Transform Your Closet: Expert Interior Design Tips

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dear Alice | Interior Design

Episode: Transform Your Closet: Expert Interior Design Tips
Date: March 12, 2026
Hosts: Jessica Bennett, Suzanne Hall (Alice Lane Interior Design), with Alison and Corey

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Dear Alice dives into the art and science of transforming a closet—no matter the size. The hosts unpack their expert tips for both small organizational upgrades and dream-level custom remodels, blending practical advice with their signature wit. From taking inventory of your wardrobe to creating boutique-worthy dressing rooms, this is the ultimate primer for elevating the most personal room in your home.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Importance of the Closet in Home Design

• Closets have taken a central place in modern home desirability, often considered alongside kitchens and bathrooms for real estate value.
• The hosts emphasize that making even a tiny closet beautiful can change how you start and finish your day.
  • "Closets matter." (Alison, 02:35)
• Creating a beautiful ritual around your closet can boost confidence and joy.

2. Start Small: Easy Closet Updates

• Inventory and Purge:
  • Go through everything in your closet and keep only what you love.
  • Host tip: Try-on parties with friends, music, and honest feedback make purging fun and invigorating.
    • "You're going to get a glass of wine, put on great music, and act like it's your runway... That's such a fun ritual to jump-start who you are." (Alison, 03:16)
• Measuring Needs:
  • Separate clothing into 'long hang' (dresses, coats) and 'short hang' (shirts, jackets).
  • Start to mentally allocate space, especially if planning a remodel.

3. Functional Design for Custom Closets

• Layering for Tall Ceilings:
  • Consider a third rod or shelf for seasonal/occasional items, but be wary of wasted ‘dead corners.’
• Step Stools and Accessibility:
  • The Odette stool is recommended for high shelves—safe, stable, and multipurpose.
    • "You can get up there if you have the Odette stool—it's stable and it's not scary." (Host, 08:32)
• Cubbies & Organization:
  • Fold knits and denim, use cubbies strategically, and hang only items that need it.

4. Aesthetics & Boutique Vibes

• Uniform Hangers:
  • Thin velvet hangers look streamlined and keep clothes in place. Organize garments light to dark, all facing the same direction:
    • "If you'll just orient everything in the same direction and light to dark, it suddenly feels like a boutique in there." (Host, 11:44)
• Mirrors:
  • Mandatory for style-checks and reflect more light.
  • Creative solutions: mirrored sliding doors, mirrored backs of doors, or mirrored panels behind shelves.
    • "Anytime that we can add mirror, it just makes the experience so much more glamorous." (Alison, 14:53)
  • Example: Transforming an attic with mirrored walls and clever closet systems (15:58–17:44).

5. Hardware, Lighting, and Personal Touches

• Upgrade Knobs & Pulls:
  • Swapping standard closet system hardware for decorative options instantly elevates the feel.
    • "You can upgrade those and do great pulls, and I think that makes it feel so much more elevated." (Alison, 20:07)
• Lighting:
  • Tech lighting (hidden LED channels) creates a luxury boutique vibe.
    • "Everything glows and looks like heaven has shown its beams." (Alison, 21:18)
  • For men’s closets, repetition of focused lighting adds masculine order.

6. Islands & Peninsulas: The Centerpiece of the Dream Closet

• Purpose:
  • Islands provide storage (drawers, hampers) and a surface for folding, packing, or organizing accessories.
  • Peninsulas offer similar function but save floor space.
    • "If you have the room to have an island or a peninsula... there’s just something lovely about having a surface." (Alison, 23:19)
• Special Features:
  • Consider a luggage alcove or lowered section for packing, especially if you travel often (27:20–28:13).

7. Open vs. Closed Storage

• Glass Doors:
  • Fashion-forward trend: glass doors for select areas like folded items, maintaining a dust-free, elegant display.
    • "People have been requesting closed or glass. They’re loving the look of glass doors." (Alison, 29:02)
• Practicality:
  • Open storage for ease, closed (solid or mirrored) for tidiness, especially in shared closets.

8. Shelving & Adjustability

• Adjustable Shelves:
  • Flexibility to accommodate evolving shoe/boot types—don’t overdo pin holes, keep it clean (32:09–33:09).

9. Seating in the Closet

• Chairs, benches, or ottomans are the ultimate luxury for dressing, shoe-changing, or even relaxing.
  • "There’s nothing more luxy than that... Not only to eat your cake, but to have a spot to sit down, put on your shoes, to take off your hosiery..." (Alison, 33:31)

10. Appliances & Finishing Touches

• Washer/Dryer & Steamers:
  • If feasible, include laundry appliances—a game-changer for efficiency.
  • LG dry cleaning and steaming appliances are top recommendations (35:38–36:01).
  • "LG is the one that our appliance experts recommend the most." (Alison, 35:55)

11. Favorite Organizational Tools

• Valet Rods:
  • Slim, telescoping rods for staging outfits, indispensable for travel or daily planning.
    • "It just looks like a little ball... you’re able to pull that out, put your outfits together—it's just so nice." (Host, 36:24)
• Hooks:
  • An alternative to valet rods for outfit prep in smaller spaces.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Closet Rituals:
  • "If it's decorated in such a way that it feels like you and feels like something you would wear, then it becomes really exciting to be in." (Alison, 01:22)
• On Organizing:
  • "I like getting rid of stuff. Look at all those gaps—now I need more of the thing that I want." (Alison, 04:29)
• On Hanger Orientation:
  • "It's tits to the left!" (Alison, 11:37)
    (With Corey joking: "My mom doesn't listen to this, I'll say it." 11:41)
• On Dream Closets:
  • "The closet today, and the closet we're talking about is a dream space. It's fun to talk about how the other half live and what the dream is." (Host, 30:14)
• On Adding Mirrors:
  • "Anytime we can add mirror, it just feels fresh and it feels clean." (Alison, 14:53)

