Organizing Tips from a Hollywood Dream Closet
Drool over a movie-maker's boutique-like closet, then pick up ideas for your own tidy, well-lit space
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
How do you design for a top visual effects professional who has worked on movies like Titanic, X-men Origins: Wolverine, 300, Knight and Day, 2012 and Avatar? By paying very careful attention to lighting and details! Closet designer Lisa Adams was tasked with creating a space that not only would store and show off the clothing and accessories in the best way possible, but would also house this keen-eyed client's Ferrari gear, his collection of Jordans and his wife's clothing and accessories. "Obviously, most of us can only dream of a collection of Ferrari equipment and Jordans," Adams says, "but the general take-away is that most of us DO have collectibles that we'd like stored/displayed in our closets!"
More: 10 Elements of the Perfect Closet
More: 10 Elements of the Perfect Closet
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| Adams strikes a pose in her finished project. While this closet, coming in at 220 square feet, is for a lot of us bigger than our first/second/current apartments, there is a lot we can learn from this clothes-storage fantasy. |
A peek into the closet shows off one of Adams' top philosophies when it comes to closet design: pretend that your closet is a boutique and merchandise it as such. From this view, it looks like a swank Beverly Hills shop where a personal tailor awaits.
The materials used in crafting the closet are a mix of wenge cabinets and aluminum drawers, aluminum base detailing, wide thick shelves, touch latches for the cubbies for a minimal look, and U-shaped custom hanging rods.
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| Some of Adams' favorite elements: Lighted hanging rods, L-shaped corner rods, S-shaped shelves, a pull-out pant rack, and the open/closed door cubbies above the aluminum bureau of drawers. |
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| Here are the lighted hanging rods in action. "Re-creating natural light is important," Adams says. "I would suggest a combination of ceiling lights like recessed can lights, a ceiling fixture/chandelier, and shelf/rod lighting (low voltage LED lights). We had this lighting system wired on 6 switches — all with dimming capabilities. I am a huge fan of dimmers! With it, you can create mood lighting, turn on certain lights in the closets without having all the lights on, and most importantly, you have enough lighting to see everything in your closet — enough to see the difference between black and navy blue in an instant!" |
Adams loves to incorporate spaces within a closet for activities such as ironing, dressing, and primping. "In a dream closet, it's your sanctuary," she says. So dressing, relaxing, putting on makeup and accessorizing here are par for the course.
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| For those of us limited to a small pole-and-shelf closet, Adams recommends purchasing shelf dividers; drawer bins and/or baskets; belt, tie, and/or scarf hangers, shoe drawers, and boards for hanging jewelry. |
When it comes to keeping a closet organized after a big cleanout, "incorporate a separate liner in your laundry drawer/basket for donations and purges," Adams says. "That way, donating/purging becomes part of your normal routine. If something doesn't fit, is out of style, or has an unsalvageable stain, throw it into your donating/purging liner. On your next dry-cleaning run, take the items to your cleaners to have them donate for you (many cleaners will). The more you make this process a part of your normal routine, the less it will pile up and become a daunting chore!"
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| All right, bye-bye fantasy closet, you masculine and well-lit wonder of wenge you! Thanks so much to Lisa Adams for sharing her work and tips with us today. Now for all of you, feel a sense of accomplishment from a small organizational task, and go put that donate/purge bag in your closet right now. More: 10 Elements of the Perfect Closet How to Turn Your Closet into an Office Closet Storage Solution: Fall Clothes In, Summer Clothes Out |
Comments
Denise Vilim I've seen images of this magnificant closet many times, but never tire of them. Isn't this the most inspirational closet ever?!
21 months ago · Like
lizaveta Thanks for many great ideas. However, those hangers are not doing those expensive suits any favors.
21 months ago · Like
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Fabian Borre Organizing heaven!
21 months ago · Like
Becky Harris I have fantasized about my dream closet many times, but never in my wildest imagination did I think up lighted rods!
21 months ago · Like
charliebeth Love this closet. I am an organizing junkie. I do have to agree with lizaveta above. You must use good quality hangers to keep your suits in good shape. Nice wooden suit hangers would have been appropriate here as the suits are not hanging correctly on the hanger...which means when you go to put your suit ON, it won't hang correctly on you either. Great job on the closet, though! Absolute heaven!
21 months ago · Like
dclostboy Where would I find the lighted hanging rods?
21 months ago · Like
patkoenig This is an amazing closet. What about dust? I don't ever read about that - maybe in this closet it's not a problem but what do you do?
21 months ago · Like
allenmueller Image #8 - recessed slots with LED light bars in them, probably the warmest ones on the market with diffusers. The hanging bars are probably custom fabricated with LED bars, which are available in up to 48" length of uninterrupted light. I buy from Photonier, but Environmental Lights has the best transformers and educational info: http://www.environmentallights.com/Under-Cabinet-Light-Bars_C456.aspx
21 months ago · Like
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patscats2 Wow, that is so cool. Looks like a store display.
21 months ago · Like
Patricia get real.
21 months ago · Like
dancingfish If you own the closet surely you have someone to dust daily???
21 months ago · Like
shannajensen You couldn't pay me to be married to that guy... OCD anyone??? lol
21 months ago · Like
Becky Harris Now shanna, let's give him a break - styled for photos, styled for photos! I mean, the guy did help sink the fake Titanic in the movie and create the world for Avatar - pretty impressive :)
21 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Sept. 21, 2011.
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