Maybe I should start calling it a dressing room? Sounds way fancier.
I reached out to Ballard Designs and they provided several pieces from their Sarah storage collection. The 14″ depth works well for our closet, I love the details along the top and bottom, and the three units I chose fit perfectly along the wall. Tops go on the top, bottoms go along the bottom. Pretty straight-forward, though I did have to get new hangers so that my skirts wouldn’t hang too low.
We started here, remember. Wall-to-wall carpet concealing some major floor damage and subfloor structural issues.
This is a long post. Brace yourselves, let’s keep going!
The carpet was ripped out and replaced with hardwood flooring, and then I figured, hey let’s just go all out on this and totally redo everything. I made a 3D model when I was planning the layout. It’s an odd space with two doors, a curved wall, a window, a radiator, and a sink.
My photos are showing a lot of details and angles that make it look like I’ve taken over the entire closet, but it is a shared space. Maybe a 60/40 split? As far as main clothing storage goes, I need more hanging space and Brandon needed more space for t-shirts, so the shelves behind the mirrored door are all his.
The mirror opens toward the closet doorway so that we can angle it to see ourselves from farther back, rather than having to stand right in front of it, and inside are the shelves with Brandon’s shirts, shoes, and ties. He’s got a really good collection of ties.
My purses go along the top, next to a couple of linen boxes that are gloriously empty. I’m sure we will fill them in due time.
On the opposite wall, I have a garment rack with all of my dresses and long skirts. It was a local find from Yearbook a while back. It tipped over and I had considered replacing it, but I was able to fix it (hooray!). I went with a garment rack because I can pull it forward slightly to make room for the curve of the wall behind it. I have room to put my boots behind it, and I can put shoes on and below its wooden base, too.
The prettiest shoes get prime placement even if I don’t wear them as often as my more practical footwear, just because I like seeing them there.
To keep the rack from tipping again, I’ve anchored it to a wall stud with heavy-duty mirror hanging hardware. You can’t even see the wire unless you are specifically looking for it.
Next to the garment rack, I have shoe storage. My shoes used to hang on the back of the closet door before, on a rack like this that left indentations on each pair and that would occasionally fall of the wall. I hated that thing! This is far better, and nicer to look at too.
I have a brass tray, also from Ballard, above. I cut a piece of felt with pinking shears to prevent the tray from scratching the top of the shoe cabinet, and inside I keep a few girly things. Perfume, barrettes in a pretty container, a magnifying mirror, and flowers. Fake flowers, because I like seeing them there, but realistically I’m not about to buy a fresh bunch every week for my closet. These silk peonies are expensive, but I rationalized the purchase, figuring it’s about five weeks’ worth of real ones before the price equals out.
I joke about how fancy a “dressing room” sounds as opposed to a closet, but I do get dressed in there and there is a sink. So it is more than your average coset — maybe that actually would be a more accurate term? We have a bathroom on the second floor for all of us to share, but this sink is mine all mine. Brandon is more than welcome to use it, but he doesn’t so have indeed taken over this section.
It looked like this while I was fixing it all up, so I’m feeling good about this little nook. Those corners were not easy to repair!
I hung a tall, narrow mirror, small glass and brass shelf, and a new brass sconce in the sink nook. My toothbrush and toothpaste are in a pretty tumbler, I decanted mouthwash and transferred face wash into amber apothecary bottles, and I added a ridiculous soap dish. My makeup and brushes are out, split between a gold polka dot tray and another tumbler.
Below the sink, I have a trash can and an under-cabinet organizer to hold things like a hair dryer, hair products, a lint brush, and other things I may need for getting ready but that don’t look nice sitting out — all hidden behind a sink skirt that I made. I was going to add a hook for a hand towel above the sink, but the little nook is so narrow that it started to feel crowded. There are two doors in the closet (such an odd layout), and on one of them, Brandon and I hang our bath towels. I would set things up differently if this was a sink that guests (or even the kids) used, but it’s not a big deal for me to just use my bath towel that’s hanging right there when I’m washing up.
The last wall, between the two entrances to the closet, got a couple of new shelves. I used brass and iron brackets that reference the metal finishes elsewhere in the space, paired with white shelves. They hold another tray with makeup (I have a thing for lipstick), pretty brass and glass jars holding not so pretty things like cotton swabs, and a small lamp. Gifts from the kids are on display, too.
* Someone in the comments wondered why I keep a dictionary in the closet. It’s not, it’s a clutch! *
Laundry goes in a Steele canvas truck that fits perfectly next to the radiator. The wheels make it easy to scoot out of the way if we want to open that second door, but we don’t use that entrance often.
