Choosing the right safe...

How to choose the right safe or safety locks for drawers, closets or cabinets?

Our jewelry, precious papers and items need to be secure and although the closet is the right place for them often times people go outside the closet for more security- like their

Safes are something we install into our clients homes all the time. We do several Custom safes, besides the typical Empire safe or the pricey Traum safes which are the daily bread of the high-end residential closet world.




What does a good safe provide?


Bolted steel casing locked against theft, fires and floods.

Decorative and custom interiors can also provide beauty and organization.

Hides well behind beautiful cabinetry or wall space so it is hidden from plain sight.



What does a safe cost?


A behind cabinet safe should cost anywhere from 6k- 40k

Custom and Traum safes start at 25k and can go sky high into even the hundreds of thousands of dollars.


What is a good and less expensive alternative? I have a few.


Fabulous digital wall safes and simple safes sold at hardware stores which aren’t necessarily bolted down, can cost anywhere from between $500- 2000k and these safes can accommodate small amounts of jewelry and papers for safe keeping. Often these safes only lock and they do not protect against fire or flooding.

Bio Locks

Another option which I prefer to use the bio lock as an alternative to the less expensive less secure safe or the super high-end custom safe. I install them on my client’s cabinets or drawers. These locks can be hooked up to a light switch or even your in home security panel and are not visible from the outside of the drawer or cabinet. They are of course less conspicuous than a simple locked drawer but also stronger.



If broken into and hooked up to your alarm system, (most good bio locks hook up to most home security systems) it will set off the alarm. Bio Locks are great alternative to either of the above options and they can fit very easily into most storage and closet designs built out of cabinetry or existing cabinetry.

XOXO
Clos-ette

How to Pack up your Winter Wardrobe

LSD- this is for you!

Ok so hopefully it is officially time to put the heavy wools and cashmeres away, send the furs to storage and make room for the sarongs, shorts bathing suits, wide brimmed hats and sundresses!

How and where do we put these things. to start where do you live? A city- off site storage? an apartment? A home? with a basement or an attic?

finding the appropriate storage is key. temperature control is also key, otherwise mold, moths and water damage and oxygenation can foil your fabulous plans to "make room" in your closet!

Find your storage and then go from there. If you're keeping your items at home and have secured climate controlled storage either under your bed or in your attic or basement then let's talk about packing stuff up!

Make sure everything is clean before you fold it, or hang it up. I prefer natural fiber boxes and garment bags to plastic of paper ones. Plastic, although it protects from wetness, seals out some much needed air for many fabrics such as cashmere and silk leaving them to do that nasty "yellowing" we all know and HATE!

If you're gonna use plastic for anything, use it for your big cotton and wool sweaters, coats and pants and make sure you suck all the air out of them so they're as flat as possible.

Boots, shoes and handbags are an even bigger pain the butt, because they're bulky, come in odd sizes and cant be smushed! Try to store boots with boot trees in them and standing tall and I prefer to have my shoes on a shoe rack rather than in boxes however, if there is the possibility of dust of wetness best to box them. Make sure to label them either with a photo or a written description of the shoe in order to easily identify them if you need to get to them (i.e. a trip to Patagonia or skiing in chile in the summer!) I also stuff my purses and put them on a shelf and/or put shoe trees into them.

Some off site in NYC- Manhattan Mini Storage(more economical and more do-it-yourself)
Garde Robe NYC (with locations growing!) much more expensive and white glove service!

XOXO
Clos-ette

Bib Necklaces- A great Summer accessory!!

A fun way to dress up a simple white oxford or t shirt or ad flair to the perfect little black dress...
some of my favorites...
Roberta Freymann top bib and Lanvin bottom bib..

XOXO
Clos-ette

Custom Safes...How does one get one?

Custom safes are very cool because not only can you tweak the interior but also the exterior for a super custom fit. What does that mean for you? Well, instead of fitting a closet or build out around your safe, you can fit your safe around the built out furniture it will sit inside.

