageways and hidden vaults for gun storage, or as a panic rooms for one's family. We especially hope you enjoy the lifting staircase - often featured on WSJ, NBC & Fox. - [Recent Secret Passageways](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/recent-secret-passageways-pj-vj~288803) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 20 - Description: secret door, hidden door, secret passageway, hidden passageway, secret, panic room, man cave, bomb shelter, safe room, gun room, security room, vault room, secret passage, hidden passage, creative home engineering - [Panic Rooms and Vault Rooms](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/panic-rooms-and-vault-rooms-pj-vj~38731) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 [See all 6 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/door-sales-and-installation/creative-home-engineering-pfvwus-pf~1098922323) ## Ideabooks - [modern houses](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/144401113/list/modern-houses) — 19 ideas - [existing secret doors](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/44125362/list/existing-secret-doors) — 63 ideas - [steve's ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2221086/list/steve-s-ideas) — 4 ideas [See all 3 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/creativehome1) ## Community Q&A **Q: Hinges** *(in Photo Questions)* Great work. Are the hinges custom made ? Thank you A: Thank you, Manuela! Yes, we build the entire secret door system and fabricate or modify whatever is needed. Proper hinges are critical to a secret door's long term success. **Q: Where should the TV go?** *(in Design Dilemma)* Hello, we just got new floors and are buying new furniture for our family room but are aesthetically challenged :-/ please help us decide where we should out the TV - where it is now? Or hang it on the fireplace. Hanging it on the fireplace will allow us to use its current location for two long bookcases like the IKEA billy maybe? However I am afraid that the TV on the fireplace will make it the focal point of the room which we don't want. Also we need a sofa or sectional in this room. What would you suggest? How should we position it not to lose too much of the pool view? I want the area to be a sitting area first and tv area second. Any other suggestions will be great!!! Thank you. A: Hi there, I totally agree with you about not making the TV the focal point. Better to make the beautiful surroundings and the people around you the focal point! So, I think you should combine what a couple professionals above said, plus one other factor. I think JudyG and Denita's option looks so aesthetically pleasing (and match your goal of blending in) because the furniture around them matches the TV color, so the Tv doesn't stand out. So I think either one of those methods (paint or furniture) is a great idea. However, you also definitely need to raise the height of the TV. Right now it makes the room look short, yet the top of your walls are beautiful. So you could get some furniture to raise the TV, but honestly I think it would be a lot easier to just hang your TV higher up in the alcove and get rid of the stand it is currently on. Or of course you could put something else nice below. **Q: Enter master closet from master bath? Yes or No?** *(in Polls)* This is a debate I hear very often. I would like to add some unscientific data to the dialog when it is encountered. The question is a global one, not just limited to the simple example I have included to help clarify the question. What is your preference? A: Just saw this related discussion. Might be of interest to see this other Before & After page of how we made an entrance to the master closet in the bathroom without taking up ANY wall space! https://www.houzz.com/discussions/secret-master-closet-entrance-see-how-it-unlocks-dsvw-vd~3809056?n=19 **Q: POLL: Would you put a secret room in your house?** *(in Polls)* Who wouldn't want a room hidden behind a bookcase or under the stairs? Is that something you would do given the opportunity or would you skip it? Share your experience! (photos encouraged) A: @Matt awesome job! **Q: Man cave half bath** *(in Design Dilemma)* I need advice for corner of this bath in mancave about 18 inches square. Any ideas? Thank you A: Do you access it by door I assume? Switch it to a cool secret entrance? (this one unlocks when the rightmost pool cue is twisted) **Q: WWYD with this Living Room?** *(in Design Dilemma)* Everything had been moved out of the room for a large gathering which gives us a blank slate for the most part. The rug in the picture is temporary. I've included the a picture of the rug I am considering using. A: Pretty looking house! --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-21.*