In the near future I will be building a home. I have always been
intrigued with trap doors, sliding staircases, hidden doors/rooms,
movable bookcases etc. For the fun of it I would like to explore the
possibility of having some of these things. I have searced endlessly
and except for the occasional "safe" room or "storm shelter", I have
come up empty handed. I have always been more than reasonable with
payment on here but am unsure of what to offer for this question. I am
going to put the price at $ 40.00 and depending on the extent and
thoroughness of the answer I will tip up to an additonal $ 100. Under
"normal" circumstances you might think that I am wanting to
carrot-and-stick someone, but I am hoping the person that responds is
familiar with what my record has been here in terms of what I pay for
high quality responses. The reason for not throwing out a larger price
up front is that I am unsure how much someone can find for me.

Thanks,
Joel

Hi joel1357-

Well it seems you are not at all alone in your love of hidden rooms
and sliding staircases.  I found a discussion thread full of great
ideas and useful links;

This is part II, unfortunately part I seems to be totally gone.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/remodel/msg1121374621775.html

Elsewhere, however, the pickings aren't so lush, as you have already
learned.
After several hours, I really think I've exhausted the Internet
sources on this.
Here are links I did find that tell how-to or illustrate "Hardy Boy"
architecture.

How to build a sliding staircase
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/addingon/article/0,13422,216414-2,00.html

How to make a faux bookcase
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_furniture_shelves/article/0,1793,HGTV_3450_1378359,00.html

http://www2.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,DEID_project_15180,00.html

Bookcase that functions as a door
http://www.spacexdoors.com/

Hidden safes
http://www.hiddensafes.com/index.htm 

Manufactured revolving doors
http://www.marrutt.com/darkroom.html

Power lifts to go with that trapdoor
http://www.edisonsupply.com/news.htm

Illustration of secret space beneath stairs
http://users.aol.com/sforgg/sblhall2.htm

Modern home with hidden room behind bookcase
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/living/homeandgarden/0228home.html

Two magazine articles:

Hidden passage.; Southern Living, Nov97, Vol. 32 Issue 11, p150, 2/3p,
2c; Focuses on the home of Steve and Darlene Cates, which contain a
hidden room, which is disguised with a bookcase. Information on the
bookcase; What was done to keep the books and accessories from being
displaced.

Kid's room hideaway.; Better Homes & Gardens, Jun98, Vol. 76 Issue 6,
p248, 2/3p, 2c; Focuses on a play room which is hidden by a book case
in the home of Suzanne and Steve Mariucci of Omaha, Nebraska. Reason
for building the hidden room; Description of the book case; Details on
the room.


Search strategy: architecture "hidden doors"; "interior design"
"hidden rooms"; sliding staircase
architecture "hidden compartment"; faux bookcase; "swinging bookcase";
"covert construction"

Nellie Bly

joel1357, let me know if you ever manage to build a Disappearing Floor
(book 19 in the series).  Thanks!  :)

You ask really good questions joel! I enjoy reading the commentary!

I have a question you should ask: where can you find a scholorship
where he could go back to school and get a duel Computer Science and
Business degree? Then you would be the total pacage and start
answering questions on Google rather then asking them.

Good Luck!

PittNeuroMonkey