Organized spaces are my actual LOVE LANGUAGE, so if you know me, you know it’s not weird that I’ve dreamed about this exact closet for years. I have planned this out in my head over and over, but I had to call in the big guns to turn my ideas into a reality. I’m FOREVER grateful to California Closets for helping design/curate/conjure up this space with everything I asked for and more: and now I get to give y’all the lowdown that you’ve been waiting for.

One of my must-have items on our “Forever Home Design” list, was having a separate closet from Tim. Tim would be the first to agree that he and I live on opposite ends of the “Organizational Spectrum” and after six+ years of sharing closet space, I realized that it would solve a lot of problems if we had our own space to do with as we please. This decision was a GAME CHANGER in the marriage department for someone like me who likes things put away–ha!–whereas Tim’s more of a “leave it where it falls” kinda man. Tim has a great Man Closet next to mine (with a door, so I can close it and not think about it if it’s super messy) and now we are thriving and living our best closet lives.

As far as overall feel, my closet maintains the same flow of the rest of our house with the warm wood floors (we used “Malibu” White Oak from Hallmark Floors), white walls (99% of my house, inside and outside is painted “Alabaster” from Sherwin Williams) and lots of natural light. Since it’s the only space in the house that’s exclusively “mine,¨ I used lighter finishes to make it feel more feminine than the rest of the dark hardware around the house. I picked the same “Roark” Circa Lighting chandelier as we have in our Great Room, except I chose the Natural Brass to match the hardware on my built-ins and got the 40″ size. It is farmhouse-y but also feels classy and it makes me SO happy every time I walk in the room.

Naturally, the main point of a closet is that it is functional, but I also wanted it to be comfortable and inviting. Tim thinks it’s INSANE that my closet has an island and always jokes that my closet is bigger than our children’s bedrooms (I’m not 100% sure whether or not that’s accurate information, but either way, I birthed them, and they don’t have jobs to pay rent so we’ll call it fair…). While I don’t necessarily disagree that having an island in a closet is a little bit extra, (technically it’s a peninsula, anyways) I LOVE it so so much and constantly use it to put away laundry or pack a suitcase. We also had an extra couple pieces of “Mont Blanc” Quartzite slab leftover from our kitchen counters, so I put them in my closet and now it’s my dream space that will withstand all the wear-and-tear from heavy suitcases etc. that get piled on top.

The real star of the show is where my clothes hang in sections so I can keep it all separate and categorized. My closet is heavy on denim (obviously), neutrals, vests, cowboy boots, and hats! SO. MANY. HATS. We actually put in a couple of glass doors for my hats and fancy purses, partly for display but also partly so the dust doesn’t settle on them. Honestly, it feels like a tiny Eva store full of all my favorite things.

Space planning is where I really spent a lot of time. As much as I love a pretty space, my #1 goal is to create a SUPER functional space with a spot for everything. This is where the designers at California Closets swooped-in and made it come together. I met at their showroom/design center in Raleigh, and they listened to what I envisioned and what my lifestyle was like, and then they worked their magic. The closet we designed together was custom-made to suit our home and tailored to my really specific brand of organized. I told them I have a lot of cowboy boots and booties, so they literally got the measurements for the height of my boots and created the shelving unit to fit my boots. I also really wanted a rolling laundry bin (since the laundry room is at the opposite end of the house) and they measured the bin I wanted and built the shelving unit around it. It was INSANE. It’s not often that people can get inside my brain and give me exactly what I’m hoping for, but California Closets does it every.single.time.

I love knowing that everything has a designated spot to keep it as organized as possible, which is INSANELY helpful when I’m trying to get dressed for a crazy busy day or pack for a trip, and I need to be able to do it in approximately 12 seconds. I’ve never been a fan of closed-up spaces (transparency moment: small spaces that aren’t a ground blind FREAK me out) so a closet with a window felt like a good move for this mama: and I wasn’t disappointed with the outcome one bit. Pella came in clutch yet again with their gorgeous windows that make the whole space feel airy and open all at once.

Another thing I LOVE about the design: I have jewelry organizers built into the drawers. EVERYTHING has its place in here, y’all. I wanted a space to keep my rings/necklaces/bracelets accessible so we created this corner with a mirror so I can take a quick peek at my outfit for the day with jewelry on before speeding out the door. Don’t be fooled, though: this sweet little vanity/accessory station doesn’t get the most love currently since I don’t wear real clothes/accessories or have places to go 90% of the time. Thank you again, 2020.

I know a lot of you ask about my accessories, so I posted a blog with my FAVORITES along with some killer discount codes:  Click here to shop my accessories!

I acknowledge that I lead an incredibly blessed life, but some days feel totally out of my control; in those moments when it feels like I’m struggling to get a handle on things, I can walk into this space and feel calm and at peace. I also acknowledge that there is a significant percentage of the population who lives Tim’s “leave it where it lands” mindset when it comes to clothes/shoes, so if that’s you and you’re still reading this, you probably think I’m CRAZY! Ha.

Do you love an organized space?! Which area in YOUR house just gives you a sense of calm and order?! Let me know in the comments–we’re almost DONE touring my dream home!!

-Eva

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VENDOR RECAP

Dream Closets/Organization: California Closets

Windows: Pella Windows

Light Fixture: CIRCA LIGHTING 

Paint: Sherwin Williams in Alabaster

Floors: Hallmark Floors in Malibu White Oak

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