There's more than 25 feet of rods for hangers. Two levels of rods maximize space for hanging jackets, skirts and shirts on one wall. But elsewhere, two sections have one rod, allowing dresses and slacks uncrushed length. T-shirts and sweaters get tucked into cabinets and drawers, where Lare said, nobody will see if they are not folded with precision. One drawer is outfitted with plush jewelry pockets. The couple's collectible luggage stack adds architectural interest.
Many elements go into creating a closet that looks great and functions well, designers say.
First, said interior designer Edward R. Stough of Stevenson, the closet needs to match the client's lifestyle to the available space and allow for shopping. "If he has 50 feet of hanging clothes, you give him 75," he said.
Lighter woods and halogen lights let clothes stand out. How bright should lights be? Enough to distinguish black from navy blue, he said.
"Mirrors are really important in dressing areas because [clients] need a full view," Stough said.
Popular features: hidden document and jewelry safes, hideaway hampers, valet rods, electronics-charging stations, sinks, islands.
Glass fronts for drawers and cabinets can be clear, textured, etched or frosted, or have embedded features, such as reeds and leaves. Obviously, the more visible the contents, the harder to hide a mess.
Susan and Reid Fitzgerald put waffle glass in their cabinets when the Closet Factory turned a room into a closet to create a master suite that includes a bathroom in their Fells Point townhouse.
The walk-in solved two situations. The builder did not include as standard a large master bedroom closet. And the room gives each of them a place to dress without disturbing the other, valuable given Reid Fitzgerald's offbeat hours as an emergency physician.
They chose medium cherry-look veneers. Black granite tops a dresserlike island. Wall-to-wall and ceiling-high on opposite sides of the island are his-and-hers units, with angled shoe racks, multilevel hanging space and center cabinets. She's got purse shelves. He's got a pullout tie rack - men can be demanding, too, closet designers say.
A chandelier illuminates the center of the room, with American art deco sconces on a wall. Oriental rugs top the wood floors.
Below the windows, which have draperies and swags, cedar-lined cabinets store off-season clothing.
"We are closet-spoiled," said Reid Fitzgerald.
