My NYC Closet

Hi everyone! This has been a busy week - I'm very much looking forward to the 3 day weekend. 

Thanks once again for all your support & kindness. My husband says he is going to take me away for the weekend to do something fun - he tells me I need to clear my mind & relax. I feel overwhelmed with work - in a good way though.
  

Speaking of work - our apartment is featured in the new issue of Style At Home magazine - it's the organization issue available in news stands all over Canada! Supposedly this issue will be available in new stands until next year, very cool! I have gotten many emails asking about our apartment here in the city & since the apartment is now featured in the magazine, showing you photos isn't a problem. Here we go!

So excited! Let me start with my wardrobe.

 I say "my" because only I use it (for the most part). Below is what was supposed to be 'our' bedroom closet. Even though it's bigger than most NYC standard closets - it wasn't going to fit all my things. 

It was certainly a challenge trying to find an apartment with good closet space here in the city. Living in Las Vegas & having a huge mini-boutique as a closet, was great.  Unfortunately, I had to give all that up to make it work here.

So, we thought it was best to go to IKEA & buy something relatively inexpensive and similar to what I had in LV. This time I chose a closet with doors & all white. This IKEA closet system is called PAX wardrobe, the doors are white BERGSBO.

 

I love the white wardrobe, it's so bright & pretty, but a far cry from the space I used to have - don't you think? Now, instead of in a closet, my wardrobe opens up to our bedroom. I can't say I love having doors on my closet, but I definitely LOVE the way the doors look!

  

oh chandelier, I miss you! 

In order to make things interesting, I decided to give these IKEA drawers a more hip look. I lined the inside of all the drawers in a leopard wallpaper.  The same wallpaper I used in LV wardrobe above.

Then I added my jewelry - neat huh? I love how much more interesting it makes it appear!  You can add any color or style of wallpaper - just as long as you don't glue it. I recommend using double sided tape, it should hold just fine.

My friends always point out the hardware - they tell me it makes the inexpensive IKEA wardrobe look high end. I'd agree. In fact many of them didn't even think it was IKEA! The brushed gold pulls are the same ones I used on the floating shelves here. The hardware can be purchased at myknobs.

images below by janis nicolay

I donated several items of clothing & handbags before I moved out here- I only kept the ones I knew I would use. Do you keep extra handbags & never use them?? 

I am trying NOT to do that anymore.

Check out the newest issue of Style At Home magazine where more of my apartment is featured as well a great organization tips! Next week I'll show you our living room! 

So, now you know how I made my IKEA wardrobe look CHIC.

cover image via decor happy

Have you had to downsize your wardrobe?

Let me know what you think of my NYC wardrobe.

Thanks to my husband for building the whole thing, he's amazing. Stay tuned!

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Luxury Bedroom Wish List

The bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the house,  not only for it’s obvious function as a place to sleep or store your clothes and shoes, but the role it plays a private haven or sanctuary away from everything else ( remember when you were a teenager!).Ultimately a bedroom should be relaxing, comfortable and a little self-indulgent, after all it’s your bedroom and need reflect only your tastes and personality, with maybe the exception of your partner if applicable! But just for the sake of self-indulgence here are the top 5 contemporary furniture essentials for the perfectly luxurious bedroom….


The Walk in Wardrobe
It's hard to imagine any woman who hasn’t fantasied about a custom fitted walk in closet to house all of her clothes and shoes, equipped with full length mirrors and a dressing table (yes I’m thinking Sex & the City style!) Although many of us may not have the space to have essentially what is a bedroom within a bedroom; a great alternative is fitted wardrobes with customized accessories to organize all your things along with mirrored sliding doors to make the most out the space available.

via Ivy and Piper

via Chico Deco

via Design With Christine

King-sized Upholstered Bed

I used to think King-sized beds were unnecessary. But now, I find myself liking more and more space to stretch out when I sleep. And nothing is more luxurious than a fluffy upholstered headboard.

An over-sized floor length mirror.
A generously sized mirror casually leaning against the wall adds an instant sumptuousness to any space.  It's a great way to reflect candle light, and add some romance.  It's also the best way to make sure your look is pulled together before leaving for the day!

Flueless Fire
I grew up with a fire always going in the winters, so I'd be happy with any fireplace. But, there is nothing like a flueless fire to warm up a contemporary bedroom and provide a fantastic focal point.  Not only do they keep the room pretty toasty the glass protector in front never gets too hot to touch making them a health and safety dream!

Appropriate Bedroom Lighting
There's nothing I dread more than harsh and cold overhead lighting.  The bedroom, more than any other room in the home, demands dimmer, warmer lighting.  If you have an overhead fixture, it must be on a dimmer switch.  In fact, I'd like every light switch in my home to have a dimmer switch.
Since your be is often the focal point, it's especially important that your bedside lamps, whether matching or not, be beautiful and give off soft light (though still provide enough light to read by).

Vanity 
Another glamor girl must have, a vanity, or dressing table, makes your otherwise dreary morning routine feel a little more like pampering. Make sure your dressing table has ample storage options for cosmetics, whether through the use of drawers or pretty baskets or containers, a luxe chair or stool, and a mirror.  This is one place where you want to make sure you have access to good lighting.  Strip lights or bulbs along the sides of the mirror are better than overhead.  It helps to place your vanity near an outlet so you can use your hot tools or other electronics while getting ready.

What are your must-haves or on your luxury bedroom wishlist?


All images via gomodern.co.uk unless otherwise noted.
disclosure*: This post was sponsored by Go Modern

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Need a little extra wardrobe space?

I saw this in issue 3 of Lonny Mag and I really thought it was a cool idea. We could all use a little extra closet space - but what I really like about this is that it shows you how to create a little extra space for your accessories. I know I would love a closet specifically dedicated to shoes, handbags, and jewelry.

The wardrobe they use in this demonstration is called PAX from Ikea.

So nice!


I like the idea of adding a mirror to turn the wardrobe into a little vanity.



Go Lonny Mag, Archive, Issue 3 to see the project in the magazine.

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