---

Section Timestamps

• [00:00–02:05] Introduction & importance of closets
• [02:49–06:34] Inventory, try-on parties, purging, emotional aspects
• [06:34–08:04] Measuring for long/short hang and planning storage
• [08:04–09:52] Maximizing vertical space, accessibility, stools
• [10:02–12:11] Reimagining cubbies, correct use of hangers, color organization
• [12:11–18:16] Mirror strategies, hotel vs. home, case study (Tan France's closet)
• [20:07–23:00] Hardware, lighting, and easy decorative updates
• [23:00–28:13] Islands, peninsulas, packing alcoves, and laundry systems
• [29:02–33:09] Open vs. closed storage, glass doors, adjustable shelving
• [33:13–34:48] Seating in the closet, maximizing luxury and comfort
• [34:55–36:09] Closet appliances (LG steamer/dry cleaner, washer/dryer)
• [36:21–37:52] Valet rods and hooks for outfit staging
• [37:56–38:59] Wrap up: calls to action & closing remarks

---

Final Tips

• "Every square inch counts in the closet." (Host, 09:54)
• Start with inventory and organization before investing in upgrades.
• Add mirrors, great lighting, and hardware for instant glam.
• Even the smallest closets can become a source of beauty, joy, and efficiency.

---

To connect with Alice Lane Interior Design or shop their suggestions:

• Website: alicelanehome.com
• Podcast discount code: Dear Alice 15 (15% off)

---

This summary brings together all the top tips and insider insights from the episode, perfect for anyone looking to make their closet a dream space—big or small!

Transcript

[Alison]

Hi everyone.

[Host]

Welcome to Dear Alice. Today we are doing another one of our transform. Your series today is all about the closet. We've done a transform your kitchen, your bathroom, your bedroom. For some reason you guys are loving these. So we're going to keep it going with transform your closet today. We're going to start with some of the easy things that all of us can do to our closet to transform it and then we're going to get into more the deep end. If you're going to be undergoing a closet renovation or if you're doing a new build, some of those tricks, we just want to pay all of this forward. But in the beginning we want to start kind of light because we don't want to exclude any of us that maybe aren't going to undergo a closet closet transformation, but want to construction make it great.

[Alison]

Yep.

[Host]

Yeah. So I think a real hallmark of Alid has been closets.

[Alison]

I like to think so.

[Host]

Right?

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Host]

I think we started kind of, kind of early on working with some influencers which were really known for closets. And this is when we started seeing the closet become the size of primary bedrooms and real true, hard working dressing rooms, if you will. And we've just been able to give them personalities and really a ton of functions. And it's become the dream of so many to get to do this.

[Alison]

And the fun thing is when we talk to real estate experts and things, people look at the closet. People are looking at the primary closet when they're like considering homes. If it has everything, it's the kitchen, it's a primary bath and it's the closet making sure, is this something that they're going to have to undergo or did the previous owner grab that guest bedroom adjacent to my bedroom and create a really great closet situation? So anyway, we know it's important and everybody has them. So regardless of how small or big your closet is, I think this is going to be really, really fun to hopefully help you just enjoy the beauty that can become your closet. I think a lot of times we're like, okay, this is just a space, you know, and it's just, it feels like a chore cuz that's where you're folding your laundry and that's where you're putting it away. But if it's decorated in such a way that it feels like you and feels like something you would wear, then it becomes really exciting to be in. And so that's what we get to dive into today.

[Host]

Yeah, and, and what a fun way to start your day in a beautiful Ritual. Right. Of a beautiful dressing room or closet or even your tiny one, if there's a beautiful ritual to it and ending your day that way too. I just feel like you'd feel so put together in your brain.

[Alison]

I like that you said ritual because I do think that that is part of our rhythms of how we begin and we end our days. And if it is beautiful, even if you employ just one of these things, it won't be so much more enjoyable. Yeah, that part of your day.

[Host]

And yeah, closets matter.

[Alison]

Closets matter.

[Host]

Yes.

[Alison]

Cross stitch that.

[Host]

Okay, so let's get into it for the closet. So first steps. These are the small upd dates that you can make for this. Suze, you had a couple tips with taking inventory of your own, of your own things.

[Alison]

I think so. And I think this is like whether you're going to be doing big one or just your small one. I think it's fun to just take inventory of what is going in your closet and make sure you love everything that's going to go inside your closet. I think as you, as we talk to people and we're trying to identify their style and this North Star, we ask them what are your favorite things and what I qualify those favorite things are and is things that, yeah, you could have just bought it, but also things that you've had that have never been cut when you've gone through, okay, I can look at my closet and be like, I've had you for a long time but I love you. So that says something about that piece and something that my eyeballs and my body loves about that piece. And so I think when you look at those things, it will help you make other decisions and be really confident on what you're going to be putting in your closet that you're, you love everything in there. So tonight go through your closet, have one of your girlfriends come over. I think it was, was it. Oh gosh. Amy Paul on Good Hang. She had a guest on Gosh Dang it. It was the I love LA girl and they said that they have these try on parties. She's just like. And whether you're with your by yourself, if you're not comfortable around other people, it's good to just do it by yourself cuz you might be embarrassed. But if you do have a close friend or someone that can come over, it's so fun. You're gonna get a glass of wine, you're gonna put on some great music and you're gonna act like it's your Runway and you're Gonna try things on and y' all are gonna be like abruptly honest with each other and be like, that's got to go. Toss it. Keep that one. You look smoking. That's such a fun. Again. Ritual to again kind of jump start who you are and who you want to be. What holds you have in your wardrobe.

[Host]

Gosh.

[Alison]

I look smoking hot in that dress. I'm the most beautiful woman in the world. I need more of that style. Yes. It's just such a confidence builder. And you'll be more confident in your decision making.

[Host]

I love that.

[Corey]

And make room for new things.

