Let's face it - when it comes to dream closets, the attention has been given primarily to 'her'. Start an Internet search for dream closets and you will find hundreds of images and information about extreme closets for women. Rooms of shoes and walls of clothing that seem to go on forever makes me wonder if the dream is the closet or the surplus of contents.
On the shortlist are dream closets for 'him'. I have a board on my Pinterest devoted to 'hisness' {found HERE} - that features all of the strong armed decor charm that reflects a gentleman's taste. Admittedly, it doesn't tip into the 'sportsman', but leans to the debonair and urban sophistication of a man.
Capturing my attention is the recent sneak via AD into Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's new Manhattan apartment. The Greenwich Village 15th floor apartment is a conversion of two floors with the main living space at the entry level and three bedrooms on the floor below. The pre-war style apartment is a favourite of mine that features high ceilings, long paned windows and intricate moldings. I have to admit it had me pouring over the real estate listings on Compass - if you have a few idle hours to dream, go HERE.
One of the highlights of the personal space are the his and his closets for Nate and Jeremiah. Details were ironed out for both men to suit their style and needs.
Love the moldings, long dual mirrors on each side of the closet breezeway, and the patterned wall-to-wall carpet. The amount of shoes is probably necessary for the public events Berkus performs, but it is enviable. The tour starts in the video below.
And so, if it was my client requesting a 'hisness' dream closet, what would I include?
Let's start with the bedroom and bath; these area's should be coordinating and set the tone for the style of the closet area. My client wants masculine, dark, luxurious. So the bedroom styling will be similar to this.....
The principal bath area will reflect the tone of the bedroom. Rich woods, iconic basket weave tile on the floor and white subway tile as the feature in a walk-in shower grand enough for a party for two (hisness will have guests in the shower of course). Old school cross handle faucets and an over-sized rain-fall shower head add a vintage vibe that works in this old New York apartment style. Ample storage for toiletries, mountains of luxurious towels, a shaving mirror, lighting on dimmers, and the necessary separate water closet add the finishing touches to his premium space. Of course there is a small wall mounted TV to ensure every news flash is captured.
Features for the haberdashery style closet are about form and function. The list of needs for the closet starts with the way the client prefers to keep his clothing. Are the jeans hung up? or folded and stacked on a shelf? or folded in a drawer? If he travels often on business, the luggage and travel toiletry case will need to be close at hand, so we'll make room for them. Are his dress shirts folded on a shelf or hung on hangers. Decisions, decisions.
The space above offers so much. Like the other Greenwich Village apartments I looked at, this one has a window. It's a bonus to have air and natural light in the room. The cabinets are rich toned wood - notice the drawers on this unit are not too deep. I think this helps keep the contents at a manageable volume. Retractable valet bars are a must - if placement allows, install several. The pullout shelf allows hisness to lay out pieces to coordinate or pack. Personal items like photo's and memento's add charm.
When the size and layout allow, adding a wardrobe island is ideal. The mix of black and white works with natural woods. Notice the sideboard table on the back wall. My clients dream closet will have a distinctive piece of furniture to add character while providing storage.
It's all in the details. Space to shine shoes and storage to keep shine kits at hand, racks that roll out to display pants he's looking for easily; make getting ready effortless. Dividers in sock and underwear drawers are a must. Double-tier hanging racks throughout the space with drawers and shelves interspersed bring balance to the dream closet. When the hanging racks are lined up in a row it can begin to look like a retail space - so mix it up.
And let's not kid ourselves, men have a lot of shoes too. Don't forget shoe horns and shoe deodorizers to tuck in to each pair.
Easily accessible space for organizing ties and belts is a must. This tucked-away closet addition pulls out and provides needed space at the bottom to store away personal items.
A place to sit is so important in the gentleman's dream closet. He needs a comfortable and stylish chair to sit and put on his socks/shoes or to rest for a few minutes while he takes an important call. A compressed bar tray and a hidden bar fridge will ensure that everything he desires is at his fingertips.
A generous and sturdy luggage rack is needed to help him pack and unpack from his journeys. This one is available via 1stdibs.
On the check list for a luxurious dream closet for hisness is:
On the shortlist are dream closets for 'him'. I have a board on my Pinterest devoted to 'hisness' {found HERE} - that features all of the strong armed decor charm that reflects a gentleman's taste. Admittedly, it doesn't tip into the 'sportsman', but leans to the debonair and urban sophistication of a man.
