Closet space is one of those luxuries some of us would sacrifice an office or an extra bedroom to attain (we’re looking at you, city dwellers). Beyond just a place to store more things, in a more organized manner, these often utilitarian spaces can become inspired havens when crafted with a designer’s eye. Customized closets and furniture designed for lounging can create a chic, boutique-like refuge right in your home. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination—and your square footage.
Recently, The Container Store teamed up with two top interior designers to craft his-and-her closets for the primary bedrooms of the 2022 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Dallas. Huma Sulaiman of Huma Sulaiman Interiors and Amelia Milton, lead design assistant at Schooler Kellogg Interiors, each built the foundation for their designs using The Container Store’s Preston Collection, a closet system that elevates everyday elements into artistry with bespoke details, custom configurations to fit any dimensions, and luxurious touches such as soft-close drawers and glass shelving.
We chatted with the design minds behind these dream schemes to learn more about their visions—and share some inspiring ideas you can recreate at home.
Moody and Modern
Sulaiman envisioned her men’s closet concept as a “gentleman’s lair” partially inspired by a luxe Moroccan retreat. “Our idea was to make this room not really so much like a closet, but also a space where someone could come and have a drink and relax,” she says. “Every time you enter the space, it makes you feel sexy.”
The sultry vibe starts with plush goldenrod carpeting in an Art Deco pattern that adds a midcentury energy, and handsome seating that invites you to sit and stay awhile, or maybe even read a book before beginning your day or heading to bed. Artistic accents, including a framed black-and-white photo, make the design, dubbed “Shaken not Stirred,” feel like a swanky hotel suite—where martinis can be mixed to order from the wheeled bar cart.
Space for Suits and Sneakers Alike
Outfitted with the Preston system’s built-in shelving in a dark hue dubbed Midnight, the closet has a moody vibe furthered by textured black wallpaper and brown velvet drapery. Discerning details include leather-wrapped and glass shelves, soft-close drawers with integrated, matte black signature rods and handles, plus a gliding pant rack that makes it easy to see outfit options without sifting through piles. A credenza wrapped in recycled crocodile leather has pride of place in the center of the closet-slash-dressing room.
Made from recycled and reclaimed wood, the Preston line offers 11 finishes and high-end hardware materials including chrome, slate, matte gold, acrylic, and oil-rubbed bronze. Built-in cabinetry and drawers plus LED lighting turn and glass fronts turn flashier pieces such as suits into artistic displays and conceal humdrum items like socks and t-shirts out of sight. Even if you’re working with a less palatial space, the Preston system can be customized to add a wall or built-in closet space that still feels pause-worthy.
Old-World Elegance
In her closet, Milton opted for sumptuous touches and European flair to create a dreamy dressing space that evokes all the luxury of the Belle Epoque. She also equipped the closet with custom built-ins from the Preston collection, but to very different effect, opting for wall-to-wall cabinetry in a delicate fawn finish.
“We wanted a very feminine and soft space, something luxurious, but understated,” Milton says, explaining her choices of both smooth and Shaker decorative fronts with soft-close hardware and glass inserts. An ombre settee tucked into a mirrored nook creates a soft landing spot for trying on shoes or fitting in a pre-event nap during a busy day. If you’re working with a more compact walk-in closet, you can create a similar vibe by building a smaller cut out in a wall of cabinets to make room for a chair.
Boutique Details
Frocks on freestanding dress forms, full-length glass cases that turn gowns into gallery-worthy displays, and a plush settee to perch on while admiring the collection all give the impression that, as Milton says, “the clothing is a spectacle to see.” The glass fronts of Preston’s vitrine-like cabinetry, “really led to the museum aesthetic we were going for.”
If you have special items in your collection—like a dress that’s family heirloom but may not lend itself to everyday wear—consider incorporating it into the decor in a place of honor created by a glass-front cabinet.
For more custom closet inspiration, get in touch with one of The Container Store’s in-house design specialists, who can guide you through creating an organizational system tailored to your space.
