What We Can Learn from Touring Victoria’s Dream Closet
How does your closet make you feel? Because here’s the thing: The right closet can actually make you feel really good. It can make you feel the same kind of good you feel after a good night’s sleep or a great haircut or finding the perfect-fit bra. And when you start your day with a feeling that everything has a place and everything fits so well, the rest of your day just goes so much better.
I didn’t realize this until I moved into my New York apartment, where I’ve turned the hallway that leads to the bathroom into what amounts to a walk-in closet. I used custom components, and there is just enough space for my shoes, and my hanging clothes, and it’s lovely and organized and makes my little Virgo heart happy.
Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little twinge of envy on seeing the space the folks at California Closets created for Victoria Smith, who blogs at SF Girl by Bay (a site that I highly recommend). Victoria calls it a “grown-up closet,” which seems very appropriate to me because I feel like having a well-outfitted closet belongs in the same category as buying fresh flowers or a beautiful piece of art: It’s a luxury, sure, but one that will make every day a little bit better.
The great thing about California Closets is that they’ll send someone out to your home to measure your closet and talk to you about the kinds of clothes you have and how you use your space. From there, they’ll create a closet solution designed just for you — because not everyone has the same needs. Do you have a ton of shoes? They’ve got you covered. A million sweaters? They can take care of that, too. Victoria stressed that working with her stylist felt really natural. “She just got it right away. There wasn’t a lot of back-and-forth.”
In Victoria’s home, space taken from a spare bedroom was turned into a beautiful, bright closet, with custom designed storage for all her things. She has one longer hanging space for dresses and pants and four shorter sections for things like tops, jackets, and shorter skirts. Surrounding the window are shelves for T-shirts, accessories, and shoes.
Two drawers hold socks and underwear, and Victoria’s collection of scarves. A rod on the opposite wall that’s provided with hooks holds bags and more scarves. One of my favorite details is the pull-out valet bar, which is perfect for steaming clothes or putting out outfits for the next day.
Maybe your closet space isn’t quite as roomy as Victoria’s. The good news is that California Closets can customize closets of any size, so you can get the very most out of what space you do have in a finish that suits your aesthetic. They do much more than just closets, too. Think family rooms, mudrooms, home offices — anywhere you need storage. Your first design consultation is completely free, so you can speak to a designer about the possibilities in your home without any commitment at all.