Sky is the Limit
Author:Abigail StoneEggersmann USA creates a pair of exquisite custom closets in Corona del Mar
Photography by JEAN RANDAZZO – Styled by EMMA J. CARTER
Thanks in part to Marie Kondo, the modern closet has shouldered the responsibility as the source for things that spark joy. Few places take this credo as seriously as Eggersmann USA. Utilizing the Schmalenbach wardrobe system, the company combines German engineering with American ingenuity, creating storage spaces that are at once practical and fanciful.
Take, for example, the pair of closets they recently created for a luxury home in Corona del Mar. Inspired by interior designer Lisa Slayman’s beach-influenced palette, the team—led by their Beverly Boulevard showroom director and designer Brian Z. Allen—conjured up two dressing areas that exude laid-back luxe, mixing elegance with a hit of bling. “Her closet nods to the lighter colors of her bathroom,” Allen explains.
Working within the confines of the expansive home’s unusual shape, he reimagined a curved wall—the backdrop to the home’s elliptical staircase— as a breathtaking focal point, highlighting it with illuminated glass-fronted display cases that can showcase a stunning collection of shoes or handbags. A bench further underscores the wall’s feminine curl, carved out of one corner of the room’s storage island, which also boasts generous soft-close drawers and glass-topped jewelry cases (a safe, tucked below the window, hides valuable baubles).
“For his closet, we turned to darker colors that tied in with the home’s wood floors,” Allen says. Vertical and horizontal lights angle toward the walls, showcasing the contents of shelves and hanging spaces while providing a soft glow that is also very easy on the eyes. Mirrors, integrated hampers, retractable valet rods and thoughtful accessory inserts ensure every item finds its perfect place.
“Schmalenbach is very responsive to customer requests,” Allen shares. “They’re game for just about anything we draw up and eager to find a way to get it done. You can really have fun with it as a designer because you know the sky’s the limit.”
