Leigh Robinson

Designing The Perfect Walk In Wardrobe

When considering a walk in wardrobe is a great idea to treat the experience as more than just installing a storage area for clothes. If you have the time, budget and room you can create a wonderful area that affects you on a daily basis.

Here are our 5 advanced design tips to get your creative juices flowing.

Designing the layout

The first area to start is designing the layout. Where are your clothes going to be stored and how. Importantly its good to get a proper computer generated layouts that show size and features. This will give you an accurate look at how your walk in wardrobe will come together. Never rely on an installers word or hand drawing as this could lead to trouble.

Look & Feel

How do you want to feel when you first walk in to your walk in wardrobe? Is it elegance, grandeur or pizazz or even straight forward functional. What parts of your clothing collection could you feature? Do you want your beautiful hand bags or shoes on display? How about a full length mirror to add to the excitement of choosing an outfit. Use your imagination here to turn your walk in wardrobe from something dull into something extraordinary.

Colour

Our most popular colour for walk in wardrobes is white but you don’t have to stop there. You could have coloured back panels or drawers with a feature colour on the front panels or you could choose a completely different colour for the whole walk in wardrobe. Ask Leigh about the colours available and he will bring out a swatch of colours to show you during a measure up.

Remember your clothes are a reflection of your taste and colour aesthetic and so can your walk in wardrobe.

Less Is More

One thing we almost always see is a wardrobe full of clothes and in most cases too many clothes. We suggest having a big clean out of clothes to get rid of that “over stuffed” look. We all have clothes that we will never wear again and could easily be donated. This will allow your new wardrobe to “breathe” and also give you the opportunity to add to your collection.

Lighting Up.

We had one client that had 12 down-lights in her walk in wardrobe that lit the small room up magnificently. It was bright. You may want a subtle feel to your installation but don’t ignore the affect lighting can have on your wardrobe. A single bulb is usually what you start with but we suggest down lights with a dimmer switch (you’ll need an electrician for this of course). Make sure your wardrobe is well lit so you can find clothing and accessories easily and successfully see your outfit choices. Here are some more tips!

A walk in wardrobe is an investment, a functional tool but also can affect your mood. Take some time to consider the layout, design features and accessories to achieve the perfect outcome.

5 x Walk In Wardrobe Design Mistakes – And How To Avoid Them

Walk in wardrobes are an asset to your the value of your home and your daily life. It’s a good idea then to pay attention to your current and future walk in wardrobe requirements with a savvy eye.

Yes without being smart you need to make sure you have a thorough walk in wardrobe education and this can offer occur by learning what not to do and what to avoid.

Mistake #1

You don’t future proof your wardrobe design with options such as adjustable shelving that allow you to change your wardrobe as your life changes.

What if you suddenly decide you want to wear boots but you have no where to store them. Or you opt for more casual clothing that requires more shelf space.

If its not adjustable its not any good!

Mistake #2

You go the cheap option and buy modular wardrobe inserts and realise there is a lot of wasted space (this also applies to reach in wardrobes). If your walk in wardrobe is not fitted for the exact amount of space available then you will missed out on full storage potential.

Often the wardrobe option uses cheaper material so won’t last as long. I know its a personal taste thing but modular wardrobe options don’t look as good either.

Mistake #3

Not using a wardrobe professional who can supply you with CAD drawings of your wardrobe layout. Yes you get to see the wardrobe design BEFORE its built. We provide free drawings for you as part of your walk in wardrobe plan. Your local carpenter, builder or cabinet maker wouldn’t do this so you are flying blind and can only “guess” at the layout.

Mistake #4

You forget what you are investing in. Remember you probably go to your walk in wardrobe about a minimum of six times a day. Dressing, putting clean clothes away, looking for your wallet or purse and so on. If this is an area you use and frequent EVERYDAY then it must be a utility that works for you functionally and aesthetically. You’re not investing in melamine and accessories or even space management, you’re investing in MAJOR CONVENIENCE.

