Best Dressed: Beautiful Closets

A beautiful chandelier, a library ladder, custom shoe shelving and leather-lined drawers. These are a few details that can transform an ordinary closet from a merely functional space to a personal retreat. Forbes magazine recently noted that buyers of multimillion-dollar homes often expect bespoke closets. Journalist Morgan Brennan reported that the average cost of a space designed by LA Closet Design is $60,000 to $80,000. She noted that one LA Closet Design client, a Hollywood director, spent $200,000 to create a dressing area that looks like a private luxury boutique.

While a five- or six-figure closet with rolling shoe racks, secret safes and miniature golf greens may suit the well-heeled, lovely storage options are available to homeowners unable or unwilling to pay large sums for spaces to house their clothes. The entire East Village apartment that designer David Kaihoi shares with his wife and child is a mere 390 square feet - smaller than some celebrity closets. Yet with careful editing, "Tulip Red" paint from Fine Paints of Europe, and antique wallpaper, Kaihoi turned a tiny nook into a glamorous dressing area:

"Like her husband, Monique edits her wardrobe to a few classic pieces in basic colors. The [closet] interior is painted Tulip Red by Fine Paints of Europe."

East Village, New York City apartment (390 square feet) of David Kaihoi, his wife Monique Simard, and their daughter.

Interior design by David Kaihoi.

Photography by Ngoc Minh Ngo.

"Living Big in a One-Bedroom" interview by Barbara King.

House Beautiful (July - August 2010).

Family mementos make some dressing areas more meaningful. Laura Vinroot Poole, owner of a clothing boutique, placed her mother's portrait in her closet as stylish inspiration:

"Asuka" wallpaper by Osborne and Little.

"The portrait of [Laura Poole's] mother, which sits off-center on a ledge, serves as inspiration. 'I just look at her and think, 'Okay, if I'm looking at all like you, it's a good day.' "

Closet of Laura Vinroot Poole, owner of high-fashion boutique, Capitol, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"All Shook Up"

Domino (Fall - Winter 2012).

Madrid-based designer Isabel Lopez-Quesada created closets by reusing Louis XV-style doors from her maternal grandmother's house:

"Fronting the closets in [Isabel] Lopez-Quesada's dressing room are Louis XV-style doors from her maternal grandmother's house; the chaise longue is upholstered in a floral print by Bennison."

Madrid home that Isabel Lopez-Quesada created for her family in a former wax factory.

Renovation by Isabel Lopez-Quesada and architect Pablo Carvajal.

Photography by Simon Watson.

Text by Mitchell Owens.

"Industrial Revolution" produced by Howard Christian.

Architectural Digest (April 2012).

A mirror and a place to sit are useful in a walk-in, but careful organization and regular purging of unworn items is essential for an efficient closet, no matter its size.

"An antique French chandelier hangs in [Sidney] Torres's closet."

New Orleans home of Sidney D. Torres IV.

Renovation and decoration by Lee Ledbetter and Associates.

Photography by Pieter Estersohn.

Text by Mimi Read.

"High Contrast" produced by Howard Christian.

Architectural Digest (September 2012).

"[Annie] Brahler's carpenter 'stretched' a vintage armoire to hold shoes. The Belle Epoque chandelier casts a rosy glow over an island cobbled together from multiple cabinets."

Interior design by Annie Brahler, owner of Euro Trash.

Photography by Bjorn Wallander.

Interview by Douglas Brenner.

"Overdoing it With One Thing is Kind of Not Overdoing It": Annie Brahler on a Landmark House in Jacksonville, Illinois"

Produced by David M. Murphy.

Styled by Philippa Brathwaite.

House Beautiful (May 2012).

"Sconces, Palmer Hargrave. Curtains in Scalamandre taffeta. Cabinets, Design Galleria. Carpet, Stark."

Home in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Interior design by Suzanne Kasler.

Architecture by Harrison Design Associates.

Photography by Thibault Jeanson.

"American Classic" text by Dana Micucci.

Veranda (January - February 2011).

"The dressing room painting is by Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac, and the chandelier and sconces are by Visual Comfort and Co."

Jane and Michael deFlorio's Manhattan townhouse.

Interior design by Celerie Kemble, Kemble Interiors.

Photography by William Waldron.

Text by Ingrid Abramovitch.

"Tailored to Perfection" produced by Anita Sarsidi.

Elle Decor (July - August 2011).

"A walk-in closet features custom-made shelving."
Apartment on Manhattan's Sutton Place.
Interior design by Michael S. Smith.
Renovation architecture by Peter Pennoyer Architects.
Photography by Michael Mundy.
Text by Rob Haskell.
"Made to Measure" by Howard Christian.
Architectural Digest (November 2011).

"A rolling double bank of custom-made 'egg crate' shelving - a Jacobsen signature - organizes Dr. Alster's shoes."
Dr. Tina Alster and Paul Frazer's 1815 townhouse in Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Renovation architecture by Hugh Newell Jacobsen and Simon Jacobsen of Jacobsen Architecture, LLC.
Photography by Robert C. Lautman.
"Capital Improvement" text by Joseph Giovannini.
Architectural Digest (February 2011).

