Born as hidden bars during Prohibition, speakeasies have shed the concealed doors and secret passwords for something more domestic: the immersive hideaway, built right into the home.
Across St. Louis, designers and homeowners are embracing the concept by creating spaces that feel intimate, dramatic, and distanced from everyday life. Whether tucked behind a paneled wall, concealed through a bookshelf door, or hidden in a basement hallway, contemporary speakeasies are less about alcohol and more about experience.
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“I think speakeasies create a sense of mystery and glamour and a little bit of specialness,” says interior designer Ellie Redders, owner and principal of Ellie Redders Interiors. “That’s kind of what we aim to bring into clients’ homes.”
The moody atmosphere is so appealing to Redders that she created a speakeasy-inspired room inside her Ballwin-based design studio. Hidden behind paneled walls and a gallery art wall, it’s used to host immersive client presentations, making them feel like they’ve been transported to another era. Adding to the mystery is the fact that the room isn’t visible in the showroom. It’s intentionally hidden, says Redders. “Then, when you push the door open, you come into a really moody, color-drenched space.”
The room is furnished with velvet banquettes, dramatic drapery, integrated lighting, and an Art Deco-inspired wallpaper all under a decorative tin ceiling. “It just kind of gives a really intimate feeling in there,” Redders says. “It creates excitement and drama.”
That feeling of being steeped inside a different world is exactly what many homeowners are seeking.
For contractor Michael McCluskey, who recently completed a hidden speakeasy project in a Twin Oaks basement, the appeal comes from creating a space that feels tucked away from the rest of the house.
“It’s not your everyday space,” he says, referring to the dimly lit, industrial yet luxurious lounge. “The homeowners wanted to go downstairs and have it be a whole new world.”
Wrapped in Venetian lime wash and decorated with vintage details, the entrance is disguised as shelving. To unlock it, visitors must pull a metal canister hidden among paint cans on the shelves. “That discovery element is part of what makes these spaces fun,” McCluskey says.
The homeowners began thinking about incorporating a speakeasy into their house during the pandemic years, when they were spending significantly more time at home. In 2024, their vision came to life with the help of McCluskey.
“Our speakeasy has become our favorite home improvement project and we truly love spending time there,” says homeowner Craig Cwiklowski. “Whether it’s just the two of us enjoying an after-dinner Old Fashioned while playing cards, listening to jazz, or watching a baseball or hockey game, the space has become a place where we naturally gravitate to relax and unwind. When we host friends and family, the speakeasy inevitably becomes the gathering place after dinner—a cozy setting for conversation, cocktails, and games. Last December we even chose it as the backdrop for our family Christmas card photo,” he says.
Historically, speakeasies were designed to serve cocktails and uphold secrecy, both designers say the new interpretation of these spaces has expanded considerably. “I don’t think a speakeasy has to necessarily revolve around alcohol anymore,” says McCluskey. “It could be your craft room. It could be anything.”
Redders agrees, noting that today many hidden spaces take the form of concealed butler’s pantries, hidden secondary kitchens, intimate lounge spaces, or themed entertainment rooms.
“The defining feature is the secrecy and transition,” she adds. “You don’t immediately know the room is there. Once you enter, it feels completely different from the rest of the house.”
That transition often begins with the entrance itself. Hidden paneling, concealed keypads, disguised shelving systems, and secret doors are all becoming increasingly common in residential design.
“I think the whole point of a speakeasy is that it’s a hidden space that no one can really recognize until you know the secret code or know how to get in,” Redders says. “Then once you’re in, it’s a whole different world.”
Post-pandemic lifestyle changes are part of the reason these spaces are becoming more popular, say both Redders and McCluskey. As people spend more time at home, many are looking for ways to entertain differently and create immersive experiences for guests. “People are spending more time in their homes and wanting to enjoy their homes more,” adds McCluskey. “So people are starting to create those experiences for themselves.”
The trend also reflects a growing interest in personalization and escapism within residential design. “I think it’s really about creating something whimsical or a little bit fun inside the home,” Redders says. “Something special and unique.”
Cwiklowski agrees. He says the “secret nature of the space” is an immediate crowd-pleaser.
“We always enjoy challenging guests to discover the hidden lever that opens the door. Once revealed, the door leads into what feels like a Laclede’s Landing alleyway, complete with a view of the St. Louis Arch in the distance. The reaction is almost always one of complete disbelief,” he says. “More than anything, guests often comment about the level of detail and imagination. One of our favorite reactions came from a friend who commented that the space transports you to a different place and time. That sentiment captures what we hoped to create.”
And while the rooms themselves can be designed to look and feel dramatic, designers say they don’t necessarily need to be large. Redders’ own speakeasy space comfortably seats only a handful of people. “It can be a very intimate space,” she adds. “Maybe it’s just a couple of people and you kind of get away from everything else [that’s going on ] in the home.”
Ultimately, what defines a residential speakeasy is less about size or function and more about atmosphere. “It evokes the vibe of secrecy, something special,” says Redders. “That’s the feeling a speakeasy creates.”
