closet envy

the adorable bedroom-turned-dressing room of liz carney {from euro trash} as shown in country living.

{btw, she made that rug using a bargain sisal mat & spray paint. if you did it just so you could knock off one of my favorite rugs of all time and that's dumb good. do it.}

yesterday I had the pleasure of helping a client select a chair for her opulent dressing room/closet. I've always wanted a space like that for myself - where all of my clothing, jewelry, shoes, bags, & cosmetics are right where I can see them. I'm a hard-core shopper and costume jewelry addict so getting all of my things organized would definitely rock my world, change my life, and possibly bring world peace...

here are a few of the best from my inspiration files.

anna sui's 'overflow' closet as shown in elle decor . I'm in love with the ebonized hardwood and her ballsy choice of nouveau-inspired wallpaper. a lot of times dressing spaces are left very plain because there is so much color and pattern coming into the room from the clothing. this choice is still pretty neutral {black & cream} but the playful organic pattern gives it a whimsical eclectic edge. the center tiered table is to die for and, seriously, take a peek up on that shelf - cutest. millinery. stands. ever. if you're clever, you could make plain ones cute like that with some craft paint on a rainy day.

liz carney shot #2. ok, this room is full of clever tricks you can use to convert an extra bedroom or den into your dream closet on the cheap over a weekend.

 she is using freestanding wardrobe racks; these babies are amazing. way less expensive than working with the big guys {who are awesome, btw, if you have the cash to spend on custom} and give you loads of flexibility. hers are antique {check craigs, the flea, eBay, or even retailers who are remodeling or going out of business} but by the time you get them full of your fabulous costumery you could just as easily go with these. also, check out the adorable wood-mount hooks on either side of the rack... so easy to make! buy an unfinished wood plaque, paint it, and attach a funky vintage doorknob - cute as hell and would probably cost $5, tops. every single thing in this room could be diy.

one of my favorites - the dressing room of jenna lyons, creative director of j. crew. {via}

again with the portable wardrobe racks. once you've used these you'll wonder why you ever had fixed closet storage at all. that shoe rack alone makes me weak in the knees. the best part of the room for me though is the chest floating in the center like an island. I need that. my dream is to get a vintage map or blueprint cabinet, paint it a slammin' color {maybe my signature orange or green}, line the drawers with felt, and then fill it up with my costume jewelry collection, hosiery, scarves, belts, lingerie, etc.

something like this

or even this:

the closet of the girl you love to hate, olivia palermo. no matter what you think of her, it is pretty hard to deny that she is one of the most well-styled girls out there. I'd like to see more of this space but I am assuming it is teeny-tiny being in NYC and therefore hard to photograph. I think a zebra rug is always a playful choice for a young woman's boudoir and the oregano velvet drapery had me at hello. I'm assuming the doors have been replaced by the drapery which surely allows for more storage space and adds some drama. the adjustable shelves {on standards}, which seem to be painted the color of the wall, give lots of flexibility for shoes, flat items, accessories, yadda yadda yadda. this would be a cinch for anyone to copy in a typical walk-in closet.

kelly framel {the glamourai} is one of my modern-day fashion icons. {her blog is amazing if you don't already read it} we both love mixing patterns, loads of statement jewelry, and Iris Apfel.

 her closet is so inspiring if you don't happen to have an empty room hanging around waiting to become a dressing space. supremely organized {seasonally, which is key when you are dealing with tiny closets} using great tricks like magazine holders, specialty hangers, and great space saving items from places like the container store. click here to read all about it.

and speaking of hangers... bite the bullet. call hsn. these change lives.

so here's your homework: it's the weekend and finally feels like spring! fling open the windows, crank up some good music, clean your closets, donate anything you haven't worn in the last 18 months to charity, have some fun, and give that space a facelift! you deserve your own fabulous spot!

send me pictures if you do and I'll do a follow up post. peace.