Diva Closets

Open or concealed? Room-size closets are all about the basic approach.

When closets are turned into a full-fledged rooms complete with lighting, special storage or other clever ideas, I think of them as diva or Hollywood closets. And I’m always fascinated by the special features. In Los Angeles, room-size closets are more or less standard for actors, entertainers and fashion folk. After all, a system is needed when options include 300 pairs of shoes.

On an episode of the Rachel Zoe Project reality series, Hollywood star stylist RZ invited Olympic skater Johnny Weir to come play in her closet. Have we seen that yet? I don’t think so but perhaps I’ve missed that or the best is yet to come.

In L.A., Lori Dennis, designer and author of the book “Green Interior Design” (Allworth Press, $24.95), created a spectacular closet in a handsome modern home in the Hollywood Hills. With all the hanging space on the room’s perimeter, it affords a 360-degree view of the contents. While drawers are low, the open shelf below is the perfect height for shoes. And the central skylight sure looks right for assessing how the color of a gown might play on the red carpet.

Front lighting is pro-studio-style for a makeup table.

Paris-based Alberto Pinto created this super luxe dressing room, complete with Fortuny light fixtures and mirrored doors, for a client in Brazil. The banks of drawers and cabinets hide everything on one side — see hints of clothing in the mirrors? But even with the open area this seems like the reverse of Dennis’ surround-sound approach.

This enormous closet, complete with aisles, and superb lighting in the hanging areas, was created for Mariah Carey by New York design icon Mario Buatta. Essentially, it provides the entertainer with a clothing store approach — complete with accessory shelves — to getting dressed.

(Source: Lori Dennis Design, Alberto Pinto, Architectural Digest)

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