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http://habituallychic.blogspot...13/02/in-closet.html

These are well done custom closets. Check out this photo from Bill Blass' closet! Wow, that is classy! LOOK at the SHOES!

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

Wow, those are some awesome closets. I can't imagine having that many shoes. Or clothes for that matter. lol
I really don't like shopping for clothes, in fact I hate it. LOL

Wow, some of those closets are larger than my bedroom. I would love to have a bigger closet, but that won't be happening. I just need to find a creative way to utilize my space better in my 5ft wide and 2 ft deep closet. But thanks for giveing me something to drool over.

The one from House Beautiful is the one I referred to in the thread re:bedroom to dressing room makeover...don't remember who's thread it was though. Those are some magnificent closets!

We used to do closets like this in Boca Raton, FL when I worked for a high-end custom cabinet company that specialized in Closets. I even saw a silver leafed closet (all parts were silver leafed after installation! It held the lady's sequined gown collection. I had Lucite (top cut like a hanger) dividers made so that the sequins would not catch on each other! Took 5" of hanging space on the rod for each gown! The closet looked like a vault! She had it done in the fashion of her favorite designer's showroom so that she could feel that way at home! IT took a few years for that silver leaf to tarnish and become GORGEOUS!

A few closets were large enough (actually a suite of rooms on a whole floor) to have a room with a platform and three mirrors to create a place to have your seamstress do a fitting right there in the home and the client could see herself in the mirrors!

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

Thanks, Mary Ruth. Bill Blass' apt. in NYC is my be all/end all space. His furniture, artwork, architectural preferences sinc up to mine exactly! It's the one space I could just move into and not change a thing.

I tend to like more masculine spaces too, and I could live there no problem! I would love some of that pin stripe and nice leather shoes!

Gorgeous closets...thanks for sharing.

Loved the closets. Thanks for posting.

Particularly, like others, Bill Blass'.

So, of course, I had to analyze it to see what specifically there was about it.

1. The artwork in the closet. Well, OK, it is actually a closet room, but many never think to put artwork in a closet because the closet is sooooo crammed.

Declutter the closet and hang artwork!

2 The monochromatic look of it all--the artwork actually coordinates with the clothing.

Now, I have to admit, in the one picture, there are several "tan" suits and "gray" suits. OK, The Husband has only 3 suits: charcoal gray, black, oatmeal. I'd never thought to get The Husband MULTIPLE suits in the same colorway--but it could also be his job and lifestyle.

3. BUT, all the tans are arranged together, grays are together, etc.--a hint of how to arrange a closet so that no matter WHAT we have, it looks more pleasing to the eye.

Those were some gorgeous closets. I particularly loved the blue one for Celery Kemble. I'm not sure if I had a huge closet though that I could fill it up!

Thanks Gracie

AKsunny,
If you could afford a huge closet like this, you could probably afford the wardrobe to fill it!

Indexlady,
When I used to design closets in this price/status range, the company I worked for had a 'person who organized' the closets AFTER it was all installed. She got $60 per hour (about 15 yrs ago) to organize and fill the closet with the client's things.

Of course I counted, measured and saw what items had to be stored (even measured shoes and heights of boots) and then they all got put away in a pleasing arrangement. All was discussed with client beforehand, do they like to 'see' their shoes on display (closing them up can create an unpleasant odor for some inside the cabinet that you notice when opening the door) some shoe rooms need venting!
Colors are hung together because most clothing are mix and match (you probably never wear most items with the same pants/skirt all the time). Sets or coordinates were hung together in that part of the closet. This also HELPS the hired help to put the clothing away back in its proper place easy for homeowner to find.
Hats, purses and belts got put away according to value. Good leather belts always wound in a drawer, other fun belts could be hung on slat wall (wood or metallic or painted) custom made.
Suits were hung together and when necessary a pull down bar was used to bring the rod lower for ease in reaching.
A place to sit is very important because you need to put stockings, socks and shoes on.

