70 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • OCTOBER 2019
INSIDE JOB
NOT JUST STORAGE:
Shelving
and drawers
bring order to
the closet.
Double
hanging
doubles the
space.
Today’s closet is not simply a place
to stash your clothes. Rather, with
the proper design, a closet virtually
becomes a room within a room, a
showcase to proudly display your
wardrobe.
The first thing to address in designing
a closet are the hanging clothes,
because there’s really nowhere else
for these clothes to go, says Bonnie
Reich, president of Symmetry Closets,
a storage design company based
Upscale lighting
fixtures and tasteful
cabinetry create a
'room within a room'
effect.
in Holbrook.
“When you walk into a closet, it’s
not just about packing it in,” says
Reich.“It’s also creating the right
flow of space,” she says, adding that
accessibility is key.
A good trick to creating more space is
to double hang shorter clothing items,
advises Reich.
Next, consider shoes, handbags,
folded clothes, and sweaters, which
can all go into drawers or on shelves.
Lastly, look at where accessories such
as jewelry and watches will go.
The two goals of good closet design,
explains Reich, are finding space
that’s not used properly, to which you
can add more hanging rods, hampers
and shelves, and providing great organization
and flow.
An often overlooked part of the closet
are the corners, which, Reich says,
should be used for hanging clothes.
Valet rods, which can be either waterfall
style, with multiple cascading
hooks, or a pull-out version that retracts
when not in use, are a handy
way to hang clothes you’ll wear the
next day.
CONFIGURING THE
SPACE
First a designer needs to look at the
space and assess the client’s individual
needs and preferences for how to
store clothing.
“Some people just want great organization;
other people want a really
great sanctuary,” says Reich. “And
then there’s all that space in between.”
To begin renovation, measure the
space, then work up CAD (computer
aided design) drawings, explains
Marlaina Teich, owner of Marlaina
Teich Designs in Merrick and New
York City.
Credit Marder Imagery for Marlaina Teich Designs/Symmetry Closets Credit: Adam Cassino Design for Symmetry Closets
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