Custom safes are not that easy to stumble upon, you need to have access to a sub who uses the correct locking mechanisms and knows how to also make them secure, fireproof them etc.


A few custom safe features:
* beautiful custom drawers and trays with
* wood and enamel drawers and trays
* watch winder

Clos-ette can create the custom safe you need and want and so might your high-end residential architect. We suggest you make sure you go with a consultant who has done several custom safes and can references their locking system, do CAD drawings of the safe and mock-ups.

XOXO
Clos-ette

My Interior Design Idol, Alberto Pinto, Designs China!

Ok, i have a passion for handbags, jewelry and linens, well all fabrics really, but what i really go nuts for is china!!!The man in the design world i would really LOVE to create my first home out of the city for, who i got to work with only once to date, has designed beautiful Limoges Porcelain Chinoiserie china...who is this man I adore????...the one and only Alberto Pinto...the tastemaker and dream maker of residential interiors!!!

The designs for his china are as exception as his designs for the residences he is commissioned to create~

Buy his china now at www.devinecorp.net...see below..DIVINE INDEED!!!
Sorry I haven't written in a while, i will be back the rest of the month with tons of fun closet, fashion, design and building tid bits for you!

XOXO
Clos-ette

HUNTER BOOTS RULE!!

What is chic to wear in cold, rainy spring (not so much)weather???
Wellies!!!!

HUNTER has come out with an entire new line of colors/styles for Spring/Summer 09. They have just released the Original SHORT boot which is very popular with the A-listers. Winona Ryder & Christina Ricci have been spotted all around NYC in the navy version!


New colors of the Original TALL are Silver, White & pumpkin (which are available now) and violet, pea green, lava, graphite- all of which are released July 1st. Nicole Richie has been spotted all over LA wearing her green and black wellies- Harlow even has a pair of light pink ones!


With all the new styles/colors available, every celebrity is asking for these boots as a fun way to dress up their looks. The NEW SHORT BOOTS allow for an easier, throw-n-go look that is still incredibly chic.

Check out Hunter Boots!

XOXO
Clos-ette

TOPSHOP OPENS IN NEW YORK CITY TODAY!

Kate Moss cut the ribbon at 11 am this morning when the famed TopShop London retailer opened its New York City Soho Doors ..on Broadway and Broome Street!
Miss Moss's line of fashions is one of the many hot and stylish and VERY affordable lines featured at the hip shop!
I am a HUGE fan for particular items.

XOXO
Clos-ette

BUILD YOUR TOWNHOUSE ON ONE OF THESE VACANT LOTS FOR SALE

Sometimes we run into some fantastic realestate deals we think you should be privy to as a possible investor...this looks interesting.






This is a rendering of the townhouses



LOTS SOLD WITH APPROVED PLANS

TO BUILD 4 STORY TOWNHOUSE



120 AMITY STREET ($1,400,000)

357 HENRY STREET ($1,250,000)

359 HENRY STREET ($1,175,000)

361 HENRY STREET ($1,210,000)

BROOKLYN, NY 11201

(COBBLE HILL)
More information at:

120 Amity:

357 Henry:


359 Henry:

361 Henry:

XOXO
Clos-ette

Interior Designer of the Moment - Christina Murphy

I love her aesthetic and her personality and you will too...from New York City to the Hamptons and Palm Beach, Christina Murphy throws her worthy interiors along the east coast with style and grace. A Kemble Interiors Alumni and rising star in the design world, House Beautiful named her one of "America's Top 100" designers!
Catch her on the way up! Visit Christina Murphy Interiors website for more information!
XOXO
Clos-ette

Gwyneth Paltrow gives the Goop..

A blog written by Paltrow, gives her thoughts on food and dining, parenting, what to buy and where, things to be and explore such as city guides and much, much more. I like the website and it is easy to use. Goop is the star's insider info to lots of lessons, doctors, recipes, specialists-- she tackles post baby weight fixes and how to spend your Valentine's day. I think the website was treated with care and it is a thoughtful blog of sharing her luxuries and experiences in life.

XOXO
Clos-ette