There is a lot of work in making a storage closet that is pleasing to the eye, preventing sun damage (if window in closet). One time I got an order over the phone from Brazil. The architect called me directly and faxed diagrams and measurements (he signed off on) and then I put together the closet parts that he requested, like so many linear feet of suits, shoes, etc. I also divided formal from every day wear.
When I saw the closet plans they were 1200 sq feet, the size of a CONDO! It had lots of windows with a city scape view! I asked him if he would sell me a time share for that closet! LOL

When working with a very large closet, and wardrobe, one has to remember that the investment in those designer clothes costs more than a house sometimes, so they need to be treated with respect and care. Also tailoring, cleaning and repair must be planned for and space allowed to store those items leaving and entering the closet after service is complete.

Jewelry storage is also important, safe for valuables, and locked drawers for every day jewelry. The lock does not stop thieves, it is only a 'snoop' deterrent for the hired help. And most times they want some sort of locked secret compartment (again a snoop deterrent) for personal items that they care for themselves.

One home I did a penthouse-sized closet for was in a castle with a moat! That closet had no walls in the space so I created Gondolas (like in a supermarket that creates isles).

The client spending over $100,000 and more expects the best of materials, and the best environment (climate control) for their wardrobe investment. And expects it to be designed like the rest of the home.

Remember a lot of high end clients have a personal shopper, so most times you are meeting with that person to get particulars on the sizes storage must be. And they buy their underwear, stockings, socks, T-shirts, Polo shirts, all white shirts and most similar items by the case, so storage has to accommodate that quantity and a bit more.

One client I had... had a very heavy collection of Amber jewelry regularly sent to her by her relatives overseas who were in that type of jewelry business. I had to use extra sturdy Full Extension glides that held over 100 lbs and designed two drawer units with lots of narrow drawers so she could store it all in.

Closets are not always rectangular or square with straight ceilings either. Sometimes the walls are angled and attics are used to store some items, creative engineering has to happen to make a pleasing and accessible storage area.

Here is my closet photos from my Virginia house. As you can see, mine are not a high budget type, just basic and kept us organized with our work wardrobe.
Top drawer for me had jewelry trays inside. (the type that are lined with jewelry cloth).

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

this is left side, had shelves for shoes, then for folded clothing then Double hang on that wall, double hang across the back wall.

You can see a pull out valet bar (silver color) on the folded clothing rack. This is to hang something you want to wear soon, or put a jacket to let body heat dissipate after wearing before putting back in hanging space.

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

This shows right side wall. Two drawer bases, a narrow shoe shelf for DH and then 3/4 hang for long clothing and robes and shelves above drawer units for handbags, and folded items.

My Master closet layout (in our Virginia house now sold) shows a simple and efficient design. My favorite way to design a closet is to not have (if possible) hanging right as you walk into a closet, gives me that 'closed in' feeling.

I put the cabinets and shelving in the front, that way you can also go to each section of the closet in a clockwise or counter clockwise fashion to get your layers on after a shower.

I am always conscious of work-flow since I have done that for a living for many years so I incorporate it as much as I can in any project I do.

Designing kitchens is actually similar to designing a good (large room sized) closet. Sometimes more detailed and personal than any kitchen cabinetry-wise. Most often there is a Single or Duel Master bath attached to a large home Master suite set up and it needs to be coordinated with plumbing and electrical. Have to know where the pipes are in the walls too, or you get a shower in the closet come install day (have seen that happen once)!

One of the guest closets upstairs had two small rooms, so the first was a room of shelving for folded clothing (and linen storage for each room) lots of shoe shelves, which could double also as bookshelves. And I put a basket pull out that was 30" high with wood top so that a suitcase could be put on top and opened for guests convenience. The back little room, you see the doorway in the back, was all hanging space.

Materials were MDF panels painted and we did all the work and installation ourselves except we bought ours and had the panels cut to widths. All we had to do was prime, paint and then bore holes and assemble.

The new owners of the house had a teenage daughter who grabbed the closet with the most shelving (this one) and had a lot of shoes, she was very happy!

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