A Closet Affair

High-End Dressing Rooms a Must-Have in Luxury Homes

Luxury closets bring to mind a few classic movie and TV scenes. Recall Carrie Bradshaw

in Sex and the City stepping into her newly renovated pre-war closet, gushing, “It’s love at first sight,” and wide-eyed Andrea Sachs shopping haute couture from among rows and racks of Chanel and Jimmy Choo samples in The Devil Wears Prada.

Instagram and reality shows, like Architectural Digest’s Open Door and Insider’s Bonkers Closets, spotlight a near obsession with sneak peek tours of celebrity and A-listers' homes. Bonkers Closets host Aly Weisman takes a film crew to Texas and the world’s biggest closet, complete with a champagne bar and 3,000 square feet designed like Neiman Marcus, the owner’s favorite store. Another, an over-the-top closet in Singapore, has a biometric security system and glass doors that frame Birkin and Hermès bags like a work of art.

Jill Hertzberg of Coldwell Banker Realty’s The Jills Zeder Group in Miami Beach knows what sophisticated buyers look for in a luxury home. “Alongside amenities, such as gyms, waterfront pools and outdoor entertaining areas, luxury closets are an expectation. Having a walk-in closet is not enough. Clients want to showcase their wardrobe in a beautifully crafted setting that’s both elegant and well organized.” In recent years, Ornare, an international custom cabinetry and furniture company with showrooms in major U.S. cities, has seen a threefold increase in sales of closets.

Subtle notes in a luxe dressing room offer endless design possibilities – a plush ottoman for lounging, coffee and cocktail bars for sipping, and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth smart mirrors for trying on everything, from makeup to Dior.

Lisa Adams, CEO of LA Closet Design, points out elements that create the look of luxury: suede-lined accessory compartments, shallow cabinet displays for scarf or tie collections, hanging boot trees, customized shoe racks and clothing organized by brand, color and style. And don’t forget a doggie dresser with a pullout table and adorable outfits!

A bespoke dressing room doesn’t just happen. Designers count and inventory everything a homeowner wants to include to determine

both function and layout. New York-based interior architectural designer Lynn Cone tells of a client who installed a conveyor belt – the kind used by dry cleaners – to rotate her entire wardrobe seasonally at a push of a button. Cone notes, “The ultimate goal is to make the space feel like a private sanctuary for unwinding, while also playing up collections and textures By Megan Suslavich a homeowner loves most. One client had an

all-black wardrobe, so I added pops of teal and turquoise, her favorite colors, to complete the aesthetic. She was thrilled with the results.”

Psychology Today article, “Home as a Healing Space,” confirms what designers instinctively know, “Decorating for psychological comfort isn’t a luxury item. It is a necessity.”

This necessity is found throughout the luxury market. “One of the selling points in the Beverly Hills/Bel Air area today is a magnificent master closet,” says Jade Mills, a Coldwell Banker Global Luxury property specialist. “It definitely adds resale value. We’ve had multimillion-dollar

buyers walk away from gorgeous homes that lacked fabulous closets.”

Eco-conscious homeowners also want to

incorporate sustainable options. “This is on point with the industry trend using earth tones and vintage or antique pieces,” Adams says. “I also like incorporating plants to reduce environmental toxins, which helps keep spaces naturally temperature controlled.” For years, Adams has been a big fan of LED lighting. Especially cool in dressing rooms are illuminated closet poles and hangers meant to advance artistry as well as help save the planet.