To insist that Narnia be inside a wardrobe

[whomovedmychocolate]

This thread will out me to lots of RL people yeah, I'm on mumsnet, big deal, get over it, I'm still the harrassed mummy at the school gate but here goes.

We recently bought a massive house, unreasonably big (4500 square feet I think). In one of the rooms on the third floor was a small false window. That is a frame with a blind on it but with no actual glass just a board. Now from outside we could see a window high up on the wall but it appeared to be higher IYSWIM than the internal dimensions would suggest.

Anyway we got curious, drilled a hole and discovered a hidden room. Which we got the builders to check out, floor and insulate and which was plastered two weeks ago. We call it Narnia.

The room has five steps to access it because it's on a different level to the rest of the third floor (so we now have a fourth floor IYSWIM) - it's basically the roof space above the master bedroom which has a vaulted double height ceiling. It's 9X9 but it's a fab little room with a window and now a Velux.

I'm putting a single bed in there and it'll be an extra guest room.

But AIBU to insist that we get an old fashioned wooden wardrobe, take the back off and conceal the steps to Narnia inside it? Then put (vintage) fur coats in the wardrobe.

DH insists this is OTT but I think it'll be funny.

FWIW the entire house is OTT. Note to all mumsnetters, buy a country cottage, do it up and flog it for lots and you too can buy a big house in a city.

Just do it.

The queen has a secret room at Buck palace.

You will definitely be considered MN royalty

MinnieBar - there is a bathroom next to my office.

I was petrified when we found the room what might be in there. I had visions of a CCTV network going through the security monitors or something, or vast acres of porn. When we moved in we found all sorts of weird things all over the house.

First meringues ever - were a bit shit but all the better for the chocolate hazelnut goo underneath. The kids were desperate for more snow and I caved and said this was a way to make it - sugar, kids - what's not to like?

And it doesn't count as a country pile, we live in well okay it's a village but a mega village near a big city with a university in it.

Ah I didn't realise you'd moved closer to said city! (Back when Google + was briefly popular we were in each other's circles (fnarr) and I recall various moving-related issues.)

If said visitors can get to the loo hassle-free (and, of course, don't forget to check all the 'things I hate about visiting other people's houses' threads in order to get everything just right) then I vote go for it!

Sounds fab - how grand...but as DD (6) says "It should be The Lion, The Witch in the Wardrobe" Daddy! Think she has a point.....

Oh you really must do it!

gazzalw - well there's me, the cat (who is quite lion like) and so therefore that's a yes to the wardrobe

Do it, Do it. Maybe put a sign inside the wardrobe saying "Narnia Is unavailable as too many children are currently exploring - pleae enyoy this room in the meantime"

I do hope you have some young people to visit and stay in your hidden room.

Yes! Do it but make the room a playroom

I want your house!

Sashh that's not a bad idea, except the children have a playroom on the ground floor so I can't lose them. (We have lost DS twice now because he's a hider and can get upstairs incredibly fast.)

All my children's friends battle to come here to play hide and seek though. I keep finding four year old's in wardrobes!

That. Sounds. Awesome.

Personally I would turn it into my den and hide it behind a book case.

I can't help wondering what has gone on in that hidden room.....
Maybe Narnia will detox it though.

or release the White Witch.

I think your DH has been outnumbered. You absolutely HAVE to do it now.

I know someone with a secret passage from their wardrobe to the pantry next to the kitchen. Handy if you fancy a midnight snack :o they live in an old farmhouse.

Are you sure there's no other world (or room) within the secret room......wonder why it was all boarded up???

Yes a secret passage from a room to the pantry/kitchen sounds like an excellent idea!

I wouldn't do it. Your guests will be disappointed that there is no fir forest in a hundred year winter at the back of it. It will seem artificial and contrived ... especially when you first have to explain to the guest why they have to walk through a wardrobe to get to their room. I would only do it if I was going to convert it into a similarly themed children's playroom and let guests 'discover' it if they were feeling like poking about.

Well we're reading The Magician's Nephew as a bedtime story to DD so Jadis is uppermost in our minds......

Think it would be lovely to convert into a Narnia themed bedroom.....Wow you are so lucky.....

Ever since we watched this Christmas's Dr Who, every time I think of Narnia I think of Dr Who.....

Deliberating with DD as to why Jadis isn't popular amongst the chattering classes....know she's not nice but still.....Certainly an unusual name ;-)

The idea would be much improved by including James McAvoy in the room

But not .. dressed as a centaur surely

Oh crap! He wasn't a centaur was he? (Although it'd be about as bizarre). A faun.

What sort of weirdness did you find when you bought the house?

Why not build a panic room in case of intruders?

In the absence of James McAvoy, you could just lay out a pair of shag pile breeches and a horned Alice band for any guests who fancied getting into the role.