Below the secret room was the porch where my brothers and I watched thunderstorms in the summer and rated the lightning on form, style and execution. Next to the porch was the living room where people sat and talked. During the anti-war movement days it was a dormitory too.

Part 1 - The Secret Room

 Part 3 - The Shelf of Great Ideas

In the secret room with the little window was one corner formed between the brick chimney that came from the living room below and the edge of the house. When you entered the secret room it was through this corner (I am sure at this point that you have a completely different picture of what this room looks like than I do but it really doesn't matter) and this was the only area that had a proper floor so naturally this was to be the place to have the shelf.