Build 101...walk in robe plans storage wardrobe

So here is the skinny on the specifics of our walk in robe, in case you love it as much as I do and absolutely have to have your own.  I relied heavily on the Italian style wardrobe designers, like Poliform and Fanuli, for inspiration.  I love the symmetrical designs and substantial but elegant cabinetry.  

#1   Width of shelves and dividers

All our shelves and dividers are a chunky 32mm wide.  It makes the joinery marginally more expensive but creates a very high end custom looking finish.  

You could economize here and use a normal 18mm width, but the small extra cost does add a lot of extra visual impact.

#2   Symmetry and the power of 3

A big part of what makes the Italian designs so pleasing to the eye is their symmetry.

Three is a classic design number, things really do look better in three's or other odd numbers. 

Although the storage on our His and Hers sides is a little different, they have the following symmetries:

• the height of the hanging rails is identical on both sides
• the shelves above the hanging space are identical on both sides
• each side is divided into three sections
• two of the three sections on each side are identical. 

Even though the sides are not exactly the same there is a strong sense of symmetry in the space.

#3   No doors - pros and cons
PRO 1: I like being able to see our clothes.  I tend to keep things tidier and there are fewer hidden pockets of clothes that are never worn. 

PRO 2: Not having doors also means the space can be smaller.  We would need at least half a meter more between the two sides for doors to open without blocking the space.  And don't mention sliding doors, not a fan.
PRO 3: No doors is cheaper.  You can spend more on making the internal joinery pretty, and on pricier inclusions like pull out racks, drawers and shoe racks.

CON 1: It's messy if you don't keep it neat.  We specified pocket doors between the walk in robe and the bedroom to block the space visually.  It is nice to be able to close them if we need to, but it only happens when one of us is getting dressed early and we want to keep the light out of the bedroom. 

CON 2: Dust - not really a problem, yes there is a little dust but hardly clouds of it.

#4   Hanging rail height

Our hanging rail is 193.6cm high.  Much higher than most manufacturers recommend, but I can reach it easily, and I am not very tall.  The extra height creates space for double drawers underneath.

  

If I had a dollar for every time I was told by a builder it just isn't done that way, well my walk in robe would lead to a luxury yacht.  It may not be done that way normally but there is no reason it can't be.

#5  Lots and lots of hanging space
Two reasons you should plan lots of hanging space:

• It is cheaper than putting in drawers and shelves because there is less wood and less work,
• Clothes don't crease when they are hung
• You can see exactly what you have and are less likely to hoard what you don't use

#6  Finish - stained oak
I love this finish, its elegant but not pretty and totally timeless.  Now that I have had a wardrobe with a dark inner I can't figure out why most of them are white.  Probably only because white is the most easily available option.

#7  Basic measurements
You can see the detail in the attached scale drawings but here is a quick summary:

• width of shelves & dividers - 32mm
• depth of cupboard - 600mm/60cm
• width of space - entire space is 2.7m long and split into 3 sections.  After allowing for 32mm dividers each section is 957mm wide
• height of space - 2.7m and wardrobes built all the way to ceiling
• height of hanging rail - 193.6cm
• remaining details are in the drawing

#8  Pull out pants rack/trouser rail

I discovered that it is pretty hard to get good pull out trouser rails at a good price, and that they are only available in very limited sizes.  So for our non standard space I had to make my own.  It was a surprisingly easy project to achieve, to see how it can be done see the full diy here.

Having lived with a walk in robe I cannot imagine not having one in the future.  I would be finding a way to put one in by stealing space from the bedroom or re-configuring smaller rooms.  Read all about why a walk in robe is a great investment of your hard earned build dollars here.  

For more details you need to know to get the finish you want, see the rest of the Build 101 series here.

Read More

Build 101...why a walk in robe is a great style choice and a great investment

A walk in robe is not just a luxury item, it's an opportunity to increase the value of your home.  It's a chance to get your build dollars working hard for you, and here is why.

