Storage & Wardrobe

Design ideas for a large transitional gender-neutral walk-in wardrobe in DC Metro with beaded inset cabinets and beige cabinets.

Photo of a large traditional gender-neutral walk-in wardrobe in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, carpet and beige floor.

Inspiration for a large traditional gender-neutral walk-in wardrobe in Atlanta with beige cabinets.

Photos: Sold Right Away
This is an example of a traditional walk-in wardrobe in Toronto with beige cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

This is an example of a transitional women's walk-in wardrobe in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and medium hardwood floors.

Inspiration for a large contemporary gender-neutral walk-in wardrobe in Cleveland with shaker cabinets and beige cabinets.

Mid-sized modern gender-neutral walk-in wardrobe in Tampa with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Houston Interior Designer Lisha Maxey took this Museum District condo from the dated, mirrored walls of the 1980s to Mid Century Modern with a gallery look featuring the client's art collection. "The place was covered with glued-down, floor-to-ceiling mirrors," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer for Homescapes of Houston and principal at LGH Design Services in Houston. "When we took them off the walls, the walls came apart. We ended up taking them down to the studs." The makeover took six months to complete, primarily because of strict condo association rules that only gave the Houston interior designers very limited access to the elevator - through which all materials and team members had to go. "Monday through Friday, we could only be noisy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and if we had to do something extra loud, like sawing or drilling, we had to schedule it with the management and they had to communicate that to the condo owners. So it was just a lot of coordination. But a lot of Inner City Loopers live in these kinds of buildings, so we're used to handling that kind of thing." The client, a child psychiatrist in her 60s, recently moved to Houston from northeast Texas to be with friends. After being widowed three years ago, she decided it was time to let go of the traditionally styled estate that wasn't really her style anyway. An avid diver who has traveled around the world to pursue her passion, she has amassed a large collection of art from her travels. Downsizing to 1,600 feet and wanting to go more contemporary, she wanted the display - and the look - more streamlined. "She wanted clean lines and muted colors, with the main focus being her artwork," says Maxey. "So we made the space a palette for that." Enter the white, gallery-grade paint she chose for the walls: "It's halfway between satin and flat," explains Maxey. "It's not glossy and it's not chalky - just very smooth and clean." Adding to the gallery theme is the satin nickel track lighting with lamps aimed to highlight pieces of art. "This lighting has no wires," notes Maxey. "It's powered by a positive and negative conduit." The new flooring throughout is a blended-grey porcelain tile that looks like wood planks. "It's gorgeous, natural-looking and combines all the beauty of wood with the durability of tile," says Maxey. "We used it throughout the condo to unify the space." After Maxey started looking at the client's bright, vibrant, colorful artwork, she felt the palette couldn't stay as muted anymore. Hence the Mid Century Modern orange leather sofas from West Elm and bright green chairs from Joybird, plus the throw pillows in different textures, patterns and shades of gold, orange and green. The concave lines of the Danish-inspired chairs, she notes, help them look beautiful from all the way around - a key to designing spaces for loft living. "The table in the living room is very interesting," notes Maxey. "It was handmade for the client in 1974 and has a signature on it from the artist. She was adamant about including the piece, which has all these hand-painted black-and-white art tiles on the top. I took one look at it and said 'It's not really going to go.'" However, after cutting 6 inches off the bottom and making it look a little distressed, the table ended up being the perfect complement to the sofas. The dining room table - from Design Within Reach - is a solid piece of mahogany, the chair upholstery a mix of grey velvet and leather and the legs a shiny brass. "The side chairs are leather and the end ones are velvet," says Maxey. "It's a nice textural mix that lends depth and texture." The galley kitchen, meanwhile, has been lightened and brightened, with white quartz countertops and backsplashes mimicking the look of Carrara marble, stainless steel appliances and a velvet green bench seat for a punch of color. The cabinets are painted a cool grey color called "Silverplate." The two bathrooms have been updated with contemporary white vanities and vessel sinks and the master bath now features a walk-in shower tiled in Dolomite white marble (the floor is Bianco Carrara marble mosaic, done in a herringbone pattern. In the master bedroom, Homescapes of Houston knocked down a wall between two smaller closets with swing doors to make one large walk-in closet with pocket doors. The closet in the guest bedroom also came out 13 more inches. The client's artwork throughout personalizes the space and tells the story of a life. There's a huge bowl of shells from the client's diving adventures, framed art from her child psychiatry patients and a 16th century wood carving from a monastery that's been in her family forever. "Her collection is quite impressive," says Maxey. "There's even a framed piece of autographed songs written by John Lennon." (You can see this black-framed piece of art on the wall in the photo above of two green chairs). "We're extremely happy with how the project turned out, and so is the client," says Maxey. "No expense was spared for her. It was a labor of love and we were excited to do it."

A dream closet for "her" Photo: Erhard Pfeiffer
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary women's walk-in wardrobe in Las Vegas with beige cabinets, carpet, beige floor and flat-panel cabinets.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern gender-neutral walk-in wardrobe in Columbus with raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Walking closet with shelving unit and dresser, painted ceilings with recessed lighting, light hardwood floors in mid-century-modern renovation and addition in Berkeley hills, California

Inspiration for a small contemporary gender-neutral walk-in wardrobe in Madrid with open cabinets, light hardwood floors, beige floor and beige cabinets.

This client had a closet "emergency" when her wire racks fell from her wall. Not an uncommon situation. We get those calls quite often. Her small walk-in closet actually feels larger now and she said it turned out even better than she imagined! Designed by Michelle Langley Fabricated and Installed by Closet Factory Washington, DC Antique White Melamine with Textured Drawer Face inserts. Custom Jewelry Drawer (Top Drawer).

Connie Anderson Photography
Inspiration for a traditional walk-in wardrobe in Houston with glass-front cabinets, beige cabinets and marble floors.

Design ideas for a traditional women's walk-in wardrobe in Phoenix with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Kip Dawkins Photography
Design ideas for a traditional walk-in wardrobe in Other with recessed-panel cabinets and beige cabinets.

Dino Tonn
This is an example of a traditional women's walk-in wardrobe in Phoenix with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and pink floor.

Inspiration for a small contemporary gender-neutral walk-in wardrobe in Birmingham with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and medium hardwood floors.

This incredibly amazing closet is custom in every way imaginable. It was designed to meet the specific needs of our client. The cabinetry was slightly glazed and load with extensive detail. The millwork is completely custom. The rolling ladder moves around entire closet for upper storage including the shoe rack. Several pull out and slide out shelves. We also included slide out drawers for jewelry and a custom area inside the glass for hanging necklaces. The custom window nook has storage bench and the center of the room has a chandelier that finishes this room beautifully” Closet ideas: If you run out of room in your closet, maybe take it to a wall in the bedroom or make a bedroom into a master closet if you can spare the room” “I love the idea of a perpendicular rail to hang an outfit before you put it on, with a low shelf for shoes” “Arrange your wardrobe like a display. It’s important to have everything you own in view, or it’s possible you’ll forget you ever bought it. If you set it up as if you were styling a store, you’ll enjoy everyday shopping your own closet!” “Leaving 24 inches for hanging on each side of the closet and 24 inches as a walk way. I think if you have hanging on one side and drawers and shelves on the other. Also be sure and leave long hanging space on side of the closest. “If you travel the island can work as packing space. If you have the room designate a storage area for luggage.” “Pull down bars are great for tall closets for additional storage in hard to reach spaces.” “What is the size of the closet” Its 480 sq. ft.” Anther closet idea from Sweetlake Interior Design in Houston TX.”