Have you seen HGTV's “Million Dollar Rooms? This show gives viewers an all exclusive sneak peak at some of the most luxurious rooms and homes across the USA. A few weeks ago, the series aired a special episode with million dollar closets. Lisa Adams, one of L.A.'s hottest high-end closet designers, takes on the challenge of transforming four celebrity closets.
I was blown away by Adams' ability to take a cluttered closet lacking in any strategized organization and convert it into an attractive, welcoming space that presents an abundance of purpose and user-friendly qualities. The finishing touches were extravagant. Drawers upon drawers with individual cubbies lined in velvet provided delicate storage room for jewelry, belts and scarves. Angled floor to ceiling shelving units provided a striking display for shoes and folded garments. Plenty of hanging space gave home to other clothing items, which were then categorized and arranged according to seasonal wear, color and even style. Everything in the closet had its place, and not one thing went unseen.
It seems silly to put your hard earned money into a space that you don't spend that much time in and no one ever really sees. Consider this though: There are only a few rooms in your home that you will without a doubt use day after day. Your kitchen, bathrooms and bedroom probably come to mind instantly. However, I'm confident that you forgot your closet.
We can't avoid getting dressed every day. But how are you supposed to achieve that high-design closet without digging for spare change in the sofa? All of these attractive closet design options being used in these high-end closets don't need to come with a million dollar price tag. You can affordably achieve your dream closet. Take true pleasure in getting ready every day.
You put an emphasis on design and visual appeal in many areas of your home, so why not put that same level of consideration into your closet? You deserve to live like a celebrity. If you long for a closet that looks like it's worth a million bucks, you can utilize today's newest closet design concepts to assist you in creating your dream closet in our realistic world.
Inspired by: Kalyn Johnson - SummitDaily.com
Today's article is brough to you by Custom Closets Texas.
MORNING
Enter the lovely world of Pinterest, and all the troubles of your day-to-day life just seem to slip away. First, start out with some Sassy Water! (1 med cuke -peeled and thinly sliced, 1 lemon-thinly sliced, 1 teas. freshly grated ginger and around 10 spearmint leaves. Leave in the fridge overnight and enjoy the next day.)
Refreshing, invigorating and good for you. Ahhhhh! Then, with Pinterest, you can take all your goals and translate them into visual pictures. A visionboard can act as a creative trigger. Just looking at them once in the morning can help to straighten that slouch and help you put your best foot forward. Pinterest can lead to motivation!
AFTERNOON
Now dream! Cozy places, reading nooks, escapes – within your house- make it happen! http://pinterest.com/vjpulver/tiny-spaces-tiny-homes-nooks-cozy-places/ Custom built-ins, custom closets, home office, garage organization – easy – just pick some pics and show them to Texas Custom Closets – we can make your dreams come true!
We look at what you like – your tastes- and then adapt to your space. It is that easy! You have a plan- a layout- a goal for each room. You will be organized and efficient. Discovering images that symbolize your old ideas….will lead you to find images that help you produce new ideas. Your life will be in order. Then, you can travel to unknown places and unknown environments – a tree house, a funky room or house -
,
– let your imagination go wild! Pinterest can serve as an opportunity forself-exploration and self-expression within your home.
EVENING
Finally, it is time to pinterest some recipes. http://pinterest.com/search/? q=quick+and+easy+recipes Tonight’s dinner?
Dessert? And wine! You worked hard. You have a plan. You know what you like and how it can efficiently be implemented. You can now relax - cook dinner - and enjoy - knowing that your home will be in order and YOU will enjoy the fruits of your labor. Make your pinterest dreams a reality and you will feel a sense of accomplishment.
So simple! You can use this fantastic organizational tool to help YOURSELF get organized AND have fun in the process! Pinterest, we love you!
Today's article is brought to you by Charlie Hafter of the Closet Hanger Factory.
Deciding which hangers will work best in your closet can be tougher than you thought! There are so many styles to choose from and each style has its own types and features. Each type of hanger is designed with a specific purpose in mind, making it even more difficult to decide which is best. We’ve created this guide to help you determine which clothes hangers will make your closet the organizer’s dream that you’ve been hoping for.
