The Ultimate Plan for My Dream Walk-In Closet Design

Since I can remember, I’ve dreamt of designing a closet worthy of Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City or Cher from Clueless. You know, that Manolo-magic inducing wardrobe that feels (and looks) picture perfect. Well, thanks to the phenomenal team at Inspired Closets Chicago, this dream is becoming a reality! I’m currently working with their amazing team to design the ultimate walk-in closet design.

Since Bob and I don’t have kids, we’re transforming a spare bedroom into a walk-in closet! Our primary closet redesign will be a welcome respite from the clutter and chaos of what I’ve been using to date.

Current Situation

Well, to be frank – my current closet situation is a MESS. Years ago, I bought several rolling racks to store Bob’s suits and my vintage items. When we moved to our new home, the racks were transitioned into a guest bedroom, and they’ve stayed put ever since.

Yes, rolling racks are a simple solution, but they’re not exactly aesthetically pleasing. Above all, it’s nearly impossible to see what I actually own when everything is pushed together. It’s time for a change. 🙂

My objective is simple – design a closet that’s both fashionable and functional. At the end of the day, I’m SO excited for a space that’ll store my dresses, shoes, and other accessories.

Walk-In Closet Design Process

From the living to dining room, family room to kitchen, and most recently our powder room, I’ve loved designing every aspect of our home. At the same time, my closet has been overflowing for some time. I wanted to lean on the experts who really know their stuff.

Enter Inspired Closets Chicago, who has been designing custom organization solutions for more than 32 years. Their experienced team has designed and installed over 45,000 custom solutions for homeowners throughout the Chicagoland area.

About Inspired Closets Chicago

A handful of weeks ago, I stopped by Inspired Closets showroom in Oakbrook for a design consultation with co-owner, Mike Carson. He is the ultimate expert when it comes to closet design! Plus, he made us feel incredibly safe, and we were the only individuals in the space during our appointment. We were able to tour the many vignettes they have constructed (a few of which I’ve pictured here) to compare and contrast the many options.

Impressively, Mike Carson founded one of the industry’s largest professional associations, and he basically wrote the rule book for closet design experts. Best of all, they’ve established an impeccable reputation for design and customer service.

Definitely take a look at their website to get a sense of their portfolio. They design more than just closets and have solutions for your pantry, garage, offices, entry ways, laundry rooms, and more.

Do You Have an Inspired Closet Chicago Discount Code?

Best of all, Style Charade readers will receive a 15% discount on an Inspired Closets Chicago project! The offer is valid through June 30th, 2024 and for the greater Chicagoland area only. Even if you’d like to get your design work completed at a later date, now is the perfect time to reach out to their team to get the process started (and take advantage of this generous discount)! Just be sure to mention my name during your consultation to get 15% off your project.

After visiting their showroom and meeting with Mike, we knew a partnership made a lot of sense! Their designs, customer service, and quality of materials sold us.

Getting Ready

For the past several months, I’ve been donating a ton of items. In fact, we’ve easily dropped off more than 50 bags of clothing, home items, and accessories to charities and non-profits around the city.

Additionally, I’ve sold a bunch of pieces that either aren’t my size or items that I no longer wear (e.g. crop tops, body con dresses, etc.). Special thanks to the team who helped me manage that process!

Overall, my wardrobe is much smaller than it was prior to the pandemic. Seriously. I’ve been able to downsize my closet to the items I wear the most. Well, and of course my favorite special occasion pieces and vintage items 🙂

After looking through my current space and wardrobe needs, Mike and I were able to come up with a game plan for the design of the closet.

Design Plan

First step? Measuring the space. Mike came over to our house (while maintaining social distance and wearing a mask, of course) and measured the entire room. Afterwards, during our showroom visit, he recreated the floor plan digitally and started “constructing” the walk-in closet design right before my eyes.

Using Inspired Closet’s proprietary computer program, Mike was able to add, change, alter, and update the closet details to perfectly fit my storage needs. Want an island? Done! How many shelves would you want on that wall? Do you want a rod to hang clothing or more storage? Done and done!

I loved being able to talk with him about fashion and functionality! He listened to my requests, and their team designed things accordingly to my specifications while also weighing in on advice. We decided to add more hanging space for dresses and create fewer shelves for folded items. Plus, we’re installing an island in the center of the room for small accessories like sunglasses.

Fine Details

After connecting with our interior designer, Amelia, we decided to source our own hardware. We’re opting for the stunning aged brass handle and knobs (featured below), which will be classic and very chic.

Also, to add a pop of color to the space, we’re partnering with Milton & King to feature their phenomenal Trellis Wallpaper, and this stunning fabric which we’ll use to recover a storage bench. Milton & King is a relatively new-to-me brand, and I’m so thankful I stumbled upon it. Their designs are divine, and I genuinely think you’ll love their styles.

Floral Chandelier | Storage Bench | Under the Influence Print | Milton & King Wallpaper | Restoration Hardware Drawer Pull

Lastly, I’m so excited to be partnering again with the inimitable Hudson Valley Lighting. They’ve outfitted so many of the rooms in our home, and the fixture we chose for this new closet will be the perfect addition!

Overall, I’m looking forward to sharing the full transformation. We are in very capable hands with Inspired Closets Chicago, who has made the entire experience smooth, easy, and truly phenomenal! Stay tuned for more!

Disclosure: I received a discount for the walk-in closet design and installation. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Thank you to the team at Inspired Closets for working with me to create the closet of my dreams. Partnerships like these make Style Charade possible.