urbanism

archive.today • Secret Doors Are Having a Major Moment - The New York Times

Companies that make pre-hung, ready-to-install doors that masquerade as bookcases and pool cue racks say that business started booming at the height of the pandemic in 2020, when Americans holed up at home dove into renovation projects. Some homeowners who turned bedrooms into offices for remote work swapped out regular closet doors for ones that double as shelving units to make the spaces more functional, as well as more professional-looking on Zoom calls.

You'll remember this Batman thing if you're an old dog like me...

Part of the fun is in the trigger that opens the door, which can take practically any form, from a book to a beer bottle. One company sold out its bronze-hued Shakespeare bust with a head that tilts back to reveal a switch — presumably to fans of the campy 1960s Batman television show who may have fondly recalled the Caped Crusader using such a device to gain access to the Batpoles descending to the Batcave.