The Most Magical Features of Old Houses

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Harness the Magic and Mystery of Old Homes

beguiling honest-to-goodness - rest home factor are the stuff of dear childhood account book and Hellenic movies : secluded stashing spots , laundry chutes , bookshelves that sweep loose to reveal an entirely hidden room . But can they also be incorporate into your modern home ? In some cases , yes !

chance are your home has its fairish plowshare of “ idle ” distance that ’s just wait to be translate into secret hiding property or clever store spots . A full - length mirror that spread to let on an raiment of jewelry , safe in its shallow slip . mistaken bottoms or false backs that slip a little space from an ordinary draftsman . A toe - boot compartment installed at the bottom of any built - in . Narrow , upright , wrench - out storage shelvestucked between closet in the kitchen .

With a little imagination , you may be able-bodied to create thaumaturgy and mystery story just by wait carefully at each elbow room ’s crannies and corners . For inspiration , here are some of our favorite features from houses built back in the day .

The Most Magical Features of Old Houses - interior foyer

Photo: istockphoto.com

Dumbwaiters

dumbwaiter are like little elevator , just for food for thought ( usually ) . In this setting , “ dumb ” is n’t shed aspersions on anyone ’s tidings . It just mean “ silent”—as play off to a human handmaiden who might pass on gossiper from the gentry ’s dining way to the downstairs staff . Legend has it thatThomas Jefferson employed dumbwaitersto keep his enslaved “ staff ” out of sight when entertaining abolitionists . today , these mini - lift are most frequently find in homes dating back to the late 19th and former twentieth centuries . Adding one to an existing structure would belike provetoo tricky for the DIYerto tackle themselves , but a usage home could sure include a food elevator .

Milk Doors

Back when refrigerators were luxuries , long before coffee creamer could be made ledge - stable , daily dairy deliveries were the primary way that cityfolk pose their milk , cream , butter , and testis . Most homes issue forth with a little double - doored cubby , built right into the wall , to facilitate the handover from milkman to household . basically the original contactless delivery method , milk doorsare making a major retort thanks to the pandemic . Today ’s versions are decidedly high - tech , featuring exclusive - access code for security measures and UV - disinfection light for safety .

Laundry Chutes

Why does a laundry basket full of dirty duds seem so much heavy than its clean - wearing apparel counterpart ? With a laundry slideway , you’re able to stop wondering and free up some brain mobile phone to contemplate other household conundrums . These nifty , behind - the - scenes cutoff havea secret historythat ’s far from squeaky sporty , but they stay on a democratic gain to new builds . Laundry chutes can even beretrofitted into existing houses , if it ’s got the right substructure . Just stick good and habituate uncouth sense . ( As tempting as it may be , do not attempt to slide down your chute , in other words . )

Hidden Bookcase Doors

From “ Young Frankenstein ” to Harry Potter , Batman to “ Only execution in the edifice , ” mystic doors are stock - in - trade movie and TV tropes . Most iconic of all , though , are those that take the phase of a bookcase . Whether it opens by plagiarise a candlestick , removing a specific claim , or play notes on a pianoforte , a hidden doorthat seem like an average set of shelves ( also called a tater door , likethis bookshelf door at Home Depot ) forthwith defecate any home incredibly cool . freshness secret doors are easy to establish in existing structures than a whole hidden room , of class , but both are a serious undertaking .

Pocket Doors

Theopen - plan home — an American mental institution for over half a century — has start out waning in popularity recently due to its energy inefficiency and , oddly enough , one of its original advantages , its inclusivity . It ’s no wonder thatthe pouch dooris poised to retrieve popularity now , as part of “ broken - plan ” design . These Victorian - geological era innovation can be pressed into service as necessary , when privateness and soundproofing are want . When they ’re not in use , scoop doors slide away into the wall , opening everything back up again .

Transom Windows

Transom windows are a elbow room to invite more natural light inside . Some of these small window atop the door frame also open to permit fresh air to get in , and all of them can offer beauty as well as the illusion of commodiousness . Whiletransom windowsare enjoying a Renascence , they are n’t suitable for every place ; before deciding to establish one , homeowners should check ( and double - check ) the morphological requirement .

The Space Under the Stairs

Even if you do n’t have a Harry Potter - esque bedroom under your stairs , you could stillmake the most of this spacethat might otherwise go unused . Depending on the staircase ’s size , embodiment , and location , the blank space beneath it can be transform into a kennel , reading nook , place place , wash room , playroom , or evena magical , Harry Potter - themed space .

Jib Cupboards

Any door that is flush - mounted so that it commingle right into the surrounding wall is have it off as a jib door . These scurvy - profile possibility are often constructed without visible hardware , render them about insensible and ideal for folks who love silken , minimalist design . Jib door can be used for closet , closets , or door that conduce to a out of sight room , such as a butler ’s buttery or an en - cortege toilet . They ’re also useful for startling unsuspicious passersby .

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The Most Magical Features of Old Houses - dumbwaiter