Hangers for Suits and Coats: Coats and suits need to hang right to keep their shape. The shoulders of these types of garments are often made with unique materials that can bend and lose shape over time. The wider shoulders and curved design of suit and coat hangers give these garments the support that they need to stay in shape. Many wooden hangers are made this way, as well as cedar hangers and specialty suit hangers. Even if you’re looking to save room in your closet, you should at least hang coats and suits on these larger hangers. It’s better to use a little more space for them and then use space saving hangers for your shirts and pants that can be kept in a more compact space.
Non-Slip Hangers for Shirts and Pants: Nothing is worse than finding your clothes crumpled up on the floor when you need them. Hangers with non-slip grips or clips that don’t crease clothing are great to have. Additionally, your closet can look sloppy if everything is not staying in place.
Hangers for Delicates: Some fabrics can be easily stretched out at the neck or snagged by hangers with protrusions. Z-Hangers are perfect for delicates because they allow you to slide the shoulders of shirts around the neck, avoiding stretching and pulling. Satin hangers are also great for hanging delicate fabrics and look nice in your closet.
Hangers for Accessories and Storage: Specialty hangers are great for organizing belts, scarves, and ties in your closet. You can also get ones that are made to hold sheets, table cloths, quilts and comforters, making organization easy for you.
Hangers for Saving Closet Space: Space saving clothes hangers have a flat design so that you can hang your garments close together. Sometimes they also have clips and hooks that you can add on. Clips are great for pairing shirts and pants together on one hanger. Hooks go over the neck of the hanger and allow you to drape other hangers from the first one. Using these space saving marvels can double or triple the space available in your closet.
We have been beyond thrilled with the response we have received after debuting our new Hidden Desk Bed at the 2012 Home Renovation show. The comments and suggestions have been overwhelmingly positive. People have ideas for the HDB that we hadn't even considered. One gentleman who visited us at the show suggested it would make a great basement bar for 360 days of the year and when the mother-in-law visits for a week you don't even have to remove the bottles!
Since the show wrapped we have been inundated with calls and emails asking questions and booking free in-home consultations. Ottawa loves this bed!
For those who couldn't make it to the show here are a couple of photos of the space we lived in for 3 entire days:
The bed went up, the bed went down. The bed caught everyone's attention. Walking around the show you constantly heard people talking about us and how amazing this bed was. Even the other exhibitors were abandoning their own products to come by and see what everyone is talking about.
If you want to hear what kind of response we received from the visitors at the show, click here.
The single (Twin) bed and the double bed are launched and ready to go. We expect the Queen bed to be available in about 90 days. Be among the first to be told when the Queen bed is available. Submit a consultation request and we will give you a sneak peek before it is released.
Have you got questions? Give us a call or fill in our form. We would love to hear from you!
Whether you are remodeling, building a new home or just reorganizing your existing kitchen, you may want to consider adding a pantry. If you have the space, a walk-in pantry is an ideal choice. If you are a little tighter on space consider an unused corner or an under used closet in the kitchen area that might be reborn as a pantry. Before you and your designer jump into your pantry design here are ten things to consider.
Plan your space. Pantries typically need floor to ceiling shelves if you want to make the most of the space. However, if you are building or renovating it might not be smart to wait until after you put up the drywall to shop for shelves. Choose the shelves you want and then plan the pantry with the shelves’ depths in mind. This will help you eliminate any unforeseen sizing issue and will help eliminate the possibility that you will be stuck with pantry shelves that are too deep or too shallow for your liking.
Know the doors that will work best. Pantries are already fairly small, even the walk-in variety. If you add a door that opens into the pantry, it can be really hard to get to the items you’ve stored behind the door, limiting the items you can store in your pantry. You may want to opt for a door that swings outward into your kitchen or a pocket door so you don’t lose any useable space in an already small spot.
