Serenity Now

Written by Melissa Mahanes / Photos courtesy of LA Closet Design

Any search of “custom closet design” on Instagram, Pinterest, or tuning into any recent Real Housewives episode will yield a flood of enviable spaces that look more like high-end boutiques. With all the time spent at home in the last year or so, homeowners are looking at their personal spaces and evaluating not only what they own but how to protect what they have, enjoy it and keep it organized. Instead of socking them away in a drawer, people want to display their coveted collections of designer handbags and shoes, jewelry, and watches. They also may dream of a champagne button or coffee station close by to have a relaxing start or finish to their day.

“If people have something they value a lot, they want to create a perfect space for it, to highlight it,” says Lisa Adams, the founder of LA Closets, who has recently scaled her business to Nashville. Founded in Los Angeles in 2007, Lisa has created custom luxury retreats for a notable client base, including Christina Aguilera, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crystal, Tyra Banks, Olivia Culpo, Fergie, Khloe Kardashian, and Kris Jenner.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Lisa Adams holds two undergraduate degrees and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Her Chemistry degree from UC Berkeley may seem like a surprising major for a custom closet designer; it actually is that left-brain mentality that helps her visualize and find the best solution to sort through the chaos and create a serene, meticulously organized space. She has recently collaborated with Four Seasons Hotels, Longines, spatial designer Paul Milinski and lighting and furniture designer Lee Broom who appreciate her sleek aesthetic.

“My mission is to create wardrobe and storage spaces that are balanced functionally and aesthetically. As a designer, I see the potential in this under-utilized and often out of control space to add value to your home and to calm the chaos of everyday life”, says Adams.

Working with clients and collaborators across the globe, Adams is inspired by each opportunity to bring serenity and organization to daily disorder. With the versatility to design multifunctional spaces that range from feminine to masculine, classic to cutting-edge, she ensures that each client feels as if they have a dream boutique in their very own home.

“The closet is where we most often spend the first and last moments of a day, and unfortunately, at those times, many of us deal with universal closet issues: cluttered, overstuffed, and unorganized spaces. Instead, I look at both your room—and your life—and then I create a space of peace, beauty, and even glamour”, tells Adams.

Since launching LA Closet Design, she has created spaces that go beyond functionality—her wardrobes are balanced, luxurious sanctuaries that combine a timeless attention to detail with a modern focus on environmentally harmonious materials. As a result, she creates spaces that reflect a unique blend of sophistication and accessibility. There is increasing demand to make one’s closet more than just racks for hanging clothes. Clients want true customizations like desks, jewelry and accessory islands, glam stations, seating, and staging areas.

“I’ll tell clients, ‘Ultimately, you want to feel like you’re shopping in your own closet,’” she said. For people with extensive wardrobes, the ways that stores display inventory can be genuinely useful. But the concerns are not purely practical. “There’s a reason why people like to shop in boutiques,” Adams said. “The good lighting, things having a place, it’s uncluttered, there’s seating, there’s champagne— it’s just the whole feeling.”

The local high-end real estate market also recognizes the value added to one’s property by including an entire custom closet (or two) in one’s home renovation project or new build. It is an attractive characteristic to a listing and worth the investment to have ample storage and display in closets—both while you are enjoying your space and when it is time to move.

“It’s about being proud of your space, feeling really good and calm in your space,” Adams said. She has designed closets with personalized details such as putting greens and stripper poles, fireplaces, and even a three-story 4,500 square foot dream space with an elevator. She would be thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with you to achieve your unique and personalized sanctuary here in Nashville.

Social media channels: Instagram and Twitter: @LAClosetDesign YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/LAClosetDesign Blog: www.closetphile.com Custom closet accessories: www.shopclosetdesign.com