Just a side note about adding value to your home. If you invest in a walk in wardrobe you’ll improve the value of your home. You will be surprised by the smaller things in a home that gets a buyer excited especially when there is competition between your home for sale and another similar home for sale in the neighbourhood.

Mistake #5

I must reiterate about using a wardrobe professional who will discuss and share their knowledge:

– shelving space and size,
– how much medium or full hanging you require
– accessories that you will need
– wall hung or floor based sections
– drawers
– user friendly layout
– 30 years of wardrobe experience

A cabinet maker generally specialises in kitchens not wardrobes so doesn’t fully understand wardrobe function and has a limited experience with wardrobe options and accessories. They might be great installers and know their trade but aren’t specialists.

The most important concern should be a great installation with no mistakes. Hopefully this will give you a guide when thinking about getting a walk in wardrobe installed. Talk to roving wardrobe expert Leigh Robinson today!

 

5 Things To Watch Out For With A Walk In Wardrobe Installation

If you are reading this then you will probably guess that we are walk in wardrobe experts. If you think that you are, of course, right on the mark. Regardless of whether you choose us or one of our great competitors here are a few things to watch out for regarding an installation.

1. Most cabinet makers are great at their jobs of installing cupboards, shelves, kitchens and yes even walk in wardrobes. The only issues you might have is in the design and layout and accessories. Very few cabinet makers have a full understanding of wardrobe layout and how to best maximise the space due to a lack of experience. Our installers are cabinet makers but with a difference. They have been trained to install our system and follow a designed layout that has been approved by the client and they install walk in wardrobes regularly every month.
2. Cabinet makers may be able to provide accessories but as it’s not a priority. You may end up with a cheap and nasty solution that doesn’t quite cut the mustard or they simply don’t have a matching range of accessories. Plus you want accessories that look the part!
3. More on accessories, here is where you want to pay attention. Our accessories will basically last a lifetime. Things like valet rods, pant ranks, shoe storage solutions and more. Quality products that are made to last. Who really wants to replace anything in a walk in wardrobe after heavily investing in a getting one in the first place? Think about convenience and ease of use as well as peace of mind.
4. If you own an older house chances are it’s out of square. This doesn’t effect you but makes our installers work that much harder to do the perfect job. Again, experience here helps enormously to make sure the wardrobe’s installation is a success.
5. Wall hung verses not. Our wardrobe system is wall hung which means in most cases it won’t affect any existing carpet and leaves you free to vacuum the area freely. Another thing we have noticed is it encourages clients not to clutter up the floor. The wall hung system is great if your room is not square, there is no need to make the floor level and you also don’t have to worry about dealing with skirting. (Great for older homes)

There are are pitfalls to getting a walk in wardrobe but we suggest going with an expert. One that deals mostly in wardrobes rather than an allrounder. If you are considering getting a walk in wardrobe installed talk to Leigh Robinson today. Ph: 0412 525 137

A Mirror Image Walk In Wardrobe

Point Lonsdale is a pretty coastal township on the south eastern end of the Bellarine Peninsular right next door to Queenscliff. This is where we installed a “mirrored” walk in wardrobe.

As you look into the walk in wardrobe you can see Leigh Robinson just before doing a final installation check. When you turn around 180 degrees you see almost the same wardrobe features in the second image. This is what we mean by a mirrored walk in wardrobe.

 

This installation was done whilst the owners where renovating so you will notice the skirting boards have not been inserted as yet.1

What you will find is the walk in wardrobe is hung from the wall on a series of rails and brackets. These rails can carry a weight up to 500 kgs. This is a unique system that you won’t find anywhere else.

5 Important Reason Why Our Walk In Wardrobes Systems Could Work In Your Home

1. The whole system is off the floor which makes it easy to add skirting or lay carpet and to vacuum afterwards. (Perfect if you’re renovating)
2. The space between the shelving/draws and floor makes the wardrobe look aesthetically tidy but still could be used for storage.
3. Our rail and bracket system allows for an enormous amount of versatility when it comes to utilising dead corners as you can see below. There is extra shelving and hanging space that in most wardrobe installs the corner spaces are never fully utilised.
4. Our bracket and rail system is also good when you have uneven floors (especially in older houses) or existing carpet that you don’t want to touch.
5. If you are limited by space or have an unusual layout in your bedroom our walk in wardrobe can easily accommodate all sorts of challenges.

