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Planning & specifications

Hidden vs Flush Doors: What to Specify Before Ordering

A flat or flush door leaf does not automatically create a hidden doorway. Ask what is meant by “flush”: the face of the leaf, its position relative to the frame, or alignment with the finished wall. Specify the frame, leaf, hardware and wall relationship together.

Three descriptions that need clarification

DescriptionWhat it can meanWhat it does not prove
Flush door leafA door with a plain, flat faceThat the frame is concealed
Concealed-frame doorwayA system designed to reduce visible frame detailsThat any door leaf or wall build is compatible
Flush-to-wall appearanceThe intended alignment of door and finished wall facesA universal installation detail or performance rating

Look at a named system, not only a photograph

ECLISSE — Syntesis Line Battente flush-to-wall frame describes a frame system for a hinged door flush with the wall. Its product-specific documents illustrate why the frame and wall arrangement matter. They do not establish the details or performance of a different supplier’s system.

A photograph communicates the desired appearance but usually omits the wall section, frame, opening direction and hardware. Ask the supplier for an appropriate system drawing before treating the image as a specification.

Record the wall and finish relationship

Share the wall type, intended finished thickness and decorative finish. If the wall includes panelling, tiles or another layer, identify it in the design information. Ask how the specified door system accommodates the finished arrangement.

Keep this as a coordination question for the designer and system supplier. Do not copy another project’s gaps, fixings or frame dimensions from a photograph.

Make opening direction unambiguous

Mark each door on a plan and agree the handing convention used in the schedule. Confirm which side of the doorway is shown in elevations and which face is intended to align with the wall. A written “left” or “right” without a shared viewpoint can be misunderstood.

List the proposed hinges, latch and handle arrangement. Decorative cladding or a changed finish can affect the proposal, so request confirmation for the complete specified leaf rather than a generic hardware description.

Keep appearance separate from performance

A hidden appearance does not establish fire, acoustic, security or accessibility performance. If the project requires any of these, request documentation for the exact system and have the appropriate project professional check its applicability.

This is a terminology and enquiry guide. It does not provide fixing, trimming, load, clearance or installation instructions. Use the approved system documents for those decisions.

Choose the correct product conversation

Use flush interior doors when discussing a plain door face; use hidden interior doors when discussing a concealed-frame or flush-to-wall appearance. The supplier still needs the complete schedule to establish what is being proposed.

Attach your plan, wall section, finish references and open questions to the enquiry. The worksheet below keeps these inputs together.

Your hidden vs flush doors worksheet

Use these prompts to prepare your information. Download the text template, print this page, or complete the message below. Attach drawings in your email app or WhatsApp.

Questions buyers ask

Are flush doors and hidden doors the same?

Not necessarily. A flat door face and a concealed-frame or flush-to-wall doorway describe different aspects of the design. Ask the supplier to define the complete system.

Can I specify a hidden door from a reference image?

Use the image to explain appearance, then provide drawings and ask for system-specific details. The image does not establish frame or hardware compatibility.

Does a concealed frame imply a fire rating?

No. Any required rating must be supported for the exact proposed system and checked for the project.

Sources & scope

Sources checked 8 September 2026. Manufacturer references describe their own products; they do not imply that Aurora Atelier supplies those products or holds their certifications.

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