Leigh Robinson

Werribee: Two Walk in Wardrobes Installed

We recently installed a walk in wardrobe (for her)

and a smaller gallery wardrobe (for him) in Werribee, Victoria.

This home was a new build and the owners had the opportunity to choose the layout of their home with two wardrobe areas. The home was a beautiful  Porter Davis design.

The wardrobe areas weren’t huge but large enough to accommodate two different styles of walk in wardrobes installed. Check out the full install in the gallery here.

Leigh measured the room and ask the client the features they wished to have in the wardrobes. Most people ask for shelves, drawers and shoe racks as well as wire baskets and pant racks and few accessories such as a valet rod and tie rack. Another important consideration is hanging clothes whether you need a full hanging area for long dresses or a half hanging area for shirts. We added a jewellery draw to this walk in wardrobe installation.

Leigh takes all this into consideration when designing a layout. He then presents a layout plan utilising 100% of the area available. There are no dead corners or awkward areas that are of little use.

What A Builder Will Give Verses What You Need

This is a big difference compared to what a builder will give you – a top shelf and hanging rod. With this installation the client knew what they wanted so ask the builder to leave the walk in wardrobes empty ready for their customised installation.

The installer then arrives with all the shelving pre-cut and the accessories and usually takes about three hours or half a day depending on the size of the installation to install the walk in wardrobe.

The wardrobe is then ready to be used straight away. When you are buying a home it’s a great idea to buy with “selling in mind” even though selling the home is the last thing on your agenda. (you never know what the future holds).

Installing a walk in wardrobe adds value to your home right from the start especially with a new build like this installation. If you live in a suburb with similar housing and you were to sell in the future, your home will stand out with a customise walk in wardrobe.

Make your life easy as well as adding value to your property investment with your own unique walk in wardrobe.

Top Ten Reasons To Get A Walk In Wardrobe.

Selecting clothes to wear or even storing clothes can be stressful but this can be changed around completely by installing a walk in wardrobe. Here’s the how and why:

1. A Great Way To Start Your Day. If you start your day organised and without hassle especially when it comes to clothes choices you’re in for a good day with minimal fuss. Having your entire wardrobe laid out for you and within easy reach is the ultimate way to begin your hectic day.
2. If You’re A Clothes Lover. Let’s face it if you collect anything it’s great to display your passion. If you do like clothes and they are on display you will appreciate them more and enjoy your fashion buying decisions.
3. Being Organised Reduces Stress. If your wardrobe is entirely functional and you share it with your partner and you’re not really interested in fashion then a well designed walk in wardrobe will help reduce clothes stress. You can see all your clothing items, neatly laid out and easy to grab and put on. This also means you can put your clothes away quickly after laundering them. See there is more to a walk in wardrobe that just looks eh?
4. It’s A Valuable Investment. When you buy anything you want value. You want to utilise your purchase for as long as possible. How many times have you been caught “making do” or going for the “cheap option” that comes to bite you back later on? A walk in wardrobe is a worthy investment in your sanity, your time and your home.
5. Adding Value To Your Home. If you’re a home owner you obviously get the benefits of using your walk in wardrobe. Should you decide to sell your home in the future your walk in robes are a  viable asset to the sale. There are certainly many emotional triggers that make a buyer want to buy and a walk in wardrobe is right up there.
6. Looking After Your Clothes. We have seen many women with delicate fashion items that need extra care when storing. Because we have accessories such as full hanging , half hanging designs, pant racks and shoe shelves to name a few your clothes will not only be arranged to your liking but also stored safely.
7. You Will Buy Less. If you can see what you own you are much more likely to purchase less clothes or reduce your spend by mixing matching with existing purchases. Who knew you could save money by getting a walk in wardrobe and reducing your desire to buy?
8. Making Choices. If fashion is important to you and what you wear is a reflection of who you are then a wardrobe that is designed to help you make the right daily choices is an important personal investment. With a full length mirror and your clothes arranged in a way that helps you choose your outfits easily then your needs will be met and you’re ready to conquer your day.
9. Cry Once. I can’t remember where I first heard the expression “cry once” but it means you deal with an issue in your life and then put the issue to bed without it reoccurring over and over. This is the case with a walk in wardrobe. Deal with your clothing storage issues once, right up front and you’re done. No more mess, no more disorganisation no more frustration.
10. Appreciation And Gratitude. How many things do you own that you can appreciate on a daily basis and say “That was a great investment”. You won’t do this every day but guaranteed you will regularly appreciate your walk in wardrobe because you do use it so often. Whether you are a fashion diva or a utility personality type you will be grateful that a walk in wardrobe is part of your daily routines.

