Spoiler alert: this may simply be my favourite mission I’ve ever executed. However earlier than I present you every little thing, let me again it up a bit and inform you the way it all got here to be. My lounge (which was simply revealed!!) and eating room (which is coming quickly to the weblog!) are open to one another, and smack in the course of the 2 areas is that this coat closet. It’s your common closet – really nothing particular. It’s stuffed with coats, ladders, additional rest room paper, the works. Nothing glamorous and all of the stuff that wants hiding. Tremendous purposeful, however we’ve got a pretty big closet and a few cupboards within the hallway, so it wasn’t completely essential.

Yup, confirmed that is your common, unorganized coat closet. Front room is to the left, and the eating room is to the suitable. Whereas it was good to have additional storage, and I might’ve simply organized this area and left it as is, there was one other concern I used to be having. Our kitchen (which is so cute and stuffed with classic tile) is charming however tiny. Prefer it barely matches a tiny fridge. So we hardly have sufficient area to retailer meals in there – however barware and alcohol bottles?? FORGET ABOUT IT! It really was a catastrophe when it got here to bar storage, and I used to be determined to search out actually any resolution.

Throughout COVID, everybody had their little hobbies they picked up – whether or not it was baking bread, entering into calligraphy, or what have you ever – and studying to make craft cocktails was mine. I additionally LOVE to host, and subsequently I like to have a full bar in order that when individuals come over, I could make actually no matter they need. Negroni? Completed. Feeling extra of a margarita vibe? Coming proper up. Oh, you desire a martini? Shaken or stirred, child? That’s the vitality we prefer to have when friends come over, and hey, it’s cheaper than hanging out at your neighborhood bar, so why not incentivise cocktails at residence?

However yeah…storing a full bar in my itty bitty kitchen? There was no method. Plus, I hated the thought of individuals coming over for a cocktail party the place I’m cooking after which everybody pops into stated tiny kitchen to seize a drink. What can I say, I like my area after I’m prepping meals!! I need my friends to have the ability to seize a drink, sit on the sofa, and never come close to if the range is on hearth, haha. So I began performing some pondering…and I thunk and thunk and eventually thought…wait, is {that a} key for a door deal with on that coat closet?? Think about if that key opened as much as slightly speakeasy…

in order that’s precisely what I did…

Lamp | Silhouette Artwork Frames | Cupboard

Besides I ended up taking the door off as a result of it was an excessive amount of work and too fairly to not have a look at on a regular basis – so I nonetheless name it “The Closet Speakeasy” however it’s absolutely open to anybody who walks in!! Truthfully, typically I nonetheless debate placing this door again on, however we’ve got a cute mirror exterior the door, so it simply sort of will get in the way in which…see beneath:

After which now that my lounge is completed, that is what it seems to be like proper exterior the closet door! I did a DIY bookcase scenario that I’m completely obsessive about. The entire area simply feels far more pulled collectively now.

It’s truly comical as a result of I had this concept for the closet speakeasy and HAD to do it. I created this closet earlier than I had an actual eating desk, which is so hilarious and reveals questionable priorities. So yeah, this was the primary area I completed in my condo, and it solely took 2 months, however let me inform you it was actually extra of a factor than I used to be anticipating (it at all times is, isn’t it?)

Jacket | Skirt (unavailable) | Shirt (unavailable) | Footwear

Particular person for scale! Hello! My foremost inspiration was the wine bar on the Parker Palm Springs – for those who haven’t been, it’s iconic (additionally, I’m clearly very obsessive about The Parker because it was additionally a serious supply of inspiration for my 500 sqft studio condo). It’s an extremely attractive, low-ceilinged wine bar that matches about 20 individuals, possibly 30 max. I really like the intimacy and knew I might create one thing comparable on this very intimate closet bar, which seats 1 or 2 max for those who’re enjoying 7 minutes in heaven.

I’ve at all times had an affinity for prime gloss, lacquer partitions, and I knew that was going to be one of the simplest ways to make this tiny area really feel bigger and to bounce the sunshine round. So I began experimenting with methods I might create that look, realizing full effectively that it’s not a renter-friendly, simple, or inexpensive resolution. There are a ton of vinyl peel-and-stick wallpaper choices, however they’re not tremendous large. I believed the seams may make the area look low cost, so I ended up discovering a patent leather-based material and stapling it to the partitions (after which I lined the staples with trim so it’s tremendous seamless). I ordered 8.5 yards as a result of I initially did the door as effectively, and the whole was $250 for all the material. At $30 a yard, this was SO inexpensive, seems to be tremendous excessive finish, and beats a whole lot of wallpaper pricing on the market, let me inform ya! The staples might be a factor to get out, however not unattainable, and actually, I doubt I’m going to take this down. The subsequent tenant will most likely be pumped to have this bar, so I’m undoubtedly going to attempt to go away it if I can! Surprisingly, although, every little thing in right here will be eliminated with virtually no harm to the closet. I stored the rod as effectively, so I can put it again on the closet rod sockets prefer it was by no means touched.

