Studio (or Penthouse) Walk-In Closet
My main clothing dilemma was that I never seemed to have any (sizable) built-in closet whenever I rented a new apartment. (Must not be on my top-ten list of deal-breakers, what with my rockin’ David Zyla capsule wardrobe that just keeps giving!)
Background
Want to know how I did it (as if it weren’t obvious)? Well, I was trying to hang a curtain over my cute, ornate, curved window because I could not be certain that no one in the not-too-close neighboring apartment high-rises could see me at night when my lights were on. When I found nothing except soft molding for the ceiling crown or iron behind the paint immediately below that (it’s complicated), I strained my brain (which I try to do regularly just for fun) and envisioned exactly what I needed for that small space (for a person who likes to actually see space in which to exercise, etc. after she has placed all of her furniture for the room): a slim set of strong poles – ahh, a clothing rack!
Ikea to the rescue (because these slender metal “frames” will be completely covered by this enchanting curtain I found on Amazon.com). Wherever you currently reside, you can find any sturdy rack (make sure it is Ikea or a trusted local brand as there are many cheap kinds which will be unsafe for this application) and delightful “3D printed curtains” for this purpose.
Step One
Simply construct the racks using the simple instructions and the few provided tools necessary, string your curtains across the tops, hang the clothing behind the curtains, and roll the racks almost to the wall. (If you really wanted to have some original fun and conserve even more space, especially of you’re single at the moment, you could even place a small cot or even Japanese sleeping mat behind the curtain (trust me, this is so cool) with a pile of pillows at the head and a thick, cozy blanket over you and sleep like a baby (behind the tall curtained clothing racks)!
Step Two and Other Uses
The racks from Ikea also have three strong bars at the bottom which can easily be converted into an office with a miniature computer “table” (which was particularly necessary during the lovely work-from-home phase) and small chair/stool at your feet (with a “shelf” for drinks beside that) and then another mini-shelf for books beside your head. The possibilities are (virtually) endless!
You can also use (light!) tidy storage boxes for sweaters and pajamas and place them on the bottom racks (behind the curtain). Then, even if you married later, you would be able to simply roll the racks further out and then unfold a day bed which would fit neatly behind the racks, or simply unfurl another Japanese sleeping mat for your mate if you’re a minimalist!
Oh, and those smaller items of clothing such as socks, etc.? Simply use one of those over-the-door pocket situations and hang it from a hanger at the end of the new closet (on the inside of the curtain)! This is so fun, discreet, and convenient!
Conclusion
Whether you live in a rooftop penthouse or a studio apartment, this is a delightful solution to make the most of that one room in a fun, discreet, and elegant way. It was thrilling to have this little “clothing cache,” sleep corner, and work station that was invisible behind the curtain (which expressed my personal colors and authentic vibe) to leave room on the other side for a proper sitting room!
But that is for a later post.
Tiny Breakfast Nook
Who doesn’t love a great breakfast nook? And yet, if you live in a penthouse studio or other charmingly petite space, you may think such luxuries are impractical or even impossible. If you are one of these people, or even if you live in a modern palace and crave a delightful breakfast nook that costs you almost no space, feel free to read about how to make one no matter what your choice of home style.
Step One
If you are single, you may get away with a mini refrigerator, in which case it can double as the “table.” Simply place it in the corner, angling it on the diagonal for a cool look and the feeling of extra room (and (almost) nothing should be flush with the wall anyway), and pop a cute place mat on top (these gorgeous, bamboo round mats that I have would be authentic if you’re one of David Zyla’s “Spring” personalities that he describes in his book Color Your Style, or find oval if you’re a version of “Winter,” square or diamond-shaped if you’re an “Autumn,” or rounded rectangle (or even a wavy shape if you can find it!) if your “jumping-off point” is one of the “Summer” archetypes).
Step Two
To enhance the feeling of an extra dining room here, you can place a small, appropriate rug that reflects your own colors and shape in front of the mini refrigerator (or in front of a small table if you have a large refrigerator in another location), with the front end of the refrigerator (or table) on the rug. You can add some personable (or minimalist, if that’s your vibe) wall art above the “table” as well!
Step Three
If you want to conserve even more space, or if you like angled shapes because they authentically reflect the lines in your own body, you can place a comfortable, convenient storage bench from Amazon.com beside the “table” (this one is nice if you are not using a mini refrigerator) angled in the most comfortable way for you. Conversely, if you’re a “Spring,” for example, you can find something like an adorable pouf on legs at Amazon.com, or possibly Etsy, or Chic Homz. (Being inclusive and helpful even if you live outside the U.S. or are traveling to see the pyramids of Egypt, in which case it is difficult to beat the huge, one-stop-for-all Hyper 1 superstore in the 6th-of-October neighborhood of Cairo, but you should use Uber to travel there from your hotel.)
Note: If you do order “cash on delivery” from Amazon.eg while visiting Egypt, please ensure any package(s) delivered to you actually have a paper with your name and the order number attached to them, that you have actually ordered the item(s) inside, and that they cost what the driver is requesting. I’ve had some nice drivers who actually paid for me until I could withdraw more cash (very gentlemanly for an avid Amazon customer like myself), and others who over-charged me, whether that was from Amazon.eg or from the drivers, who knows?
I say “pouf on legs” because the elevated style adds the illusion of a larger area. However, the tooled leather poufs that you can find at many international bazaars (including Khan El-Khalili in the Hussein area of Cairo, again, via Uber and preferably with a native guide that you know and trust) and fill with winter clothing and/or blankets would be especially youthful and adventurous, and would allow you to save even more space (though I prefer to randomly add those in the living room/seating area for an inviting ambience). (Wow! I didn’t intend for this to become a travel blurb, but I do love to discover and share new places!)
Conclusion
There! Simply arrange some cute pillows like this round one for Spring types (or square in the appropriate color if you’re Autumn or Winter, etc.) on your seat of choice in the corner, and you have that cozy, charming breakfast nook for intimate Saturday brunches or inspiring (depending on your wall art or reading material) early-bird week-day bites. How fun is this?
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