[Host]

Yes.

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Alison]

Which is my favorite. I love getting rid of stuff. Yeah. Because then I'm just like, look at all those gaps. Now I need more of the thing that I want.

[Host]

Somebody was saying about the. The new year that actually. The shedding of the snake.

[Corey]

Yes.

[Alison]

Y.

[Host]

That that actually is just barely ending.

[Corey]

February 17th is like technically when the new. Yeah.

[Host]

Less than a month ago. The year the horse started. So we're saying it's okay if you're still shedding a little bit. Shut off that old closet and make way for the year of the fire horse.

[Corey]

Y Confidence.

[Host]

Confidently walk into that new situation in all your best fits. Your closet will make you so happy. If you don't have all of that. That dead weight in there just taking up space and confusing you.

[Corey]

And we all have that stuff. I mean, I can think of things right now that I just go past every single day. And I never wear it because I don't get stoked about it.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Corey]

So I should really just.

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Corey]

Throw that away. I'm not stoked.

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Corey]

Get something else.

[Host]

Like you said, you have somebody to give it to. Like I have a sister in law I give a lot of things to or my daughters. And they love it. Then I don't feel so bad about getting rid of it or I donate it to the DI here in Utah. But there's something about giving it to somebody in real life that's so stoked for your bags.

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Host]

It makes it a little bit easier to shed that skin.

[Alison]

I'm always when I would try on stuff for him and should I keep this shirt? He's just like, yeah, it's a fine shirt. It's whatever. But it's not your last shirt. You're going to get a new shirt that you're going to like better get rid of it. Freed me.

[Corey]

That's permission for you.

[Alison]

Yes, exactly. Exactly. It's. Okay. Good.

[Host]

I like inventory.

[Alison]

So you're going to do that and Then when you are say you. I don't know if we don't want to probably go deep into the things. But the other good thing about getting your inventory is you understand how many shoes you have, how many dresses you have. Things that are long hang, things that are short hang, things that should be folded, that maybe weren't folded before. When you do plan on going to, you know, into construction mode, you can start to anticipate, I love a dress, I'm going to need a lot of long hang. And so then you can start to reallocate that. We'll get into that a little bit more later. But anyway. But it is good to just start taking inventory and it's kind of fun to count your shoes.

[Host]

I think so too. And you can also sort of reimagine, I mean, when we're getting ready to work with clients on a brand new closet, we do have them measure their long hang. That's, that's the long dresses. They need to take up both the top space and the bottom space of that vertical line.

[Corey]

So you measure the width of it. Okay.

[Alison]

Linear feet.

[Host]

Basically most people need short hang. A lot of shorthang very. Unless you're wearing a lot of gowns. In Texas, there's a lot of long hang because they go to, it's high society and they have a lot of places to wear long gowns too. But most people are going to have short hang in their closets. So you would say give me the linear feet of your long hang. We're going to, we're going to solve for that in the closet. It's really pretty to have a long line as well. And those are usually really beautiful things to look at. So that could be a really pretty vantage point.

[Corey]

Do you leave room for expansion?

[Alison]

You know what clients will tell us? I have this, but I want to 2x this or I want to 5x this. Understand your goals again, when you inventory, you're going to start to understand them. And a lot of them are like I'm a Dior gal and I have so many of this one thing and that will continue to be the case. So you know, 2, 3x that because that's what I'm going to need.

[Host]

Speaking of expansion of the closet, there's also which we've already said we don't love but there's that third layer up top. So if you have a really tall ceiling, we're doing this in a new build right now where you will have the rod that you can put pull down and get that short hang one More layer of it. And that's usually going to be like your seasonal items. Maybe it's your swimsuits or your ski coats or something like that. We want that third tier. But you don't need to access it on the daily.

[Corey]

I have that. And it's like stuff. Yeah. Like maybe like small like luggage and things that we have and hats that I never wear. I don't have the pull down thing, but. So this is maybe a good spot to bring this up in like the small updates.

[Alison]

Yeah, yeah.

[Corey]

But I have an Odette that I use Odette still. It's one of our products. Go check it out. Alanhome.com But I have. And I use it all the time just to get up in that area because I took the cabinetry all the way to the ceiling, which you should.

[Host]

What's your ceiling height?

[Corey]

Nine feet.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Corey]

There. So.

[Host]

And you're not nine feet tall.

[Corey]

I am not. Yeah.

[Host]

But you can get up there if you have the Odette stool.

[Corey]

Exactly.

[Host]

Stable and it's not scary. And you know what else is great about the Odette is you can sit on it and pull your boots on.

[Corey]

I do it all the time.

[Host]

Yeah. Yeah, it's great. And you can hide your slippers under it. I do that too.

[Corey]

I don't do that. Yeah, it's amazing.

[Host]

I love the Odette.

[Alison]

I will say one thing about that third. That third level, like the third party bus. Right. Is that I. If they don't have to have it, I don't love it.

[Corey]

Okay.

[Alison]

Because I'd rather have an Odette. Have the third level.

[Host]

Because the third level, that's shelves.

[Alison]

Yeah. First option. Third level that shelves. Something like display. Brad bags or you know, just things that are actually pretty. Again, you don't need to access all the time. But it just looks lovely and it's a little crown for all your clothes. When people do need that third level, the thing that they don't consider is that they can't use the dead corners. So in every closet, like usually have a few corners that become dead corners. If you have a pull down bar. And when I say dead corners, we'd usually like take all your corners. Yes. Those inside corners where you can have neighboring cabinets meet up with each other. I could have a shoe shelf and then I could still access that short hang or long hang on that dead corner that's perpendicular to the shoe shelf. But the dead corner becomes obsolete if you're using those systems up high. So.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Alison]

Anyway. Just a little.

[Host]

Yeah, that's practical.

[Alison]

Okay.

[Host]

Every Square inch counts in the closet.

[Alison]

It really does.

