Dressing Rooms
Designers can tap into a new profit center by adding dressing rooms to their business offerings.
You might also want to add a quiet ventilation upgrade. Broan has a recessed fan/light combination that is ducted through a 4" pipe, and looks just like any other recessed light. Larger, enclosed fan/light combinations are also worth considering. Such ventilation is ideal in a new-build home that is tightly sealed, or a home in an extremely cold climate or in an area of the country with exceedingly high humidity. Such a ventilation system will help eliminate or control mold, mildew and other still-air breeders.
Closets need air flow and dehumidification. Including a fan on a timer (so it goes on and off at regular intervals) can help pull air through the closet even when the door is shut. The door should be sized so that make-up air can enter the dressing room under the door.
Lastly, remember to include a "charging station" if family members using the dressing room want to charge electronic equipment in this space. Häfele America Co. and Doug Mockett & Co. have several unique multi-port devices that recess into a countertop.
A sophisticated dressing room means going beyond the basics of closet design and installation: It means creating a very personalized space that may be as thematic as other more public areas in the home. Your existing design experience, honed by years of creating great kitchens, can be easily applied to the dressing-room planning process.
As we begin an exciting new year – and face a slowed economy in some communities – consider reaching out to your past client base to let them know of your expertise in closet/dressing-room planning. Add questions pertaining to these areas to your survey questionnaire so that you’re prepared to query new clients about their interest in a sophisticated dressing room for a project under consideration.
After closets, what’s next? It’s already here. Think of the possibilities for custom storage systems designed for the garage.
Recommended Clothing Storage Allowances |
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| Women’s Clothing | Hanging Space |
Pole Space |
| Blouses | 27"-45" |
1"-2" |
| Skirts | 24"-45" |
1"-2" |
| Day Dresses/Robes | 42"-60" |
2"-3" |
| Evening Dresses | 60"-72" |
2"-6" |
| Slacks (1/2 Folded) | 21"-30" |
1"-2" |
| Slacks (Full Length) | 48"-48" |
1"-2" |
| Jackets/Coats | 27"-60" |
2"-4" |
| Men’s Clothing | Hanging Space |
Pole Space |
| Shirts | 36"-42" |
1"-2" |
| Slacks 1/2 Folded | 36"-45" |
2" |
| Slacks Full Length | 54"-60" |
2" |
| Suits with Slacks 1/2 Folded | 36"-45" |
4" |
| Jackets/Coats | 36"-60" |
3"-4" |
| Shelf Space | ||
| Allow 12"-15" width for folded sweaters. | ||
| Allow 9"-12" width for folded shirts. | ||
| Allow 9"-12" width for each pair of stored men’s shoes. | ||
| Allow 6"-9" width for each pair of stored women’s shoes. | ||
| Allow 4"x10" space for folded socks/nylons, 4"x5" for rolled. | ||
Rod heights (height of rod and shelf above rod) may vary according to the height and vertical reach of the person(s) using the closet and the length of clothing when. The table above lists some standard storage recommendations to get you started.Courtesy of Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. and “The Basics of Bathroom Design... and Beyond” by Ellen Cheever, CMKBD, ASID |
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This article is part of a quarterly series of "Designer’s Notebook" articles, which will continue to run throughout 2007 exclusively in Kitchen & Bath Design News and online at KBDN’s Website, www.kitchenbathdesign.com. Past "Designer’s Notebook" articles can also be found on the Website.
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