Consider the flow of your kitchen. When considering adding a pantry, think about the natural flow of your kitchen. If you don’t consider your pantry in your overall layout, you’ll find yourself walking around tables and carrying supplies clear across the house. Plan everything together.
Make sure to include electrical outlets. There are a number of small appliances that you may want to plug in your pantry. Some people put wine refrigerators or can openers in their pantries. Even if you don’t have plans for those items in your pantry, you never know what you’ll what in the future, and at that point it will be too late to easily add them.
Choose lighting carefully. The lighting you choose doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive – it just has to be functional. Consider how frustrating it would be to enter your new pantry, searching for a specific item and not being able to find it in the dark. At the very least you should have the wiring set up for a light so that you can install it in the future.
Where should you put the pantry? Look for unused space, a room beneath a staircase for instance. You don’t have to lose valuable real estate in your kitchen in order for you to have a pantry. You need to also consider that your pantry needs to be located in a clean, dark, dry place. Also important is the temperature of this small space. If your pantry shares a wall with a laundry room or any room that gets hot, like a computer room, your food could spoil more quickly. Think about your pantry’s location in conjunction with your entire house, not just in relation to the kitchen.
Don’t limit yourself. It is true that most people like to have large, solid shelving in their pantry. That isn’t your only option, however. Consider adding accessories like plate racks, wine racks, or vegetable baskets, to name just a few. Thinking outside of the box can help you make the most of your pantry storage.
Kitchen pantries come in all shapes and sizes. Although some people just opt for a glorified cupboard, most people dream of a walk-in pantry, large enough for their family’s needs. Avoid costly mistakes by thoroughly planning your kitchen pantry.
Are you dreaming of a Winter Wedding? Not only can you get a break on venue costs as well as catering, photography and flowers to name just a few, but let’s face it – nothing says romance like freshly fallen snow. If you just recently became engaged and are trying to decide in what season to set your date, consider making your plans based around the beautiful winter season. Maybe you are not the type of couple to wait another year for your wedding – walk down the isle sooner than later by embracing a winter wedding.
Your guests will love this unique theme. You will find that your wedding can be both striking and heart-warming with just a little innovation and imagination. Make your wedding something that won't easily be forgotten. Think about hosting your wedding in the great outdoors, among the icicles and snow. While it may seem intimidating at first, with some careful planning, you can have an incredibly romantic ceremony and an unforgettable reception.
Here are a few tips on incorporating wintry elements into your outdoor winter wedding plans.
Location
What could be more romantic than using the snow laden great outdoors as your ceremony setting? If you are concerned about guest comfort or you live in a particularly cold climate, consider setting up a platform or holding the ceremony in a heated outdoor tent, allowing for your guests to get the feel of the beautiful winter season, without becoming uncomfortable. If snow is your thing but it is in short supply in your climate, look into hosting your wedding at a nearby ski resort.
Attire
Dressing for outdoor weddings can be a fun challenge. To keep warm, use an affordable faux fur cape or capelet over your bridal gown and order matching ones for your bridal party. It will also add some glamour to the proceedings. For the groom, suggest a cape or a dress coat. Not only do these touches add some drama, but they also ensure that you feel comfortable during your ceremony.
Décor
Winter décor can be a strikingly elegant touch to any wedding. Once you get started, it's easier than ever to incorporate your favourite winter elements into your plans. Choose dark, striking colours, snowflake or snowman accents, depending on the formality of the event. Use fairy lights everywhere to add a feeling of a winter wonderland. Who doesn’t love a horse drawn sleigh ride through the snow? Embrace the early sunset and dusk, use it for the ceremony and for wonderfully unique photographs outside. The best part…? A coconut cake that looks like snow, adding flavour and tying your theme together perfectly. Don't be afraid to incorporate stark or woodsy elements like branches, pinecones, or holly!
Do a Google or Bing images search and see what other brides have used for their winter weddings. Let other people’s experiences be your inspiration! What other time of the year let’s you serve hot apple cider or hot chocolate with a shot of Bailey’s during the cocktail hour? How about adding two or three frozen cranberries in the champagne glasses… adding a touch of whimsy and class at the same time? I could go on and on. Winter weddings are original, romantic and best of all – discounted!
