Trends come and go but true style and elegance lasts forever… this is a mantra that is perhaps wise to adopt if you are planning a renovation project at the moment and want to ensure that you continue loving the end result for years to come.

With this in mind, it can often prove useful to look to the past and see what heritage and period features exist that have really stood the test of time, going back hundreds of years to when they first came to the fore… and the infamous jib door is just such an example, a really elegant and luxurious addition to any home – and one with an air of mystery, into the bargain.

Jib doors were incredibly common during Georgian times and the Regency period, seen the length and breadth of the nation in both country houses and townhouses alike. The door itself doesn’t have any visible jambs and they’re typically decorated in the same way as the rest of the walls, so that they remain hidden from view.

Interestingly, while these doors have never really gone out of style or fashion, it seems that they’re currying serious favour at the moment, along with other concealment architecture features as people increasingly embrace a more modern and contemporary look and feel at home, with clear, sleek lines and far less clutter.

The hinges of the jib door are usually installed on the back side of the door, so they can’t be seen from the interior of the room. Soss hinges are another option because these are concealed between the frame and the door, or you could go for a pivot hinge installed in the header.

There are also no handles, locks or any other kind of visible hardware on the inside of the door, so that the interior design scheme of the room itself isn’t compromised and you achieve this beautiful sense of flow and cohesion the whole way around.

One key benefit of this kind of design idea is that you also help to create the illusion of space, making rooms seem bigger than they actually are… so it might be a nice idea to try out if there is a space at home with dimensions that you’re unhappy with.

There’s also a very practical element to jib doors and you can use them to great effect if you want to detract attention away from any parts of the room that aren’t important to your overall design scheme. You can hide closet doors very easily in this manner, for example, or use them for your pantry or larder, tucking everything away very neatly indeed.

If you’re unsure where to begin with your interior choices, however, get in touch with the team here at Cochrane Design for help with interior design in Fulham and elsewhere in London.