For closet designers, every project is a puzzle. How do you maximize space, meet client demands, and deliver a beautiful, functional result? Patty Miller of P Miller Luxury Closets Inc., a 2024 Top Shelf Design Awards winner, offers a masterclass solution with her “Ensuite Enclave” project. This award-winning design, in the Closet: Laminate Under 18 linear feet category, highlights effective space planning combined with high-end appeal.

Miller’s client wanted to turn two small closets into a “Her” dressing room, accessible only through the master bathroom. The client also wanted a doorless entry to the master bath, so the left and back walls needed to look great since they’d be visible from the bathroom.

The client had an extensive collection of clothes: 24 feet of short hanging, 6 feet of medium to long hanging (including 4 feet of straight-hung pants), and numerous folded items. Miller said, “She didn’t believe I could get everything in.” Her primary concern was fitting all the hanging without creating large blind corners. The client also requested a fully enclosed, open-view hanging area, a full-length mirror, storage for handbags, accessories, belts, scarves, display areas, a step stool, and crown molding. The closet also needed to match the master bath’s style while feeling like a separate space.

For materials, the client said she didn’t want dark cabinets. So Miller chose Tafisa finish Latitude West, a white laminate with a dark ticking texture, and brass accents.

Miller focused on the two longest walls for double hanging. She used 23-inch deep cabinets with 3/4-inch backs to enclose the hanging fully. To avoid visible holes, all exposed shelves and rods were custom-drilled on-site. Rods were centered at 11 1/8 inches within the 22.25-inch cabinet depth to keep items inside.

The visible back and left walls received special attention. Since there wasn’t enough wall space for a traditional full-length mirror, Miller put the long hanging behind a beveled mirrored door, centered on the back wall. “But since she doesn’t wear long hanging very often, she agreed,” Miller explained. The mirror was applied to a solid, recessed panel door for added strength and a better appearance. To add interest, Miller designed two 25-inch-deep by 7.5-inch-wide, 90-inch-tall accessory cabinets, flanking the mirrored cabinet for a “furniture-like feel.” These cabinets held scarves, belts, and the step stool. The remaining space on this wall, as well as the opposite wall (out of view from the master bath), was occupied by an open double hanging. “I got all 24 feet of her short hanging and all 2 feet long hanging on the back and front walls,” Miller said.

The left wall, shared with the closet entry, presented another challenge. Miller designed these cabinets at a shallower 14-inch depth to avoid obstructing the back wall’s hanging. Visible from the master bath, the center cabinet featured a solid door for storing folded items, while the side shelves were designed for display. For the 48-inch straight-hung pants, Miller designed 19-inch-deep cabinets on the right wall with 10-inch-high drawers below. Rods were centered at 9.5 inches, fully enclosing the pants and solving the blind corner issue.

The finishing touches included fascia and cove crown moulding, EcoDomo Shagreen leather in “grey stone” on door panels, and “jewelry-like” hardware: brass with ivory leather handles and Mother of Pearl clover knobs.

For more on Miller’s projects, visit pmillerluxuryclosets.com.

RESOURCES

Latitude North melamine
Tafisa
tafisa.com

Beveled mirror
JCP Glassworks
jcpglass.com

Shagreen leather
EcoDomo
Ecodomo.com

Leather handles 
etsy.com

Mother of Pearl knobs
amazon.com