Martha Cohen

MY ADVICE:

• Divide the closet up as if you are shopping in your favorite boutique. Every like item has its own “department.” You don’t want to look in six different places for a blouse, or four different places for a pair of shoes.  I see poorly designed closets all the time, hanging on every wall in the closet, shoes on every wall, drawers on every wall. I call that chaos!

• Matching hangers…velvet slim hangers for most and pant hangers for pants. This might seem like an “obvious tip”, it is not. Most clients have never thought about the hangers…it’s an epiphany for most when they change all their hangers!

• Go vertical, go high! So much wonderful usable real estate with 10′ high closets. Instead of loading all walls with clothes, barely leaving enough room to turn around, I’ve been known to use two walls, to the ceiling, leaving room for an island and a “dressing room.”

“I love it! OMG. You did a wonderful job. Ryan was so awesome, he did an amazing job as well. You were right, my husband loves it, too!“

– Lisa Garnez

“All the storage and organization you guys gave me is single-handedly my favorite thing about our new home!”

– Liane Wasson

MY FAQ’s:

 “How do you first approach a space? In other words, what’s the first thing you think about when you first see a client’s closet space/storage problem?”

 “What is the biggest design obstacle you’ve overcome? i.e. awkwardly angled walls, electrical sockets in bizarre places, big collections in small spaces.”

All kinds! Awkward angles. Crazy walls. Wall dividers. Different ceiling heights. Different widths. Luckily, when everything you do is 100% custom, there’s no design obstacle too big to overcome!

 “Since collaboration is such an integral part of the design process, how do you like to engage or connect with clients in order to help them realize their vision for a space?”

I hear everything they say, I take in their every word. They usually do not have a vision, but they usually have a long list of wants and needs.  The more they tell me, the more likely I will return with a slam dunk design.  They are usually amazed at the level I heard absolutely everything they said to me, and incorporated it into the design. I recently designed a closet for a woman that said how much she loved purses, and that she loved her purses more than shoes. In her currently closet, she had purse storage and wanted that again. What I returned with was some purse storage, but also a lighted glass cabinet, directly across from the entry to the closet, to feature/display her favorite purses. It will be the she will see every time she walks into her closet.  I believe it will make her smile, every time.

 “How are you inspired by a home’s existing décor? Is there anything specific that you look for during an in-home consultation?”

 “What are some ways a custom designed home office can improve productivity? In other words, how does the right type of home office help people do business?”

I have done quite a few “combo” home offices. An area to conduct business, but a separate area for a hobby.  The separate area may be for sewing or crafts. The two areas are designed completely different, based on the needs. By doing this, it separates work and play. The hobby doesn’t take over the job/business work space.

 “What are some modern organizational trends, or what’s a trend you’re looking for?”

Boutique closet design is by far my favorite trend. This is mainly because the closet is becoming a place people retreat to. As a result, builders are leaving the empty spaces open for creativity to add a boutique walk-in closet that’s been custom-made for their homebuyers.