We had an antique/vintage Tibetan rug in the hallway that works well in here, and the blue tufted ottoman next to it gives us a place to sit, to throw clothes, or to stand on when reaching above the closet units.
The stool sits in front of the window, and most of the time the curtains are drawn. I can’t imagine all that light would be good for clothes — especially since ours have a lot of color to them. When I’m in the closet (dressing room?) though, I do pull the silk curtain to the side by the tie-back to let the daylight in. The sheers give just enough privacy, and they have sequins and embroidery — they’re the same ones from the living room in our old house! The only curtains we took with us when we moved.
And finally, the light. I had the junction box moved over 8″ which left us with a plate where the old one was. The electricians suggested a ceiling medallion as a solution and while I wouldn’t have put one here otherwise, I do like it a lot. I hung a fixture that had come from elsewhere in the house before swapping out for a bell jar lantern that’s a much better fit for the space.
Want to know where something came from? Ta da, sources!
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Sarah Storage Master Closet System • c/o Ballard Designs
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Carleton Brass Sconce with Milk Glass Shade • Rejuvenation
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3-Light Medium Bell Jar Foyer Pendant • Wayfair
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Edinburgh Ceiling Medallion • Wayfair
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Dupioni Silk Curtain • Pottery Barn
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Threshold Lidded Milk Crates • Target
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Antique Brass Hooks • Similar, House of Antique Hardware
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B&W Wall Hook • Anthropologie
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Gilded Loops Brackets • Anthropologie
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Linen White Paint • Benjamin Moore
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Petite Sarah Storage Shoes Towers • c/o Ballard Designs
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Bardot Mirror • c/o Ballard Designs
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Glass Jars • Anthropologie
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Brass Circlet Glass Shelf • Anthropologie
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Reclaimed Wood Garment Rack • Yearbook
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Blush Pink Towels • CB2
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Vintage Tibetan Rug • Other Options
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Harlow Brass Tray • c/o Ballard Designs
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Silk Peonies • One Kings Lane
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Canvas Laundry Cart/Truck • Steele
And there you go. The closet with the odd sink dressing room.
55 comments
Alison
This is better than walking into Narnia!
Wendy
Dazzling! Re-doing a walk-in closet seems like such a huge project. It’s definitely not one I want to tackle, but yours makes me realize I ought to at least tidy up mine! Now that the mystery of the dictionary is solved, I noticed the new Burt’s Bees lipstick. Care to share a review? (I hate wasting money on new lipsticks that I end up never using!)
Making it Lovely
The lipstick is OK, but not a favorite. It’s a tad more on the sheer side than I was expecting, but it does feel nice and moisturizing.
jan
So pretty Nicole! Love it!
Meg | Hello Farmhouse
This is incredible!! We’re converting a tiny third bedroom into a dressing room, and the hardest part is finding an efficient way to organize everything. You’ve done such an amazing job!!
Melissa MacGregor
Beautiful!!
kislanykim
This is a simply gorgeous space, Nicole. You really spent the time — and you have the talent! — to do it right. Congratulations on creating this for your lovely home!
Kate M
Love your closet! I too live in a Victorian house and am wondering how you refinished the cast iron radiator. Did you paint it yourself? If so, what paint did you use? I love the golden color.
Making it Lovely
They were already that color when we bought the house, but I think they used spray paint. If you get up close and examine them, you can see that the inner portions are different colors, depending on which room you’re in. Some are white, some are a crazy green, and one was red!
Ariane
Beautiful ! Thanks for sharing.
Cynthia
This is not only a stunning dressing room but a bonafide hideaway when you need a little P & Q! Enjoy all the facets and thanks for sharing your closet story…great job.
Christina W.
This is gorgeous! I will be looking at Ballard when we move in the spring for sure. I didn’t see a source for the little gold polkadot trays, mind sharing where they’re from?
Making it Lovely
The little white/gold polka dot trays were from Target’s Threshold line, but it looks like they don’t have that pattern anymore.
Becky
I second the request for the gold poka dot tray source! The room looks gorgeous!
Tracy
looks beautiful, Nicole!
Cheryl
Dreamy and so well thought out. Love the details–those brackets from Anthropologie a case in point. Maybe I “need” those for a glass shelf in our bathroom. I would hide in this closet! Bring in a small writing desk and chair, some music . . . .
Making it Lovely
Ooh, I should add a radio. That’s what’s missing!
andrea
I really loved seeing the whole planning process you made. Thanks for sharing it. You don’t know how lucky you are to have such a lot of storage space!!
Jabeen Waheed
wow looks so neat and organised!
Jabeen x
http://www.spilling-the-beans.co.uk/
Jordana @WhiteCabana
What a magical transformation! The space is perfectly organized, and the sink is such a bonus. I had no idea Ballard had so many options for organization and decor. The mirror is beautiful!
