6 steps to consider when designing a kids closet

Kid's closets are an interesting challenge.  They are often the smallest closets in the house and you are trying to hide the most items in there.  I hear many parents say, "it is just a kid's closet, they don't need anything fancy".  We understand where they are coming from, but disagree with that way of thinking.  A child's closet is the "organization training wheels" to teach your kids a few important life skills at an early age.  For this blog we collaborated with one of the owners of California Closets Texas Hill Country, Jill Siegel.

1. Make sure you have enough shelves:

Here is the big question-What hangs and what folds?  Depending on your child's stage in life, the answer could be very different to this question.  With smaller kids you tend to fold more of their tiny clothes. The older they get, the more you hang.

2.  Make sure there is a place for dirty clothes:

Think of this closet design as teaching your child one of the more important life skills you can teach-organization.  There is a place for everything and everything has its place.  Where do the dirty clothes go?  Where do the clean clothes go? There is no doubt the answer to this question when you take the time to plan ahead.

3.  Make sure there is plenty of room for toys:

Kids are more likely to put things away if there are specific places for their toys to go.  Create shelf spaces in your child's closet that are fitted for specific items, such as bins for putting smaller toys and larger openings for some of their larger toys.

4.  Plan for your closet design to adjust as your child grows:

No matter the size of your child's closet, organization abilities should grow with your child as their wants and needs change.  As an infant you may need more shelf spaces for folded clothes, blankets and diapers. As a toddler you need more space for toy organization and a few additional hanging clothes. Finally, as a teen the need to organize toys goes away and gives way to the need for drawers to hide large folding items and shoe bins.

5.  Make it fun:

Closets don't have to have drab white walls and painted shelves, they can be fun like the photo below.  Take your child's closet and make it a space they want to spend a little time in.  They will enjoy all the fun little details you can add for personalization.  There are no set in stone rules here.  If your child has 10 dress-up outfits with matching plastic shoes, plan a space for them that they can reach.  Your child will enjoy knowing where all of their favorite things are and you will enjoy a cleaner room.

6. Don't forget to add your organization accessories:

Take advantage of all of the fun organizational items available when creating your child's closet.  The more fun you make it, the more likely they are to use it properly.  A few examples of items that are available include sloped shoe shelves and wire drawers. You can also take it that extra step and add down lighting and glass shelves so some of your areas can appear as decorative display.

Who says teaching organization and life skills can't be fun?  We think California Closet's concept for children's closets is well thought out, creative and fun.  Our advice to you if you are thinking about hiring a professional to organize your child's closet:  Find a designer that has kids and understands your goals and growth plans.  Thank you to California Closets for providing the wonderful photography above and thank you to Jill for all the great advice for creating and organizing your child's space.

Are you looking to update your child's space, but the thought of touching it makes you swoon, we are here to help.  Our design team has collaborated with California Closets on many different occasions and would love the opportunity to work with you on yours.  Give us a shout.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.  

3 ways to create a Woman Cave in your home

 

Everyone has heard of the Man Cave.  The thought of this room often brings to mind pool tables, video games and stinky cigars...but how many of you ladies have thought of setting up a Woman's Cave?  The need for separate gender use spaces dates all the way back to our Kindergarten days.  Every kid has created a clubhouse at some point in his life whether it be a gathering of boxes taped together in the driveway, a blanket tent in the living room or an actual playhouse setting.  Once this space was created, there is often a sign added to the space stating NO (boys, girls, adults, etc.) ALLOWED!

When you think of the words "Woman Cave" what does it bring to mind?  Have you always wanted your own sewing room?  Craft room? Exercise room that inspires you?  Here are a few ideas to help spur your interest into a room you can call your own.

1. Craft or wrapping stations

You have a smaller house, but would like a space to add a wrapping station or craft area in your home.  You may not be able to pull of an entire room, but sometimes a closet within a room or room within a room will give you that coveted space without taking over your Master Bedroom.  Common items to use for this scenario are:  An armoire or a closet organizer.

