Is your closet scarier than what you are hiding in it?
The Dream Closet Project is a collaborative online experiment we started to have fun talking about and working on giving closet makeover! We will publish a new post with a podcast and other goodies every Monday. Join us on our little adventure to turn a mild manner typical New York City closet into the ultimate dream closet!
In this week’s episode; Hsiang and Guido face their first Closet Challenge, the Long Shotgun Closet!
Living in NYC, it’s pretty common when we encounter difficult or even outright strange layouts that require us to come up with creative solutions. So when someone presented a problem on apartment therapy it really strike a chord with us. What would we do if we are stuck with a 12 foot x 2 foot closet? How would we make it work? For this episode of the dream closet project. We’ll show you how we took advantage of the uniquely shaped closet and created an interesting design that not only works, but also took inspiration from its unusual shapes.
The Challenge!!
Just look at the layout of that nasty monster closet below, many of you would probably think “take down that entire front wall and open it up!” well here in NY, because of restriction from co-op or condo board, sometime it’s difficult to get approval for layout changes. Not to mention, where’s the fun and in that?
And you were wondering why we call it the Long Shotgun closet? So the first problem we have to solve, how do you make it easy to access the depth of this closet, a really long broom stick perhaps? Well if you can’t go to your stuff, let them come to you! How about a system of rail mounted movable shelving units a la the great escape style? Finding the mechanism needed to get the shelving scooting smoothly was the easy part (we gave our hardware consultant a shout) but finding something stylish was a bit harder.
The ultimate storage machine!
Luckily we found Bartels, a German company specialized in making modern sliding door hardware. Since sliding doors and our moving shelving share similar weight requirements their products was perfect for our need. The stylish modern mechanism in turn inspire us to create a sleek and futuristic design for the closet using materials like glass and steel. We decide to line the rear of the closet with floor to ceiling mirrors, this will both increase the sense of depth as well as allow someone to use the closet as a dressing room.
To infinity and beyond!!
To really pull off the futuristic look, we decided to use high intensity LED light strips. And instead of mounting them on the ceiling, we decide to mount them horizontally on the wall on either side of the door. They will be reflected in the mirror on the back wall and create an light tunnel effect. Strap in because we’re ready to hit light speed!
Finally we need to find perfect modular closet system compliment our super modern closet. The Anteprima system (oh those Italian and their silly names!) was just what we were looking for. Modern, minimal and easily adaptable to our use. We reinforce either end with glass panel since the entire modular piece will need to be suspended from the ceiling. But other than that it’ll look great as it is.
Well, that’s it for us this week. We hope you’ll have a space suit or perhaps a helmet or two to go with your futuristic closet!
Your Dream Closet assignment this week- We dare you, no we double dare you!
We challenge you to find a monster closet that’s even more strange, awkward or difficult for us. Got a closet that’s shape like a donut that has been ran over one too many time by a drunken truck driver? How about one that’s is in a difficult location, or proportion? No need to fear, you are dealing with seasoned closet professional here! Give us your best (or worst) shot!
EZarchitecture Episode 17 by hsiang-1
Tags: Closet, Closetspiration, Design, Dream Closet, DreamCloset, Fashion, Inspiration, Interior Design, Storage
Great job with your podcast! Keep up the hard work because this will go far – this is just the beginning. If I were you, I’d try every imaginable venue on the web to get this site noticed – design sites, home improvement sites, you name it.
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Did you consider expanding the door of the closet, i.e. the closet door would be the width of the closet. Full access. I had the exact same problem with a closet in a small bedroom. I asked my carpenter to open the closet door so that it was wall-to-wall, floor to ceiling. Large mirrored sliding doors (custom, very sturdy). Instant access to closet, was even able to reach shelves near ceiling. The small office/craft room became visually larger instantly when the mirror doors were installed (and it reflected light into the room).
My problem right now is an L-shaped reach-in closet with mirrored bi-fold doors. There is a pillar in the corner of the L. I cannot reach clothes in the back part of the L without going through gymnastics and removing other clothes. I’m thinking a curved/rounded rod to go into the corner. I’m thinking of removing the pillar in the L’s corner, but how do I treat a door? Sliding doors that meet in the corner of the L but no pillar??
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Hi Daryl,
Making the closet door wider is always an option. But here in NYC we often encounter situation where modification is difficult, such as if the apartment was a rental or if the apartment was inside of an coop building with a difficult board whom don’t like renovation then something like what we suggest would be a decent alternative.
For your case I would imagine that the removal of the pillar would be the cleanest solution, but it would also likely be the most expensive. Not knowing the specifics, I imagine that if a hanger rod don’t work very well then perhaps you should try an alternate type of storage. Storages for smaller items such as shoes or undergarments typically require a lot less clearance because of their size and would be a better option for difficult to access areas.
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