luxury closets

According to area experts, luxury closets are in part a response to homeowners’ desire to reduce their carbon footprint and increase organizational efficiency.

“Closets are thought by many to be a luxury item,” says Sandra Sokol of Closets by Design. “But regardless of bells and whistles, closet design creates a more organized space which helps simplify the homeowner’s life. Even a basic, functional closet system creates the luxury of more time, less frustration, and peace of mind.”

Kathy Case with Advantage Closets says, “Most customers want to take the basic closet and add some of the upgrades to it. Clothes hampers are becoming standard items in most closets and, if space allows, ironing boards that fold into the wall or fold out of a drawer are popular.” Advantage Closets offers the Sienna Collection which features solid wood doors, self-closing drawers, adds elegance to any closet space. Available colors—in more than 20 stain finishes—range from rich traditional cherry to modern soft cream maple. “For those with a more limited budget, we offer standard  
melamine custom built units ranging in color from white to deep chocolate,” she says.

Adding a sense of control and alleviating stress are the primary reasons driving homeowners to seek luxury custom closets, according to Barbara French of French’s Cabinet Gallery. “I think everyone is so busy these days that having your clothing and personal items organized adds a sense of control. When our lives are so cluttered with things to do, clutter at home adds to the stress. Conversely, being organized is empowering and frees your mind.” French’s customers seek high-end wood closet systems.

Claire Bradford of Nashville Kitchen, Bath & Garage says, “We are seeing more clients who just want to simplify. ‘Luxury’ is a word still in the vernacular of many, but it seems to have a different meaning. ‘Not absolutely necessary but pleasant to have’ would certainly define the level of organization and simplification a well-designed closet can yield. However, such luxury doesn’t have to be expensive.

“Our line of modular closet cabinets is a very well-built, very affordable line. We can do simply-designed closets for under $50/linear foot. We also offer solid wood construction, dovetail joinery, and many finish options are available,” she says.

Reporting that the luxury closet is driven by looks and by design, according to Frank Floyd of The Closet Company. “The high end buyer will show off the closet just as they will the theatre, the wrapping room, kitchen, and so forth. It’s all about styling, design, and accessories—many times efficiency/capacity is given up in exchange for these elements,” he says. Floyd’s company offers wood and faux finishes and accessories ranging from safes and retractable mirrors to secret storage areas, ladders, and moulding.

California Closet’s Michael Vogt says he’s seeing two trends in closet design—one is the allocation of under-utilized space for storage and the other is modern design ideas. “We are seeing a growing number of our clients this year take an unused bedroom or even an unfinished storage area and turning it into a beautiful closet/dressing room. And while the South is fairly traditional and conservative, the past year and a half we have noticed a growing  
number of clients requesting colors, finishes, and edgy styles that reflect a more bold and modern look.”

Betty Anne Mills with Closets & More says she is seeing a trend toward minimalism. “Less is more,” she says. “In the 80’s and 90’s we were accumulating things. Today we are getting rid of things. In our homes we seek refuge from the turbulence that exists outside our homes. And organization solutions are becoming regarded as more a necessity than a luxury.”

And while the experts say they’re doing more master bedroom closets than any other space, they all see a growing trend in organization for media centers, garages, and guest rooms, home offices, and hobby center.

There are a number of sources for custom closets in the Nashville area including:

Advantage Closets
Nashville
615/ 833-3425

California Closets
Brentwood
615/ 367-1030

Classic Blinds & Closets
Franklin
615/ 794-0324

Closet Company, The
Nashville
615/ 742-1955

Closets & More
Nashville
615/ 312-7103

Closets by Design
Franklin
615/ 261-8700

French’s Cabinet Gallery
Brentwood
615/ 371-8385

More Space Place
Nashville
615/  771-0596

Nashville Kitchen, Bath & Garage
Nashville
615/ 457-3146

Shelf Genie
Nashville
888/267-1830