[Host]

I mean, for most of us listening to this podcast and talking on it, we need every square inch, right? Yeah. That's great.

[Alison]

Yep. Okay.

[Host]

Okay. So you've taken inventory. We know your long hang, your short hang. Some of you can't do anything to change your situation. Some of you might be able to make updates. And I even think reorganizing the closet, maybe in your cubbies, you're gonna stack your denim, or you're going to be like, you know what? I've heard that I should not be hanging sweaters. Knits should be folded. I learned this from Tan France when we did his closet. He's like, knits should be folded. And I'm like, mine are all hanging on probably wire hangers, where they're really gonna get unraveled. So maybe you're gonna use those cubbies instead of. I don't know what's in them right now, bags or shoes. Maybe you're going to stack all your sweaters, all your denim, and then you're going to gain that space for short hang or long hang and really make sense of that. And while we're talking hanging, we've had closet experts come on before. Their favorite hanger is the thin velvet hanger.

[Alison]

Amen.

[Host]

I like the black one. Have you guys used anything?

[Alison]

I use kind of like a warm gray.

[Host]

Okay.

[Alison]

Just a little bit lighter.

[Host]

I have big, beautiful coat hangers, and I was putting a dress on one, and it was. My dress was slipping off of it because it was a silkier fabric. But those velvet ones just keep everything gripped on. And then as you're pulling things in and out, they stay the way they are. They don't take up any space. And while you're hanging things up, if you will hang them light to dark and have everything facing the same direction. Have the chest face the left, all your T shirts or the right, whatever you decide. And then, same thing with your dresses. Go light to dark. Make sure the patterns are all in with that. And then you're going to have the chest face the left on all of it. Something about having all the directions say,

[Alison]

it's tits to the left.

[Corey]

It's in the left. Yeah, I know.

[Host]

My mom was listening, so I said the chest.

[Corey]

Yeah, it's okay. My mom doesn't listen to this. I'll say it.

[Host]

Yeah, it's more catchy to say that, but, yeah, if you'll. If you'll just orient everything in the same direction. And light to dark, it suddenly feels like a boutique in there.

[Alison]

These are like my Prada.

[Host]

You are Prada now. Yeah. And then getting those cubbies reimagining the way that you're currently organ. And even when you stack those sweaters, starting with the dark ones and then heading up to the light ones, it just feels so chic and beautiful. Those are little tiny updates that you can make right now.

[Alison]

I love that small closet. Big closet is mirrors. I think mirrors are such a great way to update a closet in whatever asset you're in.

[Corey]

It's a mandatory. You have to. Are you just. You're guessing going out?

[Alison]

You know, I know you guys. I just stayed at three hotel. Three different cities in three weeks. Not one of those spaces had a floor mirror.

[Corey]

Oh, man. You got to stand on the bathtub guessing.

[Alison]

I know it's awkward. It's dangerous.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Alison]

I didn't feel safe anyway. But I didn't have a single floor mirror. So in your own space, whether you have beautiful floor mirror in your room like adjacent your closet or if it's in your closet, high five to you. Some of us don't have a lot of space in my little house. As I rethink how and right now, again, we haven't even touched my closets yet. I'm on the slow dance of house building. Right. But when I think about it, what I'm going to do is I'm going to make my doors mirror. I'm doing really, really cool. So I can free up my wall space or art. But I think even in the closets where we have a full room, it's really, really great. Those if you have like an actual room for your closet to actually have some of those sliding doors to cover up, maybe the not cute long hang and have those be faced with mirror. I think that's a really, really, really smart thing to do.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Alison]

And we actually have some pictures on here. We have a picture of our Manchester house. And again, I love the the scale of this closet. I think it's so great. And we didn't play this trick of having this door and it's here on the left. We're going to put some additional images up here just so you can see that one door that was on a slide that you could move access what's behind there. So again, it's not swinging out, it's not occupying real estate that way. But there is that reflection and it's bouncing light around and you can always see what you're wearing. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

[Host]

What's the correct terminology? When the door is on is it a glide, a track. So the door usually will use something like that in a pocket door, but you can do this in a closet on cabinetry.

[Corey]

Yep.

[Host]

By doing a track.

[Corey]

Same thing.

[Host]

And the track can either it will slide behind the doors, will slide behind each other to make one door, or they can come out and make multiple doors.

[Alison]

Yes.

[Host]

If they're on a track. So we love this to get a full length mirror in the closet, but it's also functioning as a door and it's hiding the long hang or short hang behind it.

[Alison]

Absolutely. And on theirs, we just did one. We didn't have two that were interlocking. We just had one that could act as a floor mirror. It worked out so beautifully and. But I think even like this one is a door, you can do that. Your actual doors open up into a closet. If it's some small one, I think that that's a great upgrade. If you have a shoe shelf, I love it when I see like antique mirror or mirror happening behind there. That's cool too. Anytime that we can add mirror, it just makes the experience so much more glamorous and. And just sparkly. And it feels fresh and it feels clean. I agree.

[Host]

One, One little easy tip for those of you guys at home that have maybe a walk in closet like I do, I share one with my husband. And on the back of our closet door we have. We've covered that whole thing in mirror. So that might be something that you can do too. What's nice about it is for me, my bedroom has my bathroom in between my closet. My bedroom. I do have a floor mirror all the way in my bedroom. But if I want to figure out my shoes, I'm closing that closet door and I'm just looking at it while I'm getting ready. So it's nice to have a floor mirror right there in the closet. And if you don't already have a mirror on the back of your door, that's an easy update that you can make right now. I love that we did 10 Francis in his last home, we took his attic and turned it into his closet. He had been collecting clothes and needed more space. I think he was occupying his own plus the guest bedrooms and just needed more space. And so this attic, it's all pitches. The ceiling, I think the wall heights were only two feet off the ground. Two, two or maybe maybe four feet on the other side. But most of it is just ceiling pitches. And so there's not much room to hang clothing. So we had to get really creative here.

