DRAB TO FAB

While we all love to drool over the fabulous finished product of a closet makeover, we rarely get to see the full transformation from drab to fab! As such, I decided to dip into the archives to pull together a full before-and-after breakdown of one of our favorite projects. Hopefully, by showing where the homeowner went wrong, and where we found potential to bring new life to the space, you’ll be inspired to see the endless possibilities for your own closet!

MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY

No matter how large or small, it’s important for every client to get as much use of the space as possible! In the case of this project, clearly the closet was bursting at the seams… More than that, everything was visible - including the closet clutter no one needs to see. By creating a closed cabinet for these items above the clothing, we were able to tuck away many of these lesser used items, without sacrificing valuable storage space for clothes and accessories!

CUSTOM CORNERS

Perhaps the most common closet mistake is not making use of corners. Before, the client had clothes stuffed in tiny corner compartments with insufficient lighting. After, we were able to transform the scale of the space with more substantial cabinetry and custom corner rods (contact us for more info!). This way, the client didn’t have to fumble around and reach into dark dreary corners for her clothes. Instead, everything is easily accessible. We even created a custom corner shoe display to make her stylish footwear a glamorous focal point!

BOUTIQUE DISPLAY

Before the renovation, many of the client’s handbags and clutches were getting crammed into shallow shelves and suffering wrinkles and wear! By organizing her bags by size/type, and incorporating custom glass dividers, we were able to keep the bags protected against color transfer and scuffs, without sacrificing space to separate the bags! Storing these items sideways is always a major space-saver.

LET YOUR SHOES SHINE

In the old closet, the client’s shoes were stored in standard adjustable shelves. The cabinet width wasn’t considered, and pairs were fighting for shelf space! Her heels were cluttered, no matter how high end, and her flats/sandals were stuffed into vertical hanging cubbies. As part of the redesign, we gave the flats a designated area, which gave us the room to spread out her shoes and show them off! A glamorous antiqued mirror backing helped to elevate this area as a major focal point of the design.

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE

Every space has its limitations… but with that, every space also has many opportunities! Step number one in any redesign is to really decide what you like about the space, and where you want to make the biggest statement. For this client, the window was a wonderful opportunity to ground the space and create a luxurious landing space. Her existing closet was falling very short, without enough surface area or storage to really make use of this feature!

NO DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS

Creating a beautiful closet isn’t just about designing an elegant and enviable display of designer goods! It’s also about making every part of dressing more functional and enjoyable. Attention to detail should always extend to the areas of the closet you can’t see on the surface! Underwear drawers, swimwear, lingerie, and athleisure should all be given room to breathe — this will leave you looking and feeling your best no matter the occasion!

PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENTS

Not all jewelry drawers are created equal! As part of designing for our discerning clients, we take a complete inventory of the items to be included. For this reason, one of the areas that requires the greatest attention to detail is the jewelry drawer. No one wants to untangle a necklace or search for an earring mate as they’re throwing on the finishing touch for an outfit. Instead, we like to create compartments that are tailored to the needs of each client — and always include at least one locked drawer for safekeeping!