DIY “Custom Closet” Inspiration

 

What woman doesn’t want a walk in closet? What doll doesn’t dream of a classic custom closet with an old fashion Hollywood style make-up mirror and glam vanity with a faux fur pedestal stool? Guilty. I’m a girly girl in this department all day. I’ve always wanted a “California Closet” since I was a kid. But, when we dream about this, we think …“Oh, I can’t afford that” Well I’m here to turn my dolls daydreams into reality & show you what I did…by myself…on a budget.

First…I had the room & a very sweet husband. He let me turn one of our spare bedrooms into a closet. Haha…he’s so sweet. I’m going to take y’all step by step on how and what I did…and how much it cost.

First, just for fun…I called California Closet and had them come out to give me an estimate. To do everything that I did or wanted to do….the estimate was $3,250.00

 

With a little help from home depot, a handyman & craigslist…I spent $675.00

Yep! I saved over $2500.00! Sure…it’s not the absolute best of everything, but it’s good enough for me & it blows my mind every time I walk in. My girlfriends come over and just want to hang out in “the closet”

My husband knows the rules “Girls only” “No boys allowed” 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I knew the theme I had in mind when I set out to design my dream closet. I wanted old Hollywood vintage “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” style. I started collecting old black & white pics of my favorite Hollywood starlets that meant something to me personally & went along with my style of fashion & personality. I had 5 spots on my wall where pictures could go & the hard part was narrowing it down.

 

The first and obvious choice was “Audrey Hepburn”…especially when you’re doing a “Tiffany’s” style closet. Her grace, poise, elegance, class & style were unparalleled. I still quote her today. There are too many to chose from but one of my favorites and words to live by:“Nothing is impossible…the word itself says IM POSSIBLE”And one more because she is just so amazing “You have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other to help others” I love that one.

 

Next on my list was Scarlett O’ Hara…Miss Vivien Leigh. One of my favorite movies growing up was “Gone With The Wind”. Her character embodied everything I wanted to be. The fancy southern belle, the flirt, the fashionista, the flare for the dramatic haha the hard worker, the committed and deep down…the good girl. Fav quote: “The are no ugly woman, but there are woman who don’t know they are beautful.”

 

 

Third I chose Jackie O “Mrs. Kennedy” I loved her fashion sense, her class, the way she carried herself at any occasion, her passion for horses, her education, her rebellion, her Catholic faith & the dedication she had to her position as First Lady. Also, the way she raised her children was inspiring.

Fav Quote: “If you cut people off from what nourishes them spiritually, something in them dies.”

 

 

There were so many glam Goddesses to pick from but this bombshell sex kitten, Italian stallion was top on my list. Sophia Loren. My goodness…she’s amazing. I wanted her picture in the closet to remind myself of my Italian heritage & her strong character. She also got her start in beauty pageants & modeling like me…and funny enough, we’ve both modeled for the Italian tire company Pirelli haha she even posed scantily clad for the company at age 72! That will be me 😉 She’s also big into football. My favorite quote from her is “Everything you see I owe to spaghetti” yep…me.

 

 

And last but certainly not least…the iconic sex symbol…Marilyn Monroe. From overcoming early childhood struggles of abandonment & abuse to becoming the biggest movie star of her time…she holds a place on the wall in all dream closets in my opinion. I loved that her greatest dream was to have children…she was pain, she was passion, she was real.

Favorite quote: “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous then absolutely boring.”

 

 

 

Those are the women I chose to hang up pictures of in my closet. They inspire me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wanted to share that bit of design with you to inspire you to create your own design of what suites you best.

 

After you pick your theme/design, start looking at your clothes, shoes & accessories. For me, I wanted everything I need to get ready in the same room. From my undies to my make-up! So here’s what I did to get organized & make my dream a reality!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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First Steps:

 

• Measured clothes in sections to break it up in the closet (pants sections, sweaters & dresses…long & short)
• I measured how much wall space I needed for hanging clothes, folded clothes & shoes. I drew the measurements out on the wall with a pencil.
• I set aside 1 wall for my vanity, one wall for my dresser (from drawers top to bottom…socks, bras, undies, t-shirts, shorts, work-out wear & leggins)
• I took off the closet doors and set that enclave aside for my shoe wall
• The window wall was for short dresses & skirts & for long dresses (The window separates them)
• The last wall was 2 rows. 1 for tops & tanks & the bottom was for jackets, flannels, jeans & pants.
• I hung up belts on what was left of that wall & put a full length mirror on the back of the door.
• You can make your walls pretty with mantle looking shelves, I just needed the space for the ridiculous amount of clothes I have! And nothing to wear! ugh haha

 

Next Steps:

• I painted the room a light gray & the ceiling a light blue.
• I put crown molding up because it really “made the room” and frankly…anything with the word crown in it makes me feel like a princess 😉
• I had an electrician hang a chandelier I found on Craigslist.
• I found a vanity & stool on Craigslist as well.
• The make up mirror was the most expensive thing in the room ha I found mine on ebay for a steal.
• I had the old island brought up from the kitchen we were replacing with a larger one.

• I measured it the top of the island & the top of the pedastool & bought some white faux fur at Joann’s Fabrics.
• I used the shoe racks I’ve been toting around for almost ten years now & bought new racks to use as sweater shelves. (Closet Maid)
• Bought white wood shelves at Home Depot and had them cut the measurements I needed them to be. I bought poles & L brackets to hold the shelves & clothes.
• And Voila’…my dream came to life!

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Prices: ($ What I spent on Craigslist, Etsy & Ebay) + (Links to “best buy” I found for y’all)

 

 

• Paint   $25
• Shelves, brackets & poles $60
• Chandelier & install $60 + $20
• Crown Molding $50
• Dresser $75
• Vanity w Pedestal Stool $75
• Retro Tiffany Blue Crushed Velvet Storage Bench (0)
• Island (0)
• Shoe Racks (0)
• Faux Fur $15
• Make Up Mirror $175
• Pictures & Frames $10
• Jewelry Stands $60
• Clear Make Up Organizers $50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A few of my favorite things in my closet. My “currently obsessed” collection…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed reading this & seeing the pics as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you! Every doll deserves a dream closet! And most of us have “champagne taste on a beer budget” so I hope I helped inspire you to believe you can have a little bit of heaven too!

 

Xoxo,

ND

 

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