We need a normal size closet for the entry. Right now we only have a small little vintage one that would have been used in a bedroom.

What I am looking for is inspiration for a closet that is a full sized closet but still looks like a piece of furniture. My husband can build anything. The doors on the diningroom cabinet were decorative panels that we made into doors. We'll probably do something like that again.

I picked up some legs at Habitat for Humanity last week, straight lines, probably around 8" tall. I have some picture frames that I may use for architectural interest on them if I don't find something unique to use for the doors, not sure yet.

If you come across anything interesting while surfing the web, could you please let me know.

TIA
vg

Do you mean a wardrobe or armoire style closet/cupboard? Or would you prefer a hall tree with a built in bench?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: junk collector,

JC, I mean an alternative to just a built in closet that goes from floor to ceiling. More armoire like I'd say but with two doors.

Hey VG! This little cottage we bought last year has no entry closet, even though there's plenty of space for one, so we use a huge armoire that DH built about 15 years ago. I posted a picture a few years back, but it's on another puter...sigh. It's 4 feet wide and almost 8 ft tall but it's built in two pieces with a shorter base unit (big shoe drawer!) and two doors above in the upper unit. Really does the job.

I'm planning to enclose a back porch off the kitchen so we'll have a mud room and less need for the armoire...maybe next year? Right now, we're converting attic space into a much needed second bath.

VG, there are so many choices in style of a closet/armoire/cabinet that your DH could build. You could embellish it with decoupage, painted images, wallpaper, decorative paint techniques, fabric trims, corbels, fretwork brackets, nailheads, a mirror or mirrors, pressed wood trim embellishments, finials, etc.

If you google painted armoires on google images or on houzz you'll find lots of pics of possibilities.

Hi Brenda, I would start first with the needs to be fulfilled by the "closet". Do you want to store anything other than coats? How many coats? What about boots and gloves and hats? Will you need shelves?

How much l.r. space can you devote to the closet?

I never surf the web for decorating ideas but may try for your project. Have you checked out Pinterest?

Can the closet and room handle obtrusiveness or should the piece blend in?

You are so creative and clever that IMHO the style and decorating of the piece should be the least concern to you.

Belstone, I would love to have a mud room. The bigger entry is in the front and nobody uses that door. They use the side door and it is too small. We may build a small mud room onto the side some time in the future. Until then, we need a place to store our coats. NOt sure why I have so many coats but I do. Winters here are all about coats and I always seem to hit great sales at season end

Lucky, thanks. That can be a problem, having so many choices. I'm kind of thinking of finding some small french doors and using those. I'd paint the back of the glass. I've been looking at some wall hangings at Home Sense that could work.

Emily, it could probably be between a foot or two wider than the piddly one I have there now. I wouldn't want it any wider. It definetly has to be deeper than what we have there now. I don't need space for anything else since I now have that new console (shoot, forgot to show you all the after of pic of it). It will hold all of the gloves and hats, etc. I have a small cabinet in the basement where I put the extra shoes. The ones that we wear most are at the door.

When we go shopping this week, I think I'll hunt for some doors. Habitat may have something.

Here is the piddly closet. I'll be glad to get rid of it.

We have one more large flower bed to refinish before this project. We got one of them done yesterday, now there is only one more to go and the landscaping in the front will finally be done for awhile.

VG,

Could you post a photo of the other cabinet you mentioned that is in the dining room?

I would suggest measuring the width of the largest coat hanger with the thickest coat on it. and allow an inch more or so. That should be your interior measurement. Will possibly be around 18" to 20" on the interior between full back and door. Then the style of the door and side will come into play. Since the side is going to be almost as wide as the front, you can add some detail to it, or add hooks, chalkboard, frames, etc.

I like the French door idea too.

I wold love to see the photos of your new console in place!

VG, I've been searching the internet since you posted of my idea of a wonderful front entry closet. When I was growing up a "chiffarobe"(sp?) sat in an area of the house most people today would call a mudroom. It was tall and up off the floor with a mirror, small table top, coat/hat hooks, drawers, and an enclosed closet for hanging coats. When my DGM passed away this furniture was inherited by my Aunt. I've always wanted someone to build me one just like it. As talented as your husband is I'm sure he could.

ETA....and VERY Victorian. It also had a full length mirror on the inside of the door.

Thinking of it brings back so many memories. It always smelled of peppermint candy. DGM would stash her bon-bons in it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Georgia Peach,

Brenda, your house sure is beautiful!

MR, thanks for the info. I think I'll take a look at Habitat this week. There is another discount store I could go to also but it's a bit out of town and we only go there maybe once a month. I'll find something I'm sure if I keep my eyes open. I just thought maybe someone had some things one file or ran across some. I did chalkboard on the cabinet doors in my diningroom so I don't want to overdo it. I'll post a pic of the one side of the cabinet. I want to rub a bit of blue on the brown scroll work yet.

GP, thanks for the pic. That is a nice piece of furniture. I'm sure my hubby could build it but I'm not victorian any more. About the only thing I still have victorian is my fireplace. We have a lot of bulky coats for long cold winters so I need something roomy inside. I would like it to look like a piece of furniture though. You should keep looking on Craigs List, you may find something close to that.

Emily, thanks. I know some people would prefer the way it looked before but I am loving the change.

I designed this cabinet and hubby built it. The doors I purchased at Home Sense and incorporated them into my design.

I think you could find an BIG old wardrobe for a LOT less money than the cost of the lumber to build on.

VG I had never seen that cabinet in the dining room. That is the one your DH made? I love the scroll work and how you incorporated it into the door! LOVE it! Could you post a picture showing the whole thing. please?

I love that you made the cabinet lighted as well for great display space!

What is the brown on the wall?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

Lu, not so sure of that. We use MDF to build with and it's not expensive like regular wood is. I will keep my eyes open though and keep checking our kijiji (craigs list)

MR, I havn't shown my diningroom makeover yet. We did this probably a year and a half ago. I still want to do a couple of things in there, one being adding a bit of teal to the scrollwork. I'll do a reveal when I'm satisfied with it. The brown at the top of the wall is wallpaper. The brown on the door is chalkboard paint. I love how the cabinet turned out. It is double deep and we added sliding doors half way back so I could house more dishes and it wouldn't look like a big black hole. I mainly keep Christmas dishes back there, which don't have to be taken out often).