ProfessionalPainters
I mean NOT colour coordinated :)
ProfessionalPainters
Love the fact that your clothes are colour coordinated.. You usually see these closets with dresses and jackets organized by colour. Yours looks fun and spontaneous – you just want to go through all the clothes! :)
Antonina
Stunning!!!
Love everything about it!
Speechless here :)
kategarwood
love the makeup vanity in the closet pretty epic. I also love that you put some of the shelving on wheels so if need be you could wheel it out and really get a good look at pieces. great idea. fabulous execution!!!
doodletllc
Sink in the dressing room…so very Victorian. The space is perfect in every way; attention to detail in the form and function…WoW! Making It Lovely, for sure!
ericahardy
Where did you get the soap dish? I love it!
Making it Lovely
The soap dish was from Anthropologie, but it’s no longer available. I bought it when I led a necklace-making workshop in one of the stores last year.
Courtney
I second this, would love to know where you got it!
Bridget
Beautiful job. You’re so good.
Laura
The best dressing room I’ve seen. It has character!
mjhooper2013
I love your dressing room, then I saw your shoes…….do you have podiatrist- and orthopedic- insurance for when you get past 50 and your feet and back give out on you—unless you are very very lucky.
Meantime, enjoy your dressing room and that delightful sink space…..and I do admit to a twinge of jealousy. My closet wouldn’t hold your shoes, much less all those clothes. And your dressing room is bigger than my bathroom…..oh, golly, my eyes are turning green!!!!! Enough, I’m going back down to reality and clean the oven and wipe spaghetti sauce splash off the side of the refridge……LOL MJ
Liz
One of my favorite posts ever. I poured over every lovely detail. Well done.
Amy
It is GLORIOUS!
Does hubby have his own closet?
http://www.lifewithleroy.blogspot.com
Making it Lovely
We share! He has half of the double hanging space (I have the left unit, he has the one on the right), and the entire mirrored section is his (there are shelves inside). The garment rack is mine, but then in the bedroom we have two dressers and he has the larger one. It all works out!
Peggi
Smashing! Everything looks lovely and organized. I particularly like those storage pieces from Ballard; would not have thought to look there for a closet system! Well done.
carolwestonblog
Can I just say “Oh my.”
This makes me all kinds of happy!
Thanks for sharing. The brass tray – sigh!
Lovely….. Really lovely!
pikaeva@hotmail.com
Wonderful post, Nicole! Back on track. However, why would you keep a dictionary in your closet? Just wondering.
Making it Lovely
It’s a clutch! Maybe I should make note of that in the post — it would be strange to keep a dictionary in the closet. :)
pikaeva@hotmail.com
:-D
Lauren B
This is AMAZING! I’m sure it had it’s challenges, but what a great space.
Ari Baker
Your dressing room is lovely!
Amanda Katherine
So dreamy!!! I dream for a closet that looks this good :)
amandakatherine.com
Joelene Diana
Absolutely stunning! What a labor of love – and the color scheme is beautiful. Question – is your window fitted with curved glass? Your floor plan seems to indicate that!
Making it Lovely
Yes! The house has four curved windows — the one in here, and three on the main floor.
seminegar
Stunning. Be honest, do you hang out in here all day? Your shoes! I really love how the sink area turned out. What an ideal makeup/primping setup. Divine ❤️
Danielle
soo beautiful!
Bekki
Love this space! And love how transparent you are about sponsors and recieving items from brands/stores. I wish more bloggers were so upfront about it! Thank you!
Jess @ Fashion By Committee
BEAUTIFUL! That space definitely deserves the Dressing Room moniker – you can sit, dress, choose shoes, and do makeup all in one place. You’re living the dream!
Jess | FashionByCommittee.com
AshleyM
I agree, definitely one of my favorite posts! So very lovely!! I love all the pink, but that it doesn’t really feel too overwhelming. I like the thought about how much real flowers will cost in the end. Something to keep in mind for sure. Also, I have loved Ballard Designs since I was 14 (I moved in with my step-mom and Dad, and she had a BD catalog and from that moment, I knew I loved her and BD…ha ha), so I am happy to see a blogger working with them. They do carry lovely products! Also, your wedding picture above the tray is a beautiful touch. Hope you are loving your dressing room! (You have a beautiful Victorian! Might as well go with dressing room!)
Staci
“Dressing Room” indeed! You are in a Victorian, after all, and such niceties have proper names ;) Major closet envy!
Barbara Shirkie
Gorgeous! Loved seeing what you did!
zin
wow! my favorite post yet :)
Jennifer
This is so beautiful! I really appreciate how you shared progress along the way too. Great post!
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