Organization is key to an uncluttered closet.
Organizing a collection of clothing, including shoes, hats, and other accessories, has always been a challenge to homeowners and designers. For 21st century homes, the design of closet space is a huge business, ranging from the do-it-yourself system purchased from a discount store to the most innovative custom European components. Italian designers and manufacturers have long been recognized as leaders in storage planning, and they continue to offer a dazzling array of choices for the discriminating buyer. In every case, the designs result in a serene and uncluttered space. Does this Spark an idea?
Closets and wardrobes
Italian designers, perhaps influenced by European customers whose homes are antiques, respect the problem of the homeowner who has little or no closet space in the house while accommodating the customer who has empty walk-in closets. Thus these creative businesses offer choices of both closet systems and free-standing wardrobes. In either case, most modern Italian designs have simple and sleek exteriors plus interior spaces suitable for clothing and accessory items.
The door design is key
According to Cabinets by Design, a California-based company, the most important feature of a closet or wardrobe is the design of the outer doors. That plan is always carried throughout all the components of a closet storage system, creating a unity of design. One fairly common feature is the integration of the handles on doors and drawers in order to maintain the uninterrupted flow of the lines. Both the interior and exterior of an Italian design will be uncluttered and may include sliding doors, folding doors, wing doors, and sliding panels as well as shelf space without doors.
Modular designs
All Italian storage systems are modular; the customer may order exactly what is needed for the storage of hanging items, folded items, shoes, hats, jewelry, even furs. This custom arrangement is likely to be a variety of pieces such as chests of drawers, shelves, bridges, mirrors, and more. A chest of drawers might be free-standing or suspended from an interior wall; hanging spaces may provide special accommodations for trousers, jackets, high heeled shoes, long dresses, or any other item of apparel in a customer's wardrobe.
Finishes
While many of the Italian closet components and doors are made of wood including painted and stained colors, unusual and unexpected finishes are at home in modern design. Any number of manufacturers use glass with smoked finishes, mirrored finishes, opaque finishes, and textured surfaces. The use of metal in construction of modular pieces is also common, making burnished aluminum or bronze and dark steel part of the sleek and uncluttered effect.
Tags: closet space, Italian designers, shoes hats