"Closet, California Closets. Bench, Ironies. Clothing, shoes, and accessories, Badgley Mischka. Lamp, Restoration Hardware. . . . [The walk-in closet] includes A Lago Italian Pietra finish with wenge backing and horsehair-colored, leather-lined drawers."

Veranda's Designer Visions showhouse, a loft-style apartment at 250 West Street.

Interior design by Antony Todd.

Photography by Max Kim-Bee.

Project directed by Alana Frumkes, Executive Director, Designer Visions.

Written by Mario Lopez-Cordero with reporting by Candace Braun Davison.

"Loft Living" produced by Carolyn Englefield.

Veranda (January - February 2013).

"Jamie Drake spared no style in the dressing room. Polka dots on a bench - and the fuchsia silk moire backing the glass shelves that display the season's latest footwear - give the space an air of insouciance."
Paint: Lavender Mist by Benjamin Moore.
Bench fabric: "Cabochon"/"Debussy" #54280; Jamie Drake for F. Schumacher.
Pink wallpaper behind shelving: custom color strie wallpaper by Alpha Workshops.
Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club Showhouse in New York City.
Interior design by Jamie Drake, Drake Design Associates.
Photography by Tria Giovan.
Text by Krissa Rossbund.
"Statements of Style 2007" produced by Bonnie Maharan.
Traditional Home.

"[Keri Russell's husband Shane] Deary built the shelves in the dressing room; the rug is by Shaw Floors, and the linen-upholstered chair is by John Derian."

1860s Brooklyn, New York brownstone owned by Keri Russell and her husband Shane Deary.

Renovation by Shane Deary.

Interior decoration by Keri Russell.

Photography by William Waldron.

"Keri Russell at Home" by Kathleen Hackett.

Elle Decor (June 2011).

"A wealth of antiqued mirrors creates a clean slate behind which a menagerie of shoes and accessories can be stashed."

1913 Beaux Arts-style home in San Francisco, California.

Interior design by Antonio Martins, Antonio Martins Interior Design.

Photography by David Livington.

Text by Jenny Bradley.

"Inspire Me: Renovated San Francisco Home"

Traditional Home.

"A practical touch: Overhead lighting within the closets makes it easier to see and choose the right garment. Bifurcated doors were designed to accommodate the narrow space."

1913 Beaux Arts-style home in San Francisco, California.

Interior design by Antonio Martins, Antonio Martins Interior Design.

Photography by David Livington.

Text by Jenny Bradley.

"Inspire Me: Renovated San Francisco Home"

Traditional Home.

"[Brooke] Shields's closet, built of rift-sawn white oak, is outfitted with a rolling shoe rack and a library ladder by Putnam Rolling Ladder Co."

Greenwich Village townhouse of Brooke Shields and her family.

Interior decorating by David Flint Wood.

Architectural renovation by MADE Architecture.

Photography by William Waldron.

Text by Judith Thurman.

"An Exclusive Look at Brooke Shields's Manhattan Home" produced by Howard Christian.

Architectural Digest (March 2012).

" 'I had a little fun with that midcentury modern chair in my dressing room,' [Windsor] Smith says. 'I loved the frame and had it replated in matte gold, and reupholstered the seat in silvery leather.' "

Los Angeles, California home of Windsor Smith and her family.

Interior decorating by Windsor Smith.

Photography by Victoria Pearson.

"A Look Inside Windsor Smith's Stunning Home" by Christine Pittel.

House Beautiful (September 2009).

"[Ellen] DeGeneres and [Portia] de Rossi's shoe shelves are filled with their respective sneakers and stilettos."

Beverly Hills estate formerly owned by Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi.

Expanded by decorator Melinda Ritz.

Photography by Roger Davies.

Text by Peter Haldeman.

"Labor of Love" produced by Carlos Mota.

Architectural Digest (November 2011).

"A Frank chaise longue graces the dressing room, along with a Frank tripod table and a carpet by Tai Ping; the watercolor is by Salvador Dali."

Manhattan apartment of fashion editor and Project Runway judge Nina Garcia and her family.

Interior design by Carlos Aparicio.

Photography by Bjorn Wallander.

Text by Rob Haskell.

"Reality Check" produced by Carlos Mota.

Architectural Digest (October 2012).

"Bespoke shoe storage in [Nina] Garcia's dressing room."

Manhattan apartment of fashion editor and Project Runway judge Nina Garcia and her family.

Interior design by Carlos Aparicio.

Photography by Bjorn Wallander.

Text by Rob Haskell.

"Reality Check" produced by Carlos Mota.

Architectural Digest (October 2012).

"Cabinetry and shelving by California Closets in the dressing room; the clothing and accessories are from Mr. Porter, and the rug is by the Rug Company."

1906 Manhattan warehouse designed as Elle Decor's Designer Visions showhouse.

Interior design by Matthew Patrick Smyth.

Photography by Bjorn Wallander.

Styled by Quy Nguyen.

"The Right Moves" interview by Michael Lassell.

Elle Decor (December 2012).