[Alison]

Or a floor mirror.

[Host]

There's nowhere to put a floor mirror. So we got creative here. On the ascent up to the closet, we took the stair landing all the way up to the first pitch and totally covered it in mirrors with brass linings to get this really beautiful effect, if you're looking at it. And then we were able to create closet system coming off the wall and gave us a little bit more height in there, but it gave us lots of room for shoe shelves. And then it gave us room for one long. Two really long runs of short hang for all of his leather jackets and denim and suits. And it was so handsome. So a really fun way to use space. If you're needing more closet space and you have a tricky attic, this is a fun one to look at and to see how to really lean into it. He also has a really great valet area underneath the window. Who wouldn't want this to. Just the colognes and just all of the extra, you know, what do you call them? Cufflinks. And all of the extra things that men have to get dressed.

[Alison]

And a window seat on the other end, which is so beautiful. This is a great lesson in what's perceived as unoccupiable space. Yeah. How it can be utilized.

[Host]

Yes.

[Alison]

We did such a good job. And the mirror just made that space feel like 10 times its size.

[Host]

Yes.

[Corey]

So.

[Alison]

And again, just as glamorous as he

[Host]

is, one other tip in this is a wallpapered space, because we wallpapered all of the ceilings and the walls alike. It made the ceiling pitches feel like walls. It also gave it this sort of circus tent effect because you get all these diagonal stripes, which felt like men's fashion. And it also felt so British. And I just felt like it was so on the nose for tan. His favorite color is green. It just made it feel like an experience going up there. It didn't feel like an old attic space, but rather a fashion pocket square outfit moment for just for tan.

[Alison]

Yeah. It was my favorite space in his whole house.

[Host]

Me too.

[Alison]

Yeah. And so I'm just like, isn't that fun? That a little hidden gem. Those that are invited to come up get to see this. So anyway, you know, you'd go up

[Host]

there more than just to plan an outfit. You be like, I'm going to sit

[Alison]

on that little doom scroll up there. Sure.

[Host]

I want to be in that space. It's so good.

[Alison]

Yeah. And again, it reflects when you do on the mirror trick, it reflects whatever's in front of us. So if you have a great chandelier like make sure that whatever it is reflecting is beautiful.

[Host]

Yes. So good point.

[Alison]

But, yeah, mirror is, I think, one of the best tips that anybody can employ in their closet.

[Host]

So no matter where you are on your closet journey. Yeah.

[Alison]

Jess, I just got a new comforter from Cozy Earth and it is my favorite new thing. You know how much I love to get into my bed at the end of the day. I am tired.

[Host]

Yes.

[Alison]

And their comforter, like, everything that they do is cool. It's like a cloud. And like when I put it on myself at the end of the day, it's just like it's perfectly like regulating. But the temperature for not only me, but for Tom as well. Like, it is the perfect weight and it looks so pretty. The construction on it is perfect. The stitching's lovely. And I just, I cannot tell enough people about this and I want to give it to all my friends and family.

[Host]

Oh, I love that. You know what's great about Cozy Earth? I just feel like the quality is so great. I've never. I've never been disappointed in anything ever. The comfort, the hand, the drape. I know that this comforter is got to be the most beautiful thing. I cannot wait to see it in your bedroom. You got to show it to me tonight when I drop you off.

[Alison]

Okay. I'm so excited.

[Corey]

And every purchase from Cozy Earth is risk free because they have a. They have a 100. Sorry, I'm start that over. Every purchase from Cozy Earth is risk free because they have a. Every purchase from Cozy Earth is risk free because they have a 100 night sleep trial. Try them for yourself. Every detail is designed to feel effortlessly comfortable. Returns are easy, but after feeling this level of comfort, you won't want to let them go. They also come with a 10 year warranty. Discover how you can. Discover how. Sorry. Discover how care in every detail transforms simple routines into moments of true comfort and ease. Head to cozyearth.com and use our code Dear Alice for up to 20% off. That's code Dear Alice for up to 20 off. And if you get a post purchase survey, be sure to mention you heard about Cozy Earth right here. Experience the craft behind the comfort and make every day feel intentional.

[Alison]

A couple other little things that anybody can do is hardware updates and that is on your actual. Your poles, your knobs. We're doing a home in Boston and we're on some of the secondary closets. We're having Closet System company come in and do the closets and it's been fun to kind of reimagine like, what could the hardware be? Because they have their certain set of hardware that you can do, which we have done in some. Not as important, but you can upgrade those and do great polls. And I think that that makes it feel so much more elevated. And even in, like, her little girl's closet, we had some extra slab remnant. And we're like, we should just use that on this one little part and just make it feel more lovely than it was. So anyway, there's always ways. And we've done a couple of homes where we've done the closet system, even in a primary closet, and you just have to learn how to dress it up. And that's with hardware, with lighting, with mirror, and with carpet.

[Corey]

Little side note on the slab thing, most manufacturers or countertop installers you five. If you use four and a half, they're charging you for five.

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Corey]

So if you're building, find a spot to use that extra half. I think that's a great.

[Alison]

Yeah, yeah. And we asked you, he was like, well, how much is that going to cost? We asked the builder. He's just like, $600. For $600, your daughter can have a gorgeous slab. Matches her bathroom. Yeah. Going to do it.

[Corey]

That's right.

[Alison]

It's amazing. So anyway, such a hot tip. I think in addition to hardware, beautiful light fixtures, we are doing a lot of tech lighting. And so that's the glowy light that you see when you're in a. You know, in Tom Ford, when you're Indy, or when you see kind of hidden channels that are just making everything glow and look like heaven has shown its beams.

[Host]

If you're watching on the screen right now, we have a men's closet that we did in Dallas.

[Alison]

And.

