Closet tips

Building Products, March-April, 2003 by Stephanie Herzfeld

Many storage products and designs are available for you to create your clients' dream closets. Below are some tips on how to effectively use them, from three closet experts: Sara Falci, owner of Closets by Techline, a Middleton, Wis.-based closet design firm; Bill Haas, a global product merchant for Atlanta's Expo Design Center; and Kathryn LaBarbera, senior vice president of The Closet Factory, a maker of space organizers.

* Islands and benches in walk-in closets create a dressing room feeling and provide extra surface space for packing luggage.

* Placing drawers and dressers in closets frees up bedroom space.

* Mud room-type lockers in adults' and kids' closets keep gloves and boots organized and close at hand.

* Shoe cabinets with clear acrylic doors keep footwear off the floor and make shoes easily accessible.

* Built-in jewelry drawers with lined trays in an island or in the wall are an elegant touch.

* Tie and belt racks keep these accessories from getting lost.

* Walk-ins with built-in shelving provide ample storage space for luggage.

* Unusual drawer pulls are an inexpensive way to create a high-end look.