STORAGE SOLUTIONS
I love well-designed cabinetry, which is why we pay close attention to every storage and functional need when designing for our clients. One of our superpowers is making spaces work so seamlessly that our clients never have to think about where something should go — whether it's a hat, laundry detergent, or the vinyl collection they just can't stop adding to. Looking at the homes we've designed, it's never apparent that every last item has been cataloged and accounted for. But believe me, it has been — right down to measuring your longest coat and tallest boots before we even start scheming.
Now you see it…
Now you don’t.
Why do we get so granular? Simple: built-ins are costly and take time. Through years of client and personal work, designers develop a keen sense of when to use off-the-shelf, semi-custom, or fully custom storage solutions. Costs vary, but we lean heavily toward custom because it's usually worth it. Architects handle the baseline structure, but it's the interior designer's job to consider how you actually live: how young kids will learn to hang a jacket on a hook if it's placed low enough for them; how a tween's shift from a baggy-pants phase to a dress obsession will need to be reflected in their closet; where the bulky suitcases versus the carry-ons will land; and of course, the basics — like your shoe collection needing however many linear feet of space today, with room to grow.
A combination of display and closed storage makes the most of this open-floor plan in Gramercy. That ladder to the right? It leads to hidden cupboards above the bar.
Developers know this scenario well, which is why they typically deliver a blank dressing room or reach-in closet with little more than a hanging rod, leaving the rest to be figured out after you've closed and been handed the keys. Some closet consultants are great — but others never bother to take inventory of your belongings, which is, frankly, mind-blowing. And while a good organizer is invaluable, solving the big structural problems simply isn't their job.
Bright millwork adds energy to this Westport office.
This Colonial-era barn was reimagined as a teen-lounge with a cheery blue wet-bar for snacks and sodas.
A little open display and ample closed storage provide more wiggle room on The Upper East Side.
If you're already a client, you know we handle all of this. For everyone else: may you always move into a home where someone before you took care of the built-ins and closets. Real estate agents, are you listening? And if a friend has just bought a new apartment or house and starts talking about closets, do them a favor and tell them to hire a designer immediately. Move-in day arrives faster than you think, and the greatest gift you can give yourself isn't just knowing where the furniture goes — it's being able to hang up your clothes, put away cleaning supplies, get books on shelves, and arrange pictures on the mantle so your new house finally feels like home. That's what designers do every day: all the beautiful details, plus a heavy dose of practicality that makes living easier and, dare we say it, deeply satisfying.
A stocked Butler’s Pantry in Greenwich.
A serence ‘welcome home’ with a place for everything in Rye.