[Host]

And this has the tech lighting that's underneath the cabinet shelves that shines down on the shoes. You can't see the light source, but you're like, whoa, this is a department store full of all my favorite things. That is my closet. And then same thing. Underneath the shirts and the ties and the pants, you have that thin light of recessed lighting that's in that channel. And it just looks so good. You don't even want to turn on any overhead lights. You just see all of your clothes, like, glowing. It's so beautiful.

[Alison]

One fun thing that we've been doing in some recent projects, for most women's closets, they'll have, like an island or peninsula that we're kind of dropping one kind of grand lighting moment, a really beautiful chandelier. Something that feels expressive in A lot of men's closets, we're doing this kind of glowy lighting in both. But in men's closets, they love this. And instead of, like, one fixture, there's a really fun thing about repetition. So we've been doing, you know, those monopoints. It gives a focus. It's not just a can doing just like, two, two, two. And you kind of have a really organized rhythm that feels like, very masculine, very clean and edited. And I really love that look, too.

[Host]

Oh, yeah. So it looks like you're in a Tom Ford store, so.

[Alison]

So don't disregard the decoration in a closet, you know, so.

[Host]

Yeah. And a quick update for any of you to make that are feeling a little tired of your closet.

[Alison]

Exactly. Yeah.

[Host]

Start with new hardware this month, you know, and then move to new lighting.

[Alison]

Okay. And if you are so lucky to have an island when you are doing your closet. Let's talk about islands, because I found, like, if you have the room to have an island or a peninsula, your closet, it feels so much more. I don't know, there's just, like, something so lovely about having a surface.

[Host]

Gosh.

[Alison]

The island is usually where you have small drawers that have your accessories. We do a lot in. Most islands usually employs, like, some type of hamper system storage in the closets that we're designing, but also drawers. You can just make it look like a handsome bachelor chest.

[Host]

Yes.

[Alison]

In the center, which I think is really, really fantastic.

[Host]

This is where you hide all of your underwear, your socks, your hosiery, your pajamas, all of those things that, of course, won't be hung. I think it's great that. That you have a set of multiple sets of drawers for all of these things. It's. Let's be honest, it's a room full of storage. And so some things you want hidden, other things are okay to be out. And this is all of the delicates and the hidden things.

[Alison]

Yeah, yeah. And the fun thing, the island's awesome because you get to go all the way around it. Lately, I have been doing more peninsulas just because it gives me more room around to just, like, maybe have a chair or an ottoman or something and, like, widen my pathways a little bit more to have that Odette step stool and things like that. You have a peninsula. Yeah. Which I think is a really good use of space.

[Host]

So for those of you that might not know what we're talking about. So the peninsula is in it. Like, it's an attached island. So it's attached to one wall. So for my closet, um, my Whole side is on the left. There's a peninsula in the middle, so an attached island. And then my husband's stuff is all on the right side. And on top of that peninsula, we ran a mirror from the slab all the way up to the ceiling. So that's a spot where I could put on a necklace or. And our. In our dresser's drawers are. They're sideways so mine faces my clothes. His face is his clothes. We share a top. It's a great space to fold laundry to, you know, put jewelry on to. It's just really nice to have to pack to purchase. Yeah, yeah. You could throw your suitcase up there and pack. It's as good as an island. It's just attached so you get more floor space to. To do more things. And I feel like you're always. For normal people, we're more limited in our closet space. I know in some of the large dressing rooms today, they're not as limited, but for most of us, square footage is a premium.

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Corey]

If someone's like on the fence, if they have enough room for an island, like is what's the measurement for walkway? Like around it or what do you recommend?

[Alison]

Well, the minimum I still think is three feet. And again, that's. Oh, okay. And I'm gonna say one thing really fast while we're like thinking about looking top down on your closet. Most architects don't only draw their cabinetry about 12 inches. You need to cows a hanger.

[Host]

Oh, yeah.

[Alison]

You want like, we always adjust that and we draw it to be 24 inches deep. The hanger is about 18 inches, but you have the back of the cabinetry, the front face, that lighting channel that you're gonna do. So we just a lot 20, 24 inches from back to the front face of that closet.

[Host]

Nobody wants a hanger and a third of their clothes hanging out of their cabinetry.

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Host]

In a custom closet.

[Alison]

Messy central.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Alison]

No good.

[Corey]

So if you have a four foot island, your room needs to be 14ft wide because you got two, three, four, three, two.

[Alison]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Corey]

Okay.

[Alison]

And we have done long skinnies, but sometimes it's when I see that I'm just, we should entertain a peninsula because then we just have like a tiny little sliver and then we have all this pathway and it's just kind of wasted space.

[Corey]

It's like more in the way than useful.

[Alison]

Exactly.

[Host]

It's a really, really small island unto itself where a peninsula could look grander. And you do want that generous feel because you've worked on everything else. You've got custom cabinetry, custom lighting. Right slabs going in there. So yeah, you want to be able to create the illusion of grand for that. Speaking of grand, we've got an island on the screen right now. This is a little trick we wanted to pay forward to you, some of you, if you are going to undergo a closet renovation or working on a new home. And this was a request of our client and she's. She would go on probably two or three flights a week. So traveling was something that she had to do for her job. And she said, I need to be able to have my luggage stow under my island and I need to be able to have a shortened portion of my island where I can open up my luggage and then have it be the height of the rest of my island. So I could fold clothes on the island and then pack right into it. So this was our solution. What's on the screen right now? You can see the little alcove where she stored her carry on luggage. And then you can see that portion of the island that dipped down lower so she could open that luggage up to quickly pack. And she had a system, which was amazing. While we're on here, we'll mention at the end of the podcast, she also was one of the first clients that we did that dry cleaning machine for.

[Corey]

Those things are so rad.

[Alison]

The lg?

[Corey]

Yeah.