Leigh Robinson, owner and chief measuring guy has seen so many different adaptations of the rail and bracket system along with his highly qualified installers that your wardrobe solution is ready to be nailed! Call Leigh today to book a free measure and quote. Ph: 0412 525 137

 

Walk In Wardrobe Installed In Grovedale Townhouse

We have installed walk in wardrobes in a few townhouses that were lucky enough to have a small area for this type of install. As per usual this small wardrobe areas contained was a high shelf and a hanging rail.

The most important thing for our client was maximising the space so effectively all her clothes fit including her shoes, hand bags and a safe for important documents.

Here’s what we do.

5 Space Saving Walk In Wardrobe Tricks

1. Utilising the dead corners. We are able to join shelving in such a way that it allows easy access to clothing either with shelves or hanging options or both. Below you can see on one side there is a shelf plus full hanging and on the other corner (second image) there are a couple of shelves and three quarter hanging.
2. Other ways we have used dead corners is with shoe carousels such as this example.
   
3. Speaking of shoes another way shoes can be stored to save space is by incorporating narrow shelving. The shelf height can be adjusted allowing for an enormous amount of flexibility. This may seem simple but adding that flexibility to shoe storage allows you to get more shoes in and still see them displayed.
   
4.  Hanging options are a great way of utilising space. Most wardrobes have full hanging and thats it but with our system you can have half, three quarter of full hanging and dictate the amount of area each may use.
5. Planning your unique wardrobe layout is the way to go. Organising your folded clothes, shoes, drawers, hanging requirements that includes pant/trouser racks, hand bags and storage items into the limited space you have is the challenge. You will be amazed at what you can fit in your walk in wardrobe (including a wardrobe safe).
   

A walk in wardrobe is practical and convenient and a great way of organising your clothes and maybe your partners. There are plenty of accessories available and it will last a life time or until you may move.

Thanks to Jackie for allowing us to photograph her home in Grovedale.

Amazing Walk In Wardrobe Installation in Newtown

Many of our walk in wardrobe installations are local and we are extremely proud of this installation in Newtown, Geelong. Often our wardrobe installations work seamlessly with new homes because designers are allowing the space for walk in wardrobes. Newtown is an older suburb of Geelong and there aren’t many new homes built so we have to get creative with our designs using what available space we are presented with.

Our client was quite sure on what she wanted down to the leather specialty handles on the wardrobe doors. As you can see in the installation images our client also ordered a valet rod, belt and tie rack and multiple hanging areas.

This is the difference between a cabinet maker and our installations.

Three Important Reasons Why You Should Hire Walk In Wardrobe Experts

1. Designed & Planned Your Wardrobe Space

   Rather than being experts at installing or dealing with timber. A walk in wardrobe installer is more of an expert in maximising the space you have and your cloth storage needs. Our walk in wardrobes are not just slapped together with a few rods and shelves. They are planned designed and executed to give you exactly what you want with an incredible array of accessories.

2. Sourcing The Right Wardrobe Accessory

   This leads on to the accessories. We have all sorts of accessories available on demand where a cabinet maker would have to try and source accessories and wait and hope for delivery. Also hoping the accessories were of the highest quality. We don’t have that issue as our accessories are comprehensive, high quality, reliable and serve the wardrobe perfectly.

3. Wardrobes Only

   We checked out the cabinet makers in Geelong (and the surrounding towns such as Ocean Grove and Torquay) and most website don’t even mention wardrobes. Their emphasis is on kitchens and bathrooms. That gives you a hint right there that you might not be getting exactly what you want from your wardrobe installation.

The wardrobe installation at Newtown went through various versions until the client was happy to proceed. It was a long term investment that would give the client a functional storage place that made it easy to pick and choose what to wear on a daily as well as adding available asset to the property.

Call Leigh Robinson – Geelong’s Premier Wardrobe Expert. Ph: 0412 525 137