i+D - March/April 2018 - 50

Everything in Its Place - By Paul Makovsky

Atypical Problem Areas
It's not just the main house or apartment that should be
the focus of dealing with storage. Even the humble garage
deserves attention. "When you get out of a car, or go into the
garage for your second refrigerator, you don't want to change
everything and feel like, 'Ugh, I can't stand going in there,'"
says Baron. So, she makes sure that the flooring, whether
it's painted or not, is consistent with adjacent rooms and
uses garage storage systems or a less expensive line from
one of the closet companies. "Again, everything has a place,
even a workshop," she explains. "You don't need beautiful
chandeliers, but put nice things in there that reflect an overall
conscious design of the home."
If there is one area of the house that is lacking in good
storage solutions, it's finding good options for outdoor spaces,
according to Baron. "I'm doing a few terraces right now for
different clients in New York City and Long Island that all are
in new construction condos. The heavy request from every
single one is that they want to have a beautiful terrace, but they
want storage...[they] want to keep the covers for the outdoor
furniture outside, a place to put the pillows, so I have to come
up with ways to do that, and there's not a lot out there."

In a master bedroom by
Robin Baron, the luxe vibe
of the furnishings and textiles
is complemented by a
customized storage design.
(Image: Rob Karosis)

Baron points out that many consumers think an amazing closet system is
only for someone with a massive home and budget. In reality, a great system
is just as important for someone in a smaller space. "In fact, it's more
important," she says. "The smaller the space, the more critical it is to be
more organized and use every inch of space in a productive way. In a small
space, you just don't have many options."
That means every piece of furniture should be able to store something in
a way that makes sense. It's not just throwing things in; it's how does it
make sense to store things? Is it better in a drawer or behind a door? Baron
recommends that budget-minded clients with small homes shop at places
like The Container Store, which carries the elfa system that organizes in the
same way as higher-end systems. "To wake up every day and know where
everything is; that everything is organized and looks good when you open
the drawers; and to know where jewelry, socks, and belts are changes how
you enter your day and how you feel about yourself in your day," says Baron.
"If garages are the man-cave, then closets are the she-cave. Customers
want to make their closet as beautiful as other rooms in their home, and
be able to show them off as they would a new kitchen," notes Erin Hogue,
vice president of custom closets at The Container Store. "But, the most
important element of a closet is that it is laid out well to maximize space
and functionality. Customers also want to have a large selection of finishes
to choose from and have expectations that they can customize the look and
color for any space. Light-toned, woodgrain finishes are extremely popular
right now. Light-toned woods in a closet brighten the space and help with
visibility, as most closets are not always well lit."

50

i+D - March/April 2018

"The smaller the space, the more
critical it is to be more organized and
use every inch of space in a productive
way. In a small space, you just don't
have many options."
-ROBIN BARON, ROBIN BARON DESIGN

PAUL MAKOVSKY
is a vice president of design at
Metropolis magazine, where
he writes about architecture
and design at all scales. Last
year, he spent three months
installing custom bookshelves
to hold his library of more
than 4,500 architecture and
design books.
i+D - March/April 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of i+D - March/April 2018