[Host]

Because she says as soon as she would get off her flight and get home, she would always fly in a blazer because she was cold. She would take the blazer off anything on the outside and she would put it on the hanger, put it right in the LG machine and let that get dry cleaned. And then she would walk into her closet to dismantle all of her packing. Like she had a system down.

[Corey]

That's cool.

[Host]

So if this sounds like your life where you travel a lot and you don't want to put your luggage up on that third shelf like you and I both have, but we have the Odette to get it up and down. Then you want it on the main floor so it's easy access in and out. And this system worked out great.

[Alison]

We're usually finding somewhere that is lower because people are just traveling more. A lot of times we're talking to her and she's like, actually we're going to put luggage storage in my husband's. We're going to use his space, not take mine away. So yeah, that's also a key to take away so it is easier to grab. So going on a quick trip doesn't feel hard at that point.

[Host]

Okay, moving on from islands. So let's get into the drawers, the cabinets, and the shelving. When we're working with clients, they know generally if they're a closed storage person or if they're an open storage person. I myself am an open storage person. When I go into my closet, I just want to make decisions. I don't want to open up doors. I also don't have the luxury of a lot of space. So maybe if I did have a ton of clothes, maybe I would want those. Some things, clothes that I wasn't. They weren't going to use every day. What are you seeing right now with clients?

[Alison]

More now than ever, people have been requesting clothes or glass. They're loving the look of the glass doors.

[Host]

Huh.

[Alison]

Now it's not on everything. It's on, like, specific walls where it makes sense. So not everything is going to be behind for shoe shelves that's always open. Like, I think I've put doors on shoe shelves. It's mainly the things where they just like, want to let stuff that's folded. They don't want it to get dusty. Certain types of clothes, they. They just don't want to deal with the dust. And so with those clients, we are employing the doors more than not. So. And it just, again, it feels tucked away. It feels clean. Again. We just did one here in Orem, and it's shared. It's a large space, but it's shared between husband and wife. It's what saves their marriage because they don't have to get mad at each other because they have closed doors to basically hide away any mess that could potentially happen. So anyway, you know, you just ask yourself, would I want to have doors? Because I think you make a great point. Like when you go into a closet, when you go into your pantry, you're shopping. And so sometimes putting doors, it just like when we're already are so busy. We're so busy. Right. To have to open up doors, to then get those things out, to not have to close those doors, to then open up the next bay of doors. It's tricky.

[Host]

Also, though, we're talking about a dream space right now.

[Alison]

Yeah, yeah.

[Host]

And so my practical brain is saying one thing, but that's only because I have the normal closet that's not custom cabinetry even. And so we. I'm just used to the custom closet or the. The closet I have and the pantry I have where I don't want to have to open up all these trap doors to try and find out what I want to make for dinner or to figure out my outfit. But the closet today, and the closet we're talking about is a dream space, and the projects we're working on are the dream jobs. And so it's fun to talk about how the other half live and what the dream is. And right now, what the dream is for people is I love the idea of an airtight situation on my f clothes so I don't have to dust the shoulders off of my tuxedo. Am I right, Cory Place?

[Corey]

Absolutely.

[Host]

I don't like dusting those shoulders off. Yeah.

[Alison]

Another thing that you guys have probably seen on Pinterest and when you're in, like, luxury stores and things is when they have glass doors and so you can see everything hanging there. You see all the pretty clothes, but then they'll have, like, a couple drawers inside the glass, which is really cute. We have been doing that quite a

[Host]

bit for your long opera gloves.

[Alison]

Exactly. Thank you. And my scarves and, you know, all those things. So anyway, it's really fun. And if you have the luxury, having a big space and doing a dream closet, it's a really beautiful trick.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Alison]

So anyway, I love that they're usually, like, kind of set back, too, so you get, like, interesting dimensions of things that when you open it up, it just feels like treasure chests. And it's really, really fun. So anyway, there's so many details of when you want things exposed again. It just feels magical, like something special back there.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Alison]

So. So I love that. And then you can do the solid door or the mirror door if you just want, like, that utility and something just to hide maybe the not cute ski clothes or something that you're constantly using. So during that season.

[Host]

So, Suze, what's your take on the adjustable shoe shelf? Do you feel like in cabinetry that you're making it adjustable, or are you figuring out the inventory and then making fixed shelves for the way that they live and for their collections?

[Alison]

Young Suzanne would have said, oh, do it fixed. And then always looks beautiful. But I think how. With how fast fashion goes, even if you think you know yourself and you're like, I'm gonna be a ballet flat forever, there will be a season when you're gonna want to hear that tall boot. She's. She's smoking.

[Host]

I'm wearing wedges now.

[Alison]

Wearing wedges now. Anyway, I think the flexibility of having the adjustable. The adjustable shelves is really, really smart. And that's what we're usually specifying for shoes or even your sweaters and, like, those things it's just nice. Yeah. So, yeah, I would adjust.

[Corey]

Is it mostly like shelf pins or do you ever use cleats?

[Alison]

Cleats, not usually in the closet. It's not like a whole stream of just like.

[Corey]

That's my issue.

[Alison]

It's like a metal. Yeah, metal. Little, like, tab or whatever to hold that shelf. So anyway, that's just.

[Corey]

Don't do. Yeah. If you're going to do them, don't do them every two inches or whatever. I. I hate looking into cabinets like that.

[Alison]

Yeah. Because you're not going to be making that big of adjustments. Do like three in a row. Five at the max if you have a really tall system. But three in a row, I think is usually great.

[Corey]

That's awesome.

[Alison]

So, yeah.

[Host]

Let's talk about a place to sit in the closet.

[Alison]

Oh, snap.

[Host]

I also feel like that's like the

[Alison]

ultimate luxury, honestly, in any room. Weren't we just talking about this in a bathroom?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Alison]

If you had a chair in about. I think it was when we were doing a House of Flora.

[Host]

Yes.

[Corey]

All right.

