Consider Wood Cabinets for Fashionable Wardrobe Storage

Q: We are considering converting our (married) daughter's bedroom into a walk-in closet — a lifelong dream of mine, probably leftover from reading movie magazines as a girl. Anyway, I want it to be as glamorous as possible without spending a fortune on a carpenter. Did you once write about using kitchen cabinets out of the kitchen? Would that work here?

A: The answer is yes to both of your questions.
Top-quality cabinet manufacturers offer fine craftsmanship, beautiful woods and first-rate detailing. Plus, the cabinets are already designed to make the most of all possible storage space. And you can have it all at a considerably smaller cost than hiring a master carpenter.

Instead, you'd be working with a kitchen/bath designer, a pro that knows about the available cabinetry to fit your space and fulfill any special storage needs.

In the high, wide and handsome pictured dressing room, designer Aparna Vijayan of Ulrich, Inc. has organized two smaller closets into one smashing space by using cherry wood cabinets from Wood-mode (www.wood-mode.com). His wardrobe is on the left and hers sits on the right. And there is shared space in the middle, similar to a center island workspace in another life and a different place (the kitchen).

Here, a crystal chandelier illuminates the marble-topped island. Even the ceiling has been glamorized with a grid ceiling, which also conceals the pull-down attic stairs. Another good idea, you can't see here, but might want to borrow: The designer added window seats for comfort while dressing as well as full-length mirrors for checking out the final effect.


Q: As an interior designer just beginning her career, I am interested in developing a list of resources that are eco-friendly or contribute to worthy causes. It seems logical that good design can be beneficial in other ways, too. Please tell me about any such manufacturers or organizations.

A: Today's commitment to the environment includes the great indoors, too, so I'm happy to report that the list is long. Let's start with a handful of organizations that represent large numbers of eco-concerned professionals:

— The Forest Stewardship Council certifies sustainable harvested wood or wood-based products. Click on www.fsc.org for information on such products and their availability.

— The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is a charitable organization that promotes sustainable forest management. Its certified products are recognized by many green building programs, including the National Association of Home Builders. Learn more at www.sfiprogram.org.

— The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association endorses cabinet manufacturers that meet its eco-standards, which include air quality and environmental stewardship. Click on www.greencabinetsource.org.

— Alpha Workshops, New York, is in its second decade as a decorative arts atelier. The company trains people living with HIV/AIDS to create design products, such as hand-painted wallpapers and window shades, hand-casted plaster lamps and ceramic pieces, and on-site custom painting, gilding and finishing. Eagerly sought out by top professional interior designers, the Workshops' talents have graced Gracie Mansion — home to New York's mayors — dozens of private homes and designer show house rooms. For more information, visit www.alphaworkshops.org.

Rose Bennett Gilbert is the co-author of "Hampton Style" and associate editor of Country Decorating Ideas.