Here is why walk in robes are a good investment:

• Compared to other building expenses it is a relatively small investment in cash and space, and it delivers the wow factor that will have people wanting to live in your house. 
• You don't need much space to create lots of storage and lots of style.
• It's a must have item for buyers of modern luxe homes.
• You will love living with it now, and will reap the financial reward when you sell later. 

You don't need much space, in less than 3m wide you can create your own.  In terms of building costs we are talking around 9 square meters of space.  Much cheaper than putting in an extra room.  Our own walk in is xxxxxx and it's generous both aesthetically and in storage capacity.  The joinery cost around $3,500 not including a premium for the stained oak finish.  

Tailor your finish to your budget, but even with a small budget its possible to deliver a stylish and functional walk in.  See this post by Stylizmo for a glamorous transformation of a small room for around $700.

Have I got you convinced?  See below for my top tips to design your own glam walk in.

Finding inspiration
I don't think you can look past the Italian walk in robe designs (like Poliform) for inspiration.  They are all over both function and form, lots of hanging space, lots of drawers and a crisp, clean contemporary look.  

Plan for all items in your wardrobe
Don't forget to plan storage for items like hats, bags and boots.  

• I love boots so I designed a shelf that is tall enough for mine to fit into.  No more scrounging under coats and dresses for me. 
• Open shelves above hanging height are perfect for storing bags and hats which you don't need easy access to every day.
• Drawers or slide out shelves for accessories, jewellery, belts and ties.
• Extra shoe space if you have a large collection.
• Storage space for handbags and hats can be set above hanging space as you will use it less often

His and Hers sides
Our walk in has two sides, His (Mr B) and Her's (moi), and because our clothes are different I designed them slightly differently too.

For him -

• No full length hanging space, but 3 hanging areas just tall enough to hang suits and shirts.  We even hang t-shirts there is so much room.
• A large pull out pants rack with space for shoes underneath.  (see how to make your own here)
• 8 generous drawers, plenty of space for storing ties, belts and even shoes.

For her (moi ofcourse) - 

• 2 long hanging sections with double drawers below.   I designed the height to fit mid length dresses and coats.  Most of us don't have wardrobes bursting with ballgowns requiring full length hanging space anymore.
• Shoe shelves and a boot shelf.  Ladies shoes are pretty enough to display and they definitely need their own space.

Take storage right up to the ceiling

We used every inch of our 2.7m ceiling height.  

The area above the hanging space has been divided into two wide shelves.  

• The lower shelf is easy enough to reach and perfect for storing less used items like hats, bags, or chunky sweaters.  
• The higher shelf is great for storing blankets, seasonal bedding and in a happy coincidence are the perfect size for suitcases.  

If you don't plan to build all the way to the ceiling, make sure there is enough space on top of your wardrobe for baskets to store seasonal items in neatly.

Finish 

Our walk in robe is finished in black stained oak, gorgeous but definitely a luxury item.  I think it has been totally worth the extra cost, its simple but feels luxurious, glamorous but with a crisp masculine touch.  I love the contrast of the chrome drawer pulls, a tiny bit luxe but not too girly.

The dark wood is lovely in the small space, it makes it moody and intimate.  To achieve something similar on a smaller budget, black painted wood or a good dark veneer would be very effective.

In this budget diy on Stylizmo, Nina has opted for white on white, and doesn't it look amazing.

The more hanging space the better

More is more, I like hanging everything, even t-shirts if I can.

In a choice between extra hanging space and extra drawers choose hanging space, better for your budget too.

Our walk in robe is still one of my favourite spaces.  I get that movie star feeling every time I use it and I would do it all over again tomorrow.  But even better I know it was a great investment in the value of our home.

It's not just about how lovely its going to be to live with now, you will get financial pay back later.  Hope I have convinced you to get planning.  I am going to share the measurements and finishes in my walk in robe in another post.  Until then, have a look at Build 101 for other post to help make your build experience that little bit easier.

Read More