One of the features unique to Los Angeles (or at least the left coast since we've never seen one on the East Coast) is the peep door in the front door also known as a Judas window. Larger than a peephole, it's a small door, about the size of a small book and positioned at eye level, that allows you to see outside your front door...
A Door In The Front Door
Unfortunately, it also allows outsiders to see in. In order to retain a bit more privacy, we had a piece of mirror cut to fit the glass door, painted the back side of it red and mounted it using earthquake gel. Our upstairs neighbor pasted a photograph on her glass; another neighbor inserted a small piece of art. We have a bit more privacy, a handy mirror in which to give ourselves a quick glance before we go out and our visitors can check themselves over while waiting to come in.
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I have one of those! But it's a solid piece of metal with a decorative cut-out over it so you can't see in or out until I open it. I'm up in the Bay Area, so I'll say Left Coast is probably closer to the truth.
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile
My parents' house has one of these in the front door and like the previous post, it's made of metal. It's one of my favorite little details of the house. But we live in St. Louis, so maybe it's not a completely Left Coast thing.
view TarDan731's profile
On our front door we have a tiny little metal door in place of a peephole, it's about 3" x 2" with a turning latch. I love it!
view valleyval's profile
We had one in our 1920's Lower QA apartment, only it was one of the smaller brass ones with a smaller metal door inside, and the decorative design on the outside. It was one of the many charming little features I miss about that place... sigh.
view SeattleMama's profile
Oh! The house I grew up in had one of these -- even though we had windows on either side of the door! -- and I couldn't get enough of it. We had ripply amber glass in it, and it looked so pretty with the metal on the other side...
view hummeline's profile