2.  Dual purpose Guest/Sewing Room

You have a mid-size house with a guest room.  You do have guests visit every couple of months, but would like the room to be usable during the down times?  One way to make this room a multi-use room is by adding a wall bed.  This is not to be mistakenly associated with the old metal rod in your back sofa beds we were all forced to sleep on as children.  Times have changed.  The children that were forced to sleep on uncomfortable guest beds have all grown up and redesigned the system to make temporary beds more comfortable whether they be on a wall or folded into a sofa.

(room by Paula Ables Interiors, built by Design Theory/California Closets)

This room is an example of a guest room turn sewing room.  This particular client wanted a felt sheet to hang her quilting squares while she figured out the design.  Our solution was this great wall bed with the felt sheet rolled into the header above.  When the client is sewing, the room is large and spacious.  Everything she needs is within reach.  When the guest arrives, the machines and fabrics go away and out comes the beautiful guest bed with a nice fluffy mattress. So comfy you will have to start charging your guest rent to get them out of your house.

3.  Exercise Room

You have a large house and a couple of undefined rooms that have slowly become junk accumulation areas. This is a common issue for empty nesters. The kids are out on their own and the house suddenly feels twice the size it use to be. Instead of being sad that your little birdies have made nests of their own, celebrate the space and make it function for you. I don't think I was out of the house for more than an hour before my childhood bedroom became my parents new office space.

Follow my parents example and don't be shy.  Don't let those rooms sit idle, claim your new space.  Sharing a workout room in your house with your husband can be great, but women and men often have different fitness goals and it is hard to share equipment.  Make the space fit your exercise needs, whether it be yoga, karate or Pilates machines (they look surprising like old torture devises...just an observation).

The first step is to install the full wall to ceiling mirror, next decide what your flooring should be. Hardwood is easy to scratch and tile can often be too cold and hard on your legs. Consider installing a spongy rubber floor over your existing hardwoods/tile to help protect them from your equipment and protect you from additional strain and injury due to an unforgiving floor space. Once these two things are completed, bring on the exercise equipment.

All rooms can benefit from a fresh coat of paint and maybe an updated light fixture to compliment the new purpose of the space as well. If one or all of the ideas above sounds intriguing to you, but you can't decide which direction to go, give us a call. We love helping to create new personal spaces for our clients that fit their specific needs.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.  

Chandeliers for the Closet

Chandeliers are a time-honored sign of luxury and excess--since the medieval times starting with candles for light in the 15th century, to gas in the 19th century, to our modern day chandeliers with LED lighting of 2015.  They have sparkle, they have style and they make us feel as though we are in the presence of beauty. Over the last 10 years we have seen these items of luxury and beauty find their way from the traditional locations of Formal Living and Dining spaces to bedrooms, even bathrooms...finally landing in the space we most want to feel luxurious and beautiful, the closet.

Below you will find 9 fun colors and styles of chandeliers great to hang in your Master Closet space.

 [more details after image]

Chandeliers product details (starting at top, from left to right):

1. Purple Chandelier - DH Gate | 2. Drum Pendant Chandelier - Lamps Plus | 3. Opal Aqua Chandelier - The Frog & The Princess | 4. Possini Crystal Chandelier - Lamps Plus | 5. LED Crystal Chandelier - Ali Express | 6. Wide Crystal Chandelier - Lamps Plus | 7. Green Bella Vetro Chandelier - Cyan Design | 8. Contour Crystal Chrome Chandelier - Lamps Plus | 9. Pink Shade Chandelier - Ali Express

Chandeliers can be as inexpensive as $150 all the way into the millions.  Don't be afraid to add a little glamour and bling to your life.  Find that perfect style, color and size of chandelier and make the leap. Some states and building codes may require your lights to be covered with a lamp shade.  Make sure to know the building code in your area when installing any light in your home.

Afraid to do this without a little guidance?  Give us a call!  We are glad to help.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.