Okay, sufficient ready, let’s take you deeper into this closet speakeasy, lets??

So, as I briefly talked about above, we chopped off the closet rod in about 5 seconds with this highly effective software my boyfriend, Austin, introduced over. Then we proceeded to put in shelving (which I’ve by no means executed earlier than, however it wanted to be SUPPORTIVE due to all of the bottles and such that may dwell on right here). We used these objectively ugly however tremendous supportive brackets to carry up the again of the bookcase (I lined most of them up with the mirrored backsplash, however you’ll be able to see a little bit of them on the underside of the highest shelf – we photoshopped them out in a number of the images however see the picture beneath the place I left them in), after which we used these fairly wooden brackets to help the entrance of the cabinets.

I discovered the proper wooden cocktail glass holder for underneath this shelf and painted every little thing a color-matched pink to the patent leather-based partitions. I’m very obsessive about the look, particularly with the way in which the brackets body these glasses. I really like me some glassware, so this was actually important for storage functions!

After which I additionally added battery-powered LED mild strips to the cabinets and these acrylic cabinets to carry the bottles up and have the sunshine shine by – the closet had no mild, so this made an enormous distinction!

This shot above is the one one the place you’ll be able to sort of see the ceiling – which is actually the place my Parker Palm Springs wine bar inspo reveals off essentially the most! I ordered 9 of these tiles after which hung them up with command strips and so they’re a dream! They actually make the entire area.

Okay, let’s speak concerning the mirrored backsplash! I used to be trying into ordering actual antiqued mirrors, however let me inform you – they price a fairly penny. I actually needed to avoid wasting on the backsplash since I wasn’t going to take this area with me, so I discovered these mirrors in a pack of 12 for $25. I ordered two packs and a few spray paint and set to work! I adopted Lone Fox Dwelling’s method (go 12 min into the video!) which is to layer this spay paint, then this and this, after which dab on alcohol ink, and it labored rather well however I oversprayed it a bit, so I used nail polish remover to deliver a number of the reflectiveness again in and I LOVE the way it turned out. Okay, now it’s time for the cupboard saga…

Cupboard | Wine Fridge | Wine Glass Cubby

Okay, getting this cupboard in right here was so hilarious. Let me clarify. So I discovered this beautiful burlwood cupboard that was the EXACT width of this closet, and because it was from Dwelling Depot, I used to be like…it will undoubtedly are available in items and I’ll set up it contained in the closet when it reveals up, and it will likely be good. Properly, it most undoubtedly didn’t are available in items – this factor got here BUILT. AND SHE WAS SOLID. However I used to be decided to disassemble this unhealthy boy and get it within the closet. So I enlisted Austin to return over and assist me lower into it with a few of his fancy energy instruments (courting me is superior, BTW). You guys, this factor wouldn’t budge. We took out each screw we might discover, hacked away at it with a noticed, and nothing. For 2 straight days, I attempted breaking it aside, and everybody was beginning to suppose I used to be insane. The definition of madness is doing the identical factor over and anticipating completely different outcomes, and I used to be actually at that time till I took a handsaw straight to the aspect of the wooden and snapped this factor into two (cleanly and properly, although). It was truly loopy. BUT this man match so completely in right here that I reassembled it inside and hammered it in so it’s completely tight and safe. Like this factor goes nowhere, and you’ll by no means know the frankensteining I needed to do to make it work. So, for those who’re out there for a burlwood cupboard that’s prime quality at an inexpensive worth level, may I like to recommend this one? It’s almost unattainable to interrupt or rip aside lol.

After which case you haven’t observed…I’m a bit additional…so clearly I put a wine fridge in right here (duh!) It took perpetually to search out one which was tiny sufficient to suit – and this one was nonetheless a bit too deep, so I took the again of the cupboard out after which pulled it one inch from the wall (see right here). I ran an extension twine on the left aspect of the speakeasy and painted the twine cowl to match, so that you don’t even discover it’s there.

Oh, after which I’ve yet one more bonus picture for you!! The lamp you’ve been seeing in all of the images is a classic lamp I discovered for $10, which was a complete steal. I ended up getting gifted my DREAM Louis Poulsen PH lamp (which is objectively one of many coolest issues to ever occur to me), so I attempted it in right here and I LOVE. I had it right here for a bit after which put it on the piano in my lounge as a result of I really feel like it’s a bit tall for this area?? Remark your ideas on which lamp you want extra and if the door needs to be on or off:)

Louis Poulsen PH lamp

In order that’s how the closet speakeasy all went down. Kinda loopy…I do know. I don’t do issues half-assed, so right here we’re…

THANK YOU for studying and following alongside. If you wish to see each step of me placing this closet collectively (together with ripping the cupboard aside with my naked palms), you’ll be able to take a look at half one, half two, and half three over on my Instagram. I’ll see ya within the feedback!

*Design by Mallory Wackerman
**Images by Sara Ligorria-Tramp