Designers of luxury dressing rooms can be counted on for keeping clothing and accessories hidden from view, such as concealed shelving units that pull out of the wall.
One way to make the discrepancy between standard condominiums and luxury units is based on the way storage is treated. Closets might often be the smallest room in a space, but they can have the biggest impact. When it comes to high-end properties, that distinction can be the difference between a closet and a dressing room.
"If you're a condo owner, you almost have to take on that minimalist mentality," says Lindsay Konior, co-founder and principal of Qank Interiors, a Toronto-based firm that specializes in customization. "You don't have the luxury of storing as much as you can in a house, so you have to be a little more cutthroat in the things that you keep."
But there is a solution to this conundrum. Installing custom cabinetry can double the amount of usable space in a condominium, and designers can do some impressive things to make the most out of the space you have.
Douglas Design Studios owner and principal Jeffrey Douglas has designed and built custom closets and storage solutions for many luxury condominiums. He knows how to solve the dilemma of low storage space.
"In terms of storage and space within those condos, you have to be very clever with how you fit into those spaces," says Douglas.
In one unit, he embedded a pull-out shoe rack into the wall beside the bed. Ressembling a bookcase with angled shelves that pulled out of the wall, it allows residents to store every pair of shoes they have. It also keeps shoes out of sight when they aren't needed, which is a sleeker solution than having hordes of shoes piled up on the floor or in the front hall.
Designers excel at making more use of what space is already there. For example, a closet that is seven-feet wide with a door that is five-feet wide leaves an entire foot of space on either side of the door that could be used for shelves and drawers. Designers also take advantage of vertical space to install additional fixtures that permit different storage levels.
"Being able to use double-height rods helps you store, for instance, pants on one row and coats on another. You can also integrate different types of shelving, like angled shelves for shoes and integrating doors for smaller items like belts and ties," Konior explains.
Streamlining spaces
Another essential, says Douglas, is for clothing and accessories to be hidden from view when first entering the room. Luxury fitting rooms instead provide convenient compartments designed to fit every clothing article and accessory, while shielding it from dust and light exposure.
"It's having drawers that are subdivided for belts, it's having a tie storage unit that's specific to men's ties, it's having thought where the handbags go and how they hang," Douglas says. "The luxury experience is to have it built as a dressing room instead of a closet."
Spaces can be streamlined by installing drawers in the closet, eliminating the need for large pieces of furniture such as dressers. A wall of cabinets, drawers and shelves keeps everything organized and uses available space more efficiently, and stacking shelves above drawers makes better use of vertical space.
A wide range of materials can be used in its construction to make the unit blend in with what is already there. When it comes to choice, there is no end to the options that are available.
"I've done lots of closets that have natural birch, or even walnut interiors, which is more luxurious. When we get into luxury, having a walnut or mahogany interior is ultimately the most beautiful," says Douglas. "Exterior finishes really depend on the room. I've done glass doors. I've done a lacquer frame on a glass door, so the colour of the lacquer is harmonious with the bedroom. Beautiful hardware is really important."
Another essential for Douglas is to have lighting within the closet space. "What distinguishes a luxury experience is you walk into a room, a room with doors, the doors have a mirror or glass in them, and when you open up those doors the lights come on," he says.
This content was produced by The Globe and Mail's advertising department. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.