The leaves are starting to change. It has been noticeably cooler the last few days. Your ride to work in the morning is peppered with big yellow school buses and red flashing lights.
Fall and winter are creeping up on us quickly. It is time to start planning our closet changeovers. That chore was a lot easier when I was single but these days with three children and a fiance, it is a much larger and more daunting prospect.
Each year I use the same formula for consistency sake especially when it comes to the kids. I make sure to choose a time when everyone is out of the house and I can quietly make a start on the changeover.
There are three basic rules I use when I am weeding out the old and making room for the new. First I "Purge and Let it Go", second I "Sort" and third I "Organize".
Purge and Let Go
Some people find it easier with their own wardrobe to decide what to keep and what goes to good will while others find it easier with the children's wardrobes to make those decisions. Whichever category you fall into, the process is the same.
Make sure you have 2 garbage bags and at least one rubber bin or storage container per family member before you begin.
Empty the closets and dressers of all the clothing, including under garments. Make sure to put everything in a pile that makes sense to you. I make ten or so piles and break it down by type of item. For instance… long sleeve shirts and short sleeve shirts get their own piles, as does Pajamas, pants, hanging clothing etc. When everything is organized, I go through the piles one by one.
If an item of clothing is in bad shape- they go in the "rags bag". If they are in fine shape but haven't been worn more than once or twice all season they go in the goodwill bag, as does anything that will not conceivably fit the person the next season. If an item is in good shape, will likely fit next season and isn't an item that spans seasons (and will be added back into rotation) it goes in the rubber bin for storage. I typically also start a pile for items that I want to have tried on. My oldest daughter also likes to have a nostalgia pile, which I indulge her with but make sure it stays VERY small. I have a nostalgia bin for her and the rule is if it gets too full, she has to purge to make space. One small bin is all she gets.
Sort
My second step in the process is to Sort through all of the clothing to see what I will need to purchase to get us all through the next season. Firstly I add all of the new season clothing to the piles of items that span the seasons. For example, everyone needs a few short-sleeved shirts throughout the winter season. Children need them for gym class or after school activities; we may need them to wear underneath a sweater or just to lounge around the house.
As I take the clothing from the bins from last year I make sure they are still in good shape, will still fit and are still reasonably fashionable. If I am unsure of the fit I add it to the "try it on" pile. Once everything is sorted into piles I make a list of what I will need to purchase, then start putting them back into the closets and dressers.
Organization
My children are 8 years old and under. Those of you who have been through this phase know that the kids think they know what is best when it comes to what to wear in the morning. I try very hard to let them choose their own clothing. The one hard and fast rule I have is... it needs to be weather appropriate and school appropriate.
To facilitate the ease of school mornings I have a few tricks I use. The items of clothing that I estimate will be worn most often are put at or near eye level with easy access. I make sure they are as colour coded as possible... arranging for the girls that the reds do not sit next to the pinks or else you end up with one clashing girl who does NOT want to change before the bus arrives. This does not guarantee you will not end up with red and pink girl walking up the bus steps but it helps to make sure it happens a lot less.
I also make sure that the good dressy clothes go on correctly sized hangers at the top of the closet hanging system. This makes it a lot more difficult for them to put on the Christmas dress from last year for gym day at school. Yes, they can (and have) pull over a chair and defiantly pull down their best clothing for an average day at school but again; it keeps it to a minimum. I also make sure the undergarments and Pajamas get their own drawer where possible so the kids remember they have pajamas instead of sleeping in the shirt and underwear they wore to school that day.
By the time I am finished, the closets and dressers are organized and fresh. All that is left to do when the brood gets home is to try on anything in the “try on” pile, decide what to do with them from there, put the storage and nostalgia bin under the stairs and lay down the law when it comes to “keeping your clothing neat, organized and logical”. Ya, that’s going to happen! I love my kids, I love my kids, I love my kids!