There are two kinds of people: those who love a closet purgelove a clean pantry and can’t concentrate until their desk is clear – and those who simply haven’t yet felt the satisfaction of a truly organized space. Because once you know what it feels like to have a place for everything, there’s no turning back.
I admit that I am biased. There’s a reason I named my newsletter weekly Breathing space. I crave open, uncluttered environments, and I’ve learned that clarity at home often leads to clarity in my mind. When we started planning our beach house renovationthoughtful organization was not a secondary reflection: it was fundamental.
I knew this project would come with its own challenges, from maximizing square footage to creating flow in high traffic areas. So from the start, I wanted Californian closets by my side. We’ve partnered on several spaces in our Austin home, from our pantry to the kids’ closets, and I trust their team to translate my vision into spaces that are not only beautiful but deeply functional. This time, working with Katharine, our designer from California Closets Los Angeles, we approached each space not just as storage, but as an opportunity to design the function and feel of our home.
Today I’m sharing exactly how we planned for four key areas:
- The laundry room
- The locker room + garage
- The master closet + vanity
- Phoebe’s closet
Let’s go.
Design according to the way we really live
Before we talked about finishes or cabinet layouts, Katharine and I talked about our lives and our daily rhythms. Because ultimately, these are spaces that should support the daily transitions that make up a large part of our lives. We talked about seemingly small details like:
- Where do beach bags land?
- Where are the golf clubs piled up?
- How do I want to feel as I get ready in the morning?
Living at the beach comes with an unavoidable reality: sand. When we first stayed in the original house, I found myself vacuuming the entire house every day because I could literally feel the crunch beneath my bare feet. Towels and beach bags fell inside, and within hours the sand had migrated throughout the house. So with the ability to start from scratch, we designed for that.
It was this friction that led us to locate the locker room inside the garage. This becomes a buffer zone: designated hooks for beach bags, a washer/dryer for towels, and an outdoor shower to rinse off sandy feet before entering.
When you design for real life rather than “ideal life,” everything flows more smoothly.
Another thing to consider: Our whole family now plays golf, which I love, but that also translates to golf equipment. everywhere. So we built intentional storage space in the garage and mudroom for clubs, shoes, gloves and hats so there’s no last-minute scramble when we go out.
Even small daily rituals have shaped our projects. I like to choose my jewelry as part of my getting ready process, which is why my jewelry drawers are built right next to my vanity. In the evening, removing it becomes a ritual that accompanies my treatment.
One of my favorite hidden details? In the laundry room, we built a hidden cabinet for Clem’s litter box, which has a small opening for her to climb into and a push latch so we can access it easily for cleaning.
From inspiration to intention
While function dominated design, inspiration dominated materials and visual details. I created a Pinterest board and divided it into dedicated sections for each space.
My visual inspiration focused on natural wood tones, matte finishes, warm built-in lighting, minimal hardware, and spaces with wiggle room.
We landed on California Closets Quiet Grove Finish—a natural wood grain with texture and character—paired with soft matte white accents called Dove. The overall palette aligns with the broader Japandi beach house aesthetic, with soft Roman clay walls and natural wood floors.
In the master closet, Moroccan clay zellige tiles will extend from the bathroom directly into the closet, giving it a warm, earthy, cohesive feel. One thing I intended to avoid: too many open shelves. In a space-saving home, closed cabinets can be a lifesaver. I wanted these pieces to house real life and contain it, rather than display it.
Translating our vision into 3D renderings
Seeing everything come to life in California Closets’ proprietary CAD tool was the most exciting part of the process.
The renderings allowed us to refine details that would have been frustrating later. Shelf heights have changed and drawer configurations have changed. The hanging bar heights were adjusted as we talked about exactly what would live where.
One of my problems with our Austin closet is that the drawers are so shallow that they barely hold anything. This time we were incredibly intentional about depth and proportion. Katharine guided us to configurations that maximized storage without sacrificing negative space.
She also suggested storing the tracks in the garage for bikes, skateboards, and tools, which I hadn’t considered but makes the space exponentially more functional.
What I appreciate is how Katharine really considered flow, proportions and how a piece should feeland the result went far beyond solutions I had never thought of on my own.
The laundry room: designing for flow
The old beach house didn’t even have a proper laundry room; you walked through the front door and the washer and dryer were right there. There was no storage space or folding area, leading to constant visual clutter.
Since I usually fold everything in the laundry room, I needed enough counter and closet space to make it very efficient. The stacked washer and dryer will be recessed so that they are flush with the counter (we actually pushed the wall back slightly to make this happen). A small detail, but visually so impactful.
Upper cabinets extend to the ceiling to store tray tables and entertainment pieces. There is a large cupboard for brooms and cleaning supplies. Hanging space for delicate parts. A hidden basket and sink for arranging flowers and branches. It’s compact, but very effective.
The locker room and garage: creating a drop-off zone that works
This space is created to collect damage before it reaches the house. Closed cabinets, drawers, hooks, benches for removing shoes or suits, tall cabinets for golf clubs and even hanging space for out-of-season coats and dresses that don’t fit in our smaller master closet.
Since our master closet footprint is narrow, strategically using this mudroom gives us flexibility elsewhere. The goal here wasn’t perfection, it was about having a visually pleasing space to hold the elements of life that are necessary (but that we don’t want to look at every day).
The master closet + vanity: a space that sets the tone
Our master closet is space efficient, so I’m amazed at the amount of closet space and drawers we were able to fit in there, as well as the vanity where I’ll get ready each morning! Katharine helped us line our walk-in closet with wrap-around cabinets on all four sides. In the center is a vanity built into a wall beneath an LED mirror.
There is a mix of double hangers, long hangers, drawers and hidden storage, all intentionally placed. Built-in warm lighting illuminates the hanging sections, while the LED mirror will provide bright, clear light for makeup.
Since you enter the closet through an open archway in the master bathroom, it should be as beautiful as it is functional. I want mornings here to be calm, unhurried and intentional, so we designed it to see our clothes clearly and enjoy the process of choosing what to wear. A well-designed closet truly sets the tone for the day!
Phoebe’s closet: designed to grow with her
True story: This space almost became a DIY project, and I’m so glad it didn’t! In an effort to save on the budget, I began assembling components from a big box retailer. But the unusual shape of the room, caused by the built-in washer/dryer and mechanical units on the other side, made the task incredibly tricky.
By the time I evaluated everything, I realized I would spend almost as much on a piecemeal solution that wouldn’t seem cohesive.
So I called California Closets and we added this space to our plans at the last minute. We use Quiet Grove drawer fronts with gold hardware, mixed pendants, drawers and selective open shelves. Phoebe reviewed the plans with me and chose what she wanted to display or hide. Designing it together was special and made her very excited about her new wardrobe.
My takeaway: Sometimes trying to save money ends up costing more: in stress, in compromise, and in the long run.
Make room for what matters
California Closets understands that high-traffic, high-touch spaces also shape the way our home functions, and I’ve learned from experience: quality really matters. Precise construction, thoughtful proportions and materials that hold up are essential, as are designers thinking about flow rather than just square footage.
When our systems are built well, there is less friction in our daily lives. Less visual noise and less rush, that’s what it’s all about. It’s about creating a home that supports our rhythms.
Ultimately, I crave organization for my stuff, but I also want space solutions designed for beauty and order, because when our spaces are clear, our lives feel lighter and freer — and we can make room for the things that really matter.
Stay tuned for more as these spaces come to life.
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