Stripper Poles, Mini Bars, & Putting Greens: Hollywood’s Hottest Closet Designer Tells All
Adams in Khloe Kardashian’s fitness closet. Photo: @laclosetdesign/Instagram
The Internet went bonkers, last week, over photographs of (one of) Khloe Kardashian’s stupendously stunning closet, dedicated entirely to her workout clothes and sneakers. The light-flooded room—which, size-wise, puts most New York City studio apartments to shame—features floor-to-ceiling shelving, glass display cases, and its own refrigerator. And not one dark, dust bunny-filled corner in sight.
Of course, the actual space itself can’t be attributed to Kardashian. That honor goes to Lisa Adams, a chemistry nerd-turned-interiors expert whose company, LA Closet Design, creates customized storage solutions exclusively for Hollywood’s rich and famous. You might recognize some of their names: Beyond Kardashian, Adams has gotten intimate with the intimates of stars like Christina Aguilera, Fergie, Tyra Banks, Giuliana Rancic, and Ray Romano. Her average rate? $30K to $500K per closet, each of which takes from four months to more than a year to complete.
We spoke with Adams over the phone about her bevy of celebrity clients, their craziest design requests, the latest trends in storage, and perhaps most importantly, how to deal if your closet space is… less than desirable.
YS: What are the most outlandish things you’ve built into a closet?
LA: So many things. I’ve done a stripper pole, a closet that was three stories tall, a putting green. an iris scanner to a jewelry safe room, a breakfast bar including coffee station, a drawer and changing station for pets, a purse carousel, library stacks for shoes, a humidor, mannequins—I think just this whole idea that, it’s not a closet, it’s a dressing room. You’re changing in this space, you’re inviting friends over. I think that, even 10 years ago, closets were just like, shut the door, you’re ashamed of it. But now, it’s really become a multi-functional space: It’s a living space, a dressing room; for men, it’s maybe a man cave. It’s about relaxation. The thought process here is, why not have a mini bar? Why not have a refrigerator with yogurt and water, or a coffee maker, because that’s the space you’re starting your day in.
A closet by LA Closet Design. Photo: @laclosetdesign/Instagram
YS: Which of your famous clients has the most clothing?
LA: Definitely Christina Aguilera! It’s a huge closet, but it still probably needs to be double the size. I think a lot of celebrities have that issue, because they’re getting a lot of stuff, whether they’re being gifted it or buying—so they really have to get honed in on the process of the in-and-out. Otherwise, there’s just no space for it.
YS: How common is it for your clients to have separate closets for different kinds of clothes, like Khloe Kardashian?
LA: I wouldn’t say it’s common, but we’re definitely trying to push this idea. And if you’ve got the other closets, what can they be used for? I think we’re kind of changing the mindset—it doesn’t have to be a linen closet; it really can be used for other purposes, depending on your lifestyle and what you have a lot of. In addition to the gym closet, I’m doing a lot of luggage closets and office closets, so it’s really just whatever fits your lifestyle. But I think, if you want to call it a trend, these sort of ‘specific’ closets are definitely becoming more common.
For example, office closets aren’t just for office paper and printers. It’s for purses and shoes. I’m actually doing Ray Romano’s closet now, and it has coats and bags. It really is this kind of fun, cool space. So I think, again, it’s how you live, and kind of working off of that.
A closet by LA Closet Design.
YS: Which project has been your favorite?
LA: I have so many favorites. I think, probably, the three-story closet, because it was just so over-the-top and fantastic. I also liked Khloe’s a lot, because I love to run, and I exercise every day. So that, for me, is what I’d want, and what I’m aspiring toward! I think hers is great.
YS: Are there any new, big trends as far as closets and storage?
LA: One thing I’m seeing is luggage and packing within the closet. Whether you’ve got a packing station or even laundry, the trend is that you’re doing all of this in the same space. So I’m also designing purse stations, which make changing out purses easier: You’ve got a drawer where you put wallets and gum and coins, and then you have some pull-out tables that pull out simultaneously, and you can switch out bags. It’s this idea that you can see everything. I think that, when you go into your closet, you’re shopping in your closet—so you should be able to see everything that you have. People want that ‘boutique’ feeling.
YS: Is there a certain type of hanger you recommend?
LA: It really depends on the closet and the size, because I would hate to say, ‘Use a thick wooden hanger!’ if you’re pressed for space. So I think for a lot of people, I really like the slim-line velvet hangers. I think they look good, they have the flocking material so things don’t fall off, and they’re so thin. But I’m also a fan of wood hangers. I think a gorgeous wood hanger in a closet is beautiful, and creates the look of a boutique as well. The only thing I’m not a fan of are the tubular plastic hangers, and the wire hangers, which can stain your clothing as well. I think the most important thing is just being consistent.
YS: I think a lot of people dream of having a wardrobe like Cher Horowitz in Clueless, where you can see all your clothes catalogued on a screen. Is there any of that?
LA: Oh, yes. Everything is kinda dialed in, lots of times by using an app, and everything is catalogued—so definitely. There are mirrors that can take pictures of you, things that pop up from an island…
YS: So, my apartment has only one closet for the whole thing. What’s your advice for people who have extremely limited closet space?
LA: I get that the luxury of size is not the reality for a lot of people. I think that in smaller closets, it’s definitely more challenging in the sense that you really need to maximize the depth and the height. If you’ve got a sliding wardrobe with a header [the several feet or so of wall above the doors], you need to think, do I need that header, or can I go floor-to-ceiling? I think the idea of a header is an old notion—I don’t see why the doors can’t go floor-to-ceiling, so I think that would really help.
If you’ve got the depth, make sure there’s a pullout shelf, so that you’re utilizing the entire depth of the closet. And having designated places for everything is key. If you have a drawer, make sure you’re using folding card drawer dividers, so you’re able to stack t-shirts in a drawer front to back instead of going top-to-bottom, and you’re not just throwing everything in. You can also use towel rods to hang your scarves. It’s also about editing; you can also get garment racks or things that you can put in the bedroom—I’m seeing so many cool rose gold or wood garment racks that are beautiful. Even just cool wall shelves. I think you can do that in a bedroom, if you don’t have a walk-in closet, to gain additional storage.
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