Talk to Leigh

Remember a walk in wardrobe can be design and laid out specifically for your needs. Talk to Leigh Robinson for a measure and quote but also suggestions on how best to utilise the space you have.

Walk In Wardrobe Referral

The best part of our business is when we receive referrals and/or orders from friends of satisfied customers. This happened recently where a great client of ours from a place called Jan Juc showed her bestie her new walk in wardrobe installation. Her best friend (who lived in Torquay) had ordered a walk in wardrobe from a local cabinet but cancelled the order and got her deposit back. She then placed an order with us. It turns out we were cheaper for her as well.

The local cabinet maker may have been a top tradesmen but still doesn’t have the type of product we sell or the experience. This installation was upstairs in a relatively modern home approximate 2400mm by 1800mm. The home was gorgeous but as per usual the walk in wardrobe contained one shelf and a rail.

The interesting thing here and a point to make is the shelf and rail ware quite easy to take out. If this is done by the home owner its an opportunity to paint the room and give it a fresh look. If your thinking of installing a walk in wardrobe then let us know your existing situation so we can help advice you on the best way of proceeding.

The client here was extremely happy with her walk in wardrobe and you can see we utilise the space she had extremely effectively.

Note the two different size spaces for hanging clothes, the space from the floor to the walk in wardrobe’s assets and the use of dead corners. This is a very effective his/hers walk in wardrobe installation.

We have done quite a few installs in Torquay our wardrobes are popular with the type of buildings there.

Our next install will be in Teesdale (a small town in the Golden Plains Shire, near the regional city of Geelong)

Interior Designers Know Their Space

Over the years we have dealt with many interior designers who are superb at understanding how best to use space effectively both for beauty and functionality. Here are their top seven tips for a walk in wardrobe.

1. Natural Light – Try and have a natural light source near or in your walk in wardrobe. Fake light such as LEDs don’t tend to give you a good indication of your clothing choices. If you cant get access to natural light make sure your light source is warm.
2. Sanctuary – a great walk in wardrobe needs to be a quiet sanctuary where every thing is neat and there is a sense of order.
3. Occasional. there needs to be an area where you can place items at the end of a long day. It could be items place on a drawer unit or on a special chair that you place clothing that you might wear again. It’s a temporary storage space that allows you to quickly change, reuse items or store things like wallets, purses or items to be use regularly.
4. Be inspiring. The wardrobe should appointed like any other room . It’s not just for storage. You need to be inspired by your clothes so you can enjoy the experience of choosing and dressing. All your clothes neatly storage but visible should make you feel good. You could even hang artwork or decorate with ornaments if you have the room.
5. The Floor! Having a walk in wardrobe is a luxury for most so make sure the floor is part of your experience. Lush, soft carpet is the way to go.0
6. Visual tricks. You can make your wardrobe feel visually bigger by using mirrors or warmer by adding a rug or upholstered item.
7. Utilise the space. Even if you only have a small area to deal with make sure you utilise the space as effectively as t=you can from floor to ceiling. Your’d be surprised at how much you can store and how elegant it can look.

We can help you with the shelves, storage areas, drawers and wardrobe accessories and we can even work closely with your interior designer. All it requires is your input. Call Leigh Robinson right now for a free measure and quote. Ph: 0412 525 137

How To Get The Most From A Narrow Walk In Wardrobe

So far we have mentioned getting drawers or a tall boy installed and making sure the layout works now we move on to more tips to utilising your small space more effectively.

