28 January, 2021

How to create a secret door with concealed hinges

There is a magic and excitement associated with hidden doors. Who hasn’t secretly wanted the James Bond-style room hidden behind a sliding bookcase?

The argenta® invisible neo concealed hinge is the invisible hinge for designers. Winning the prestigious red dot design award for the purity of its aesthetic and high quality function, this concealed hinge is available in  three different sizes – S5, M6 and L7.

Thanks to the matching cover plates, not a single screw can be seen. The ‘Easy-hook’ installation system makes these white invisible hinges simple to install even for a single person. Thanks to their unique height adjustment system, you no longer need to place wedges under the door when adjusting the height. The casing of the copper concealed hinge can be pre-installed in the door off-site, in the workshop.

Available Finishes & Sizes


Technical Information


Size
S5
M6
L7

Material
Zamak

Door Thickness
Min. 32mm
Min. 40mm
Min. 40mm

Door Thickness with max.
cladding size applied
Min. 35mm
Min. 40mm
Min. 46mm

Door Weight (2pc) 1
Up to 60kg
Up to 80kg
Up to 120kg

Door Weight (3pc) 1
Up to 80kg
Up to 100kg
Up to 150kg

Overall Depth
Frame: 26.5mm
Door: 30mm
Frame: 30mm
Door: 32mm
Frame: 32mm
Door: 35mm

Dimensions (LxW)
120 x 25mm
140 x 28mm
170 x 32mm

Height Adjustment2
– 2.5/+ 2.5mm
– 3/+ 3mm
– 3/+ 3mm

Width Adjustment2
– 1/+ 5mm
– 3/+ 4mm
– 3/+ 4mm

Pressure2(depth adjustment)
– 1/+ 1mm
– 1.5/+ 1.5mm
– 1.5/+ 1.5mm

Max.cladding size
5mm
6mm
7mm

(1) Based on a reference door of 1000 x 2000mm
(2) Nuetral position factory setting: standard of a 2mm door margin

View catalogue

Specification Sheet


Hidden rooms behind secret doors are a trend growing in popularity. Last year on The Block, that barometer of popular interiors trends, three couples included secret doors in their houses. Both Jimmy and Tam and Daniel and Jade created a secret door from their bedroom wardrobe through to their ensuite, with Daniel and Jade also harnessing the element of surprise when they created hidden access to attic storage space. In keeping with the classic simplicity that Luke and Jasmin were aiming for, they built a hidden door in the side of their stairs to create extra storage, and Jimmy and Tam overcame an awkward layout with a feature timber wall and concealed door  to hide a laundry located opposite their front door.

There is a magic and excitement associated with secret doors that no doubt adds to their appeal. Who hasn’t secretly wanted the James Bond-style room hidden behind a sliding bookcase? Or a charming surprise entry to a side room like this beauty, created by top interior designer Sibella Court using argenta Invisible Neo concealed hinges from Two Tease.

I love the story told on the I Like to Make Stuff website about the couple who had their first baby on the way and created a secret playroom for the child to discover one unforgettable day later in their childhood. Can you imagine if they never found it, though?

The History of Secret Rooms


Hidden rooms and secret doors also have a more serious history, hiding many from enemies and oppression over time. During World War II, Anne Frank famously hid with her family from Nazi persecutors in a secret annex at the rear of their 17th Century Amsterdam canal-side house.  During Prohibition in the 1920s, invisible doors concealed speakeasies. In more recent times, fear of home invasion or attack has driven the inclusion of a hidden safe or ‘panic’ room in new homes, often absent from the plans as well as invisible from outside view and incorporating high levels of technology for security and comfort.

Sibella-Courts-Hidden Door

> See how this project for secret doors 

Concealed doors for minimalist design


Today, one of the main reasons that hidden doors have grown in popularity is the desire for a refined, minimalist aesthetic, with the rise of clutter-free design making so much sense in a time when many of us are spending more time in our homes.

All doors need a hinge of some sort, and most hinges are not hidden. They don’t need to be. However, with a minimalist look or secret room you want the door to be as inconspicuous against the wall as possible, which is why concealed hinges are recommended for this purpose.

What is a concealed hinge?


A concealed hinge is designed to be completely invisible when a door is closed, allowing the door to close perfectly in line with the wall. They also have a sleek, flat minimalist appearance when the door is open and are available in different finishes* to blend with their surroundings. Concealed hinges are also known as invisible hinges or SOSS-style hinges and they remove the gap between the door and the surrounds needed with traditional hinges. This is how the secret door effect is achieved.

There are various options available on the market but at Two Tease we have decided to stock and distribute the premium Invisible Neo concealed hinges by argenta because they have the European high quality, strength and reliability customers expect, with a pure, sleek aesthetic.

“We find that our trade customers appreciate the quality as well as the look of the Argenta Invisible Neo and are surprised at how easy they are to install,” said Kevin Tuersley of Two Tease.

> Learn more about concealed hinges

Which concealed hinge should I choose?


The weight and size of your door will determine which concealed hinge you use. For example, the argenta Invisible Neo comes in three different sizes and can be used for doors up to 150kg. Your can download the product specifications for more technical details about each model here.

After that, it’s up to you whether you choose a finish that will blend in with its background or stand out as a feature in its own right and working in with tones used elsewhere in the room – see the mirrored door below installed by specialist Lock Carpenter Tony Gouverneur.

Magnetic door catches

When planning your secret door, remember to consider how the door will close if you are not using a conventional handle. Magnetic contactless door closing systems such as argenta’s Magnotica Pro will hold interior doors shut without the need for a door handle or latch. A magnetic door catch is similar to a magnetic lock but it ‘catches’ the door and holds it closed without locking it. Because there are no moving parts, doors can be opened and closed completely noiselessly.

>  Our Magnetic catches are made of Neodymium magnets which are 2.7x times stronger than normal ferrite magnets. Read more Here 

Don’t forget the pivot door option

For larger, heavier doors, a door pivot may be your best option. Today, concealed pivots don’t have to be an expensive option making the benefits more accessible for a range of uses, whether for secret doors, high traffic areas or oversized front doors.

> Read more about pivots.

For more advice on secret doors, concealed hinges and which options are right for you, feel free to contact Kevin at Two Tease.


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> PROJECT IN PROFILE: Oyster Bay House | Couvaras Architects
> Pivot hinges and pivot doors: your question answered       
 > Two Tease M&T Magnetic Door Closing Wins Design Gold     
> Block Story: Black vs Goth Accents, or why not both?