[Alison]

Backtrack. Go listen to that. But she has a club chair in her bathroom. And I'm like, there's nothing more luxy. Yep. Than that. And I will say in the dream closet.

[Host]

Yes.

[Alison]

We are making sure that there's room for not only her to sit, but for him to sit, you know, or your partner to be able to, like, sit and wait for you. We had one client that she. She just wanted a place to eat cake at the end of the day and she would hide into her. Her small little closet now. But we, like, we're manifesting this dream of a big closet so that she could have her clothes and she could also go in and eat cake. Yes. So anyway, so I do think, like, not only to eat your cake, but to have a spot to sit down, put on your shoes, to take off your hosiery, to get the cowboy boots off.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Alison]

All those things.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Alison]

Like, it is just not.

[Host]

Those legs swell at the end of the day.

[Alison]

It doesn't.

[Host]

You gotta really pull hard.

[Alison]

Mama nieces sit down.

[Host]

She does. She'll fall over trying to get those things off.

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah. You need a chair.

[Alison]

It's dangerous.

[Host]

Yeah. And an occasional chair in a beautiful fabric just looks so great in a closet.

[Alison]

I love that it feels impractical, like, to put, like, a really pretty chair in a closet, but I love. Yeah, I love the ridiculousness of it. We do a lot of the actual benches, you know, underneath the window or, you know, if you don't need the dresser built in on the end of the island. We'll do that too, which is really, really smart and a good allocation of space. But if you can float something, even if you have that, if you can float a rad little ottoman or a cool stool or something that just has some personality, when I see that, I'm just like, go you. I love a chair. You need somewhere to sit.

[Host]

Agree.

[Alison]

So does he.

[Host]

Yes. So last thing before we go, let's pay forward any appliance mentions that our closets are loving today.

[Alison]

Inside their closet, put the washer and dryer in his. The stackable, you know, so that we can just do our own laundry in our own sphere and don't have to go to the laundry share with others. So I do think a washer and dryer is nice. If you have the ability to do that, you can have it nearby in your closet. Go you. Yeah. So I do think that that is really, really nice. I will say that the LG steamer is so great. And they have them in two different sizes. There's more and more companies that are coming out with them, but LG is the one that our appliance experts, they recommend the most. And like I think you can fit two or three articles of clothing in one and then four to five in the other one. So they're not big, they're. They're pretty narrow, they're slim. But they're really like just becoming a favorite appliance. Amazing ice machine of the closet.

[Host]

If you don't have to go get your clothes dry cleaned or just steam

[Corey]

them in the like I 10, that's 10 minutes I'd love to get back out of each day. You know, it's crazy.

[Host]

And LG makes a steamer as well and that's a separate appliance from the dry cleaning one. And we're also doing that in closets right now. Yeah. And have we heard back? Are people loving that? Yeah, I think that. I think everybody so great.

[Alison]

Yeah. Like everybody's loving it. It's so great.

[Host]

I would steam everything. My sheets would go in there.

[Corey]

That's a great idea.

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah. All the things. Well, any last tips or tricks that we need to pay forward on building the ultimate closet or even just little tips to up their own closets. Today we didn't talk about valet rods.

[Alison]

Oh. And I think we need to just tell the people what a valley rod.

[Host]

Yeah, Valley rod is a piece of hardware that telescopes out from the face of the cabinetry and it will live in a. What's the blank space between cabinetry, Corey.

[Corey]

It's like the top of the face frame.

[Host]

In the face frame. It will live there. And they're able to bore that in and it telescopes so it just looks like a little ball. And you're able to pull that out. And you've got a rod vertical. And then you're like putting all of your. Your outfits together that you're going to wear on your trip. Like, here's my swimsuit. Here's the COVID up. And you're kind of building those and then you're packing them and. And it's just so nice to have a valet rod. I think it's a favorite, favorite thing. I have something in my closet that I use all the time. I wish I had three of them now that I have one. So definitely do a valet ride.

[Corey]

I feel like that's one of those things that's not going to be very expensive, but something you don't see often and just. Yeah, very utilitarian.

[Host]

And actually, if you don't have the space for that right now or can't do it with whatever your situation is, at least go get yourself some cute hooks that you can hang in between sections. Because you can still build one outfit on a hook. You know, you could have your skirt behind, a jacket, your top in there. You could even hang your necklace on your. As you're putting outfits together or like trying to figure out what you're gonna wear tomorrow to be on your podcast. Like, you can build your own outfit. And so I even have a couple hooks in places where I do that trick with. And it's just great for outfit planning.

[Alison]

Yeah. So like, when you get the new dress, you get to hang it up.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Alison]

And like, I think I'm like, that's what I would do. I'm just like, oh, like, it's my new treasure. It's my new toy.

[Host]

I know. It is like artwork.

[Alison]

Yeah, it totally is.

[Host]

Yeah, I love that. That's a really good last tip.

[Alison]

Yeah.

[Host]

Well, you guys, thanks so much for tuning in for transform your closet. I hope this has been informational for you. It's always fun to dream and think about a space like this. We have an insider program. It's our online store and it's the best place to get and see what's new. You get to shop the sales before they start. You get to shop the launches before they start. You just get all the insider information. So you can sign up there@alice lanehome.com to become an insider. Also, if you guys want to shop the website. We have a special code for you right now, and that is Dear Alice 15. And it's going to give you the ability to save 15 off anything that you're purchasing. So thank you for being our besties and we want to pay that forward. If you guys have any episode ideas or questions, please send them to Dear [e-mail] we'd love it if you'd leave us a review. We read all of those. It makes our day and I think that's it.

[Alison]

Thanks for your friends.

[Host]

Yes, share us with your friends.

[Alison]

Still really want to be the number one design podcast in the world. We need your help, so please share it with your friends.

[Host]

Yes, we would love that. We'll see you guys next week. Hey, thanks for listening. If you like our show, please leave a five star rating.