Hanging Clothes

3. Most walk in wardrobes have one hanging rod which is great for coats but a waste of space for shirts pants, tops/blouses and jackets. A dual hanging system is the best solution so right there you’ve saved about 50% of space in your wardrobe. Men benefit from this hugely as they normally don’t have long flowing frocks to contend with – its ok if you do however.

The top shelf is normally too low and will have to be moved up to accommodate double hanging.

The Wardrobe Door

4. If your walk in wardrobe has a door then here’s another opportunity to gain space. Use a hook board on the back of the door or one of those ugly shoe holder hanging things. You’ll never see it so it shouldn’t offend you. Another solution could be install a sliding door that takes up very little room but will look fantastic.

One of our sister companies – roomdividersrus.com.au – can help you with this. You’re still dealing with Leigh Robinson so it can be a seamless operation to get your wardrobe installed and a sliding door.

Clothes Hangers

5. We have seen walk in wardrobes with 5 different types of hangers that not only take up too much space but look horrible as well. The best hangers to get are thin, sturdy hangers with some kind of velvety coating that stops the clothes slipping off. Oh and stick to one type of hanger, it looks far neater. We have pant hanging rails that also reduce the amount of space used by the traditional coat hangers. Again talk to Leigh he knows his hangers.

Visual Clutter

6. People don’t realise how much visual clutter and disorganisation can mess with your brain. Adding baskets, bespoke shelving (this means shelving designed especially for your situation), boxes, pull out belt racks, tie racks and mirrors can help order your walk in wardrobe and make it easy on your eye and emotions.

If things are orderly it frees you up to pay more attention on what you are going to wear for the day rather than fret over mess.

Add A Bit Of Sparkle

7. Your walk in wardrobe most likely gets used at least two to three times a day, everyday so why not add in a bit of fun to make it special. Maybe a feature colour, an ornament, a special dressing chair if you have the room or maybe a chandelier! It’s up to you but adding a dash of meaningful fun and a little piece of you will make your walk in wardrobe an experience rather than just a utility.

These are our tips for small or narrow wardrobes, saving you space and making your closet (that’s American for wardrobe) more appealing.

Call Leigh Robinson, he’ll come to you for a measure up, advice on installation and a decent discussion on the weather.

How To Squeeze More Space Out Of A Small Walk In Wardrobe

Most of us don’t have huge walk in wardrobe unless you have just built a new home and took advantage during the design process. In fact entering to most walk in wardrobes immediately makes us feel like dieting.

Our walk in wardrobe consists of a lonely top shelf and rail. The clothes almost spew our the shelf and the bottom of the wardrobe is a dark cavern where anything can be lurking. The rack of clothes resembles an op-shop jumble sale with a variety of tops and pants protruding at awkward angles. Its hard to make any fashion statement with this type of mess and you have to face it every morning.

Is your walk in wardrobe a narrow rectangle or small cube? Let’s now press on a find out 7 ways we can improve your walk in wardrobe and maybe your daily morning routines as well.

Draws or Tall-Boys Are Key

1. Most narrow or small walk in wardrobes have no drawers. Drawers are the queen of neatness in a wardrobe and can hold up 2.5 more things than hanging clothes up. There you go more saved spaced right there.

As I mentioned draws make everything look tidy and organised that will help your OCD and anxiety plus it will help look after your clothes.

Don’t forget instead of wooden drawers you can get wire baskets so you can see the drawers contents at a glance.

Often times these drawers are called tall boys and can include shelves for hand bags, shoes or extra blankets.

Drawers will add a touch of elegance to your walk in wardrobe and give you a sense of peace. That’s got to be good when you are about to dress and start your incredibly busy and stressful day eh?

Design & Layout

2. Your wardrobe design, especially when its small or narrow should consist of a hanging area to one side and shelves and drawers on the other. Or you could put the draws in the centre facing you, hangers to one side on the left  and narrow shelves to the right. This will be the best use of the space available and won’t look so cluttered and disorganised.

In the next blog we go through more space saving tips to getting your small or narrow walk in wardrobe sorted. Talk to Leigh Robinson (Mr Space Maximiser) to go through your requirements if you’re tight for space.  Ph: 0412 525 137