Capturing my attention is the recent sneak via AD into Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's new Manhattan apartment. The Greenwich Village 15th floor apartment is a conversion of two floors with the main living space at the entry level and three bedrooms on the floor below. The pre-war style apartment is a favourite of mine that features high ceilings, long paned windows and intricate moldings. I have to admit it had me pouring over the real estate listings on Compass - if you have a few idle hours to dream, go HERE.
One of the highlights of the personal space are the his and his closets for Nate and Jeremiah. Details were ironed out for both men to suit their style and needs.
 |
| Nate and Jeremiah's closet. image Douglas Friedman |
And so, if it was my client requesting a 'hisness' dream closet, what would I include?
Let's start with the bedroom and bath; these area's should be coordinating and set the tone for the style of the closet area. My client wants masculine, dark, luxurious. So the bedroom styling will be similar to this.....
 |
| Layers of charcoal, BOND on the wall, lacquer night table and leather headboard. |
The principal bath area will reflect the tone of the bedroom. Rich woods, iconic basket weave tile on the floor and white subway tile as the feature in a walk-in shower grand enough for a party for two (hisness will have guests in the shower of course). Old school cross handle faucets and an over-sized rain-fall shower head add a vintage vibe that works in this old New York apartment style. Ample storage for toiletries, mountains of luxurious towels, a shaving mirror, lighting on dimmers, and the necessary separate water closet add the finishing touches to his premium space. Of course there is a small wall mounted TV to ensure every news flash is captured.
Features for the haberdashery style closet are about form and function. The list of needs for the closet starts with the way the client prefers to keep his clothing. Are the jeans hung up? or folded and stacked on a shelf? or folded in a drawer? If he travels often on business, the luggage and travel toiletry case will need to be close at hand, so we'll make room for them. Are his dress shirts folded on a shelf or hung on hangers. Decisions, decisions.
The space above offers so much. Like the other Greenwich Village apartments I looked at, this one has a window. It's a bonus to have air and natural light in the room. The cabinets are rich toned wood - notice the drawers on this unit are not too deep. I think this helps keep the contents at a manageable volume. Retractable valet bars are a must - if placement allows, install several. The pullout shelf allows hisness to lay out pieces to coordinate or pack. Personal items like photo's and memento's add charm.
When the size and layout allow, adding a wardrobe island is ideal. The mix of black and white works with natural woods. Notice the sideboard table on the back wall. My clients dream closet will have a distinctive piece of furniture to add character while providing storage.
It's all in the details. Space to shine shoes and storage to keep shine kits at hand, racks that roll out to display pants he's looking for easily; make getting ready effortless. Dividers in sock and underwear drawers are a must. Double-tier hanging racks throughout the space with drawers and shelves interspersed bring balance to the dream closet. When the hanging racks are lined up in a row it can begin to look like a retail space - so mix it up.
And let's not kid ourselves, men have a lot of shoes too. Don't forget shoe horns and shoe deodorizers to tuck in to each pair.
 |
| One wall devoted to shoes. |
Easily accessible space for organizing ties and belts is a must. This tucked-away closet addition pulls out and provides needed space at the bottom to store away personal items.
A place to sit is so important in the gentleman's dream closet. He needs a comfortable and stylish chair to sit and put on his socks/shoes or to rest for a few minutes while he takes an important call. A compressed bar tray and a hidden bar fridge will ensure that everything he desires is at his fingertips.
A generous and sturdy luggage rack is needed to help him pack and unpack from his journeys. This one is available via 1stdibs.
 |
| Widdicomb folding luggage rack |
On the check list for a luxurious dream closet for hisness is:
- a small TV to catch the news as he dresses,
- a clock (he's not always going to have his watch on),
- good quality wooden hangers for suits and shirts (no wire hangers)
- a combination of pot and ambient lighting that are on dimmers
- a full length mirror (or two), a hidden safe for valuables,
- personal pictures set in similar frames to give a cohesive look, memento's and treasures that hold meaning for him,
- a space to write a note or balance a laptop while on the phone,
- a recharging center for all of his electronic needs,
- don't forget the lint brushes tucked in to a drawer near his suits,
- and if he is so inclined - a professional steamer set up and ready to go rather than an iron.
 |
| Credenza space - Nate and Jeremiah |
Luxury with unique pieces and special finishes that reflect his personality will make a closet he is dreaming about.
{honest, he's dreaming about a dream closet too}
