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There are two types of people: those who enjoy cleaning out the closet, love a clean pantry, and can’t concentrate until their desk is clear, and those who simply haven’t yet experienced the satisfaction of a truly organized space. Because once you know what it feels like to have a place for everything, there is no turning back.
I admit, I’m biased. There’s a reason I named my weekly newsletter Space to breathe. I crave environments that seem open and uncluttered, and I’ve learned that clarity at home often leads to clarity in my mind. When we started planning our beach house renovation, careful organization wasn’t an afterthought—it was essential.
I knew this project would pose its own challenges, from maximizing square footage to creating flow in high-traffic areas. So from the beginning I wanted California Closets at 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 our California Closets Los Angeles designer, Katharine, we approached each space not just as storage, but as an opportunity to design how our home would function and feel.
Today I share with you exactly how we plan for four key areas:
- The laundry room
- The hall + garage
- The main closet + dressing table
- Phoebe’s closet
Let’s dive in.
Design for how we really live
Before talking about finishes or cabinet layouts, Katharine and I talked about our lives and our daily rhythms. Because, at the end of the day, these are spaces that should support the daily transitions that make up so much of our lives. We talk about seemingly small details like:
- Where do beach bags land?
- Where do golf clubs accumulate?
- How do I want to feel while I get ready in the morning?
Living on the beach involves an unavoidable reality: the sand. When we first stayed in the original house, I found myself vacuuming the entire house every day because I could literally feel the creak under my bare feet. Towels and beach bags were dropped inside and, within hours, the sand had migrated throughout the house. So, with the opportunity to start over, we designed for it.
This friction was what led us to locate the vestibule inside the garage. It 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 instead of the “ideal life,” everything flows better.
Another thing to consider: our entire family now plays golf, which I love, but it also results in golf equipment. everywhere. So, we created intentional storage space in the garage and mudroom for clubs, shoes, gloves, and hats so there are no last-minute issues when we walk out the door.
Even small everyday rituals shaped our plans. I love choosing my jewelry as part of my getting ready process, which is why my jewelry drawers are built directly next to my dresser. At night, taking it off becomes a ritual that accompanies skin care.
One of my favorite hidden details? In the laundry room, we created a hidden cabinet for Clem’s litter box, complete with a small opening for her to get in and a latch so we can easily access it for cleaning.
From inspiration to intention
While function led the design, inspiration led the materials and visual details. I created a Pinterest board and I divided it into dedicated sections for each space.
My visual inspiration focused on natural wood tones, matte finishes, warm integrated lighting, minimal hardware, and spaces with room to breathe.
We landed in California Closets’ Quiet Grove Finish—a natural wood grain with texture and character—paired with accents in a soft matte white called Pigeon. The overall palette aligns with the beach house’s broader Japanese aesthetic, complete with soft Roman clay walls and natural wood floors.
In the master closet, Moroccan zellige clay tiles will go from the bathroom directly into the closet, making it feel warm, earthy, and cohesive. One thing I intentionally wanted to avoid: too much open shelving. In a smaller home, closed cabinets can be a lifesaver. I wanted these rooms to house real life and contain it, rather than display it.
Translating our vision into 3D renderings
Watching 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 changed and drawer configurations changed. The heights of the hanging bars were adjusted as we discussed exactly what would live where.
One of my problems with our Austin closet is that the drawers are so shallow that they barely fit anything. This time, we were incredibly intentional about depth and proportion. Katharine guided us toward configurations that maximize storage without sacrificing negative space.
He also suggested storage for bikes, skateboards, and tools in the garage, something I hadn’t considered but makes the space exponentially more functional.
What I appreciate is how Katharine really considered flow, proportion and how she should feeland the result was much more than saving solutions that I had never thought of on my own.
The Laundry Room: Design for Flow
The previous beach house didn’t even have a real laundry room; you walked in the front door and the washer and dryer were right there. There was no storage space or folding area, creating constant visual clutter.
Since I usually fold everything in the laundry room, I needed enough counter and hanging space to make it very efficient. The stacked washer and dryer will be recessed so they are flush with the counter (we actually pushed the wall back slightly to make this happen). A small detail, but visually very impressive.
Upper cabinets extend to the ceiling to store dishes and entertaining pieces. There is a tall cupboard for brooms and cleaning supplies. Space to hang delicate pieces. A hidden basket and sink to arrange flowers and branches. It is compact, but very efficient.
The Mudroom & Garage – Creating a Drop Zone That Works
This space is created to collect clutter before it gets home. Closed cabinets, drawers, hooks, benches for removing shoes or wetsuits, tall cabinets for golf clubs, and even space to hang out-of-season coats and dresses that don’t fit in our smaller master closet.
Since our main closet space is small, strategic use of this vestibule gives us flexibility elsewhere. The goal here was not perfection, but rather having a visually pleasing space that contains elements of life that are necessary (but that we don’t want to look at every day).
The master closet + dressing table: a space that sets the tone
Our master closet has a small footprint, so I’m amazed at how much hanging and drawer space we were able to fit in here, plus the dresser where I’ll get ready each morning! Katharine helped us line our walk-in closet with cabinets that wrap around all four sides. Right in the center is a vanity built into a wall beneath an LED mirror.
There is a combination of double hanging, long hanging, 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 the closet is entered 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 so we can clearly see our clothes and enjoy the process of choosing what to wear. A well-designed wardrobe really 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 budget, I began assembling components from a large retailer. But the unusual shape of the room (caused by the built-in washer/dryer and the mechanical units on the other side) made it incredibly complicated.
When I priced everything, I realized I would spend almost the same on a piecemeal solution that wouldn’t be coherent.
So I called California Closets and we added this space to our plans at the last minute. We are using Quiet Grove drawer fronts with gold hardware, combination pendants, drawers and selective open shelving. Phoebe went over the plans with me and chose what she wanted to show and what she wanted to hide. Designing it together was special and made her so excited about her new wardrobe.
My conclusion: Sometimes trying to save money ends up costing more: in terms of stress, commitment, and in the long run.
Make space for what matters
California Closets understands that high-traffic, high-touch spaces also influence how our homes function, and I’ve learned from experience: quality really matters. Precise construction, thoughtful proportions, and materials that hold up are key, as are designers who think about flow rather than just square footage.
When our systems are well built, there is less friction in our daily lives. Less visual noise and less rush, that’s what it’s all about. It is creating a home that supports our rhythms.
At the end of the day, I long to organize things, but I also want room solutions designed for beauty and order because when our spaces feel clear, our lives feel lighter and freer, and we can make room for the things that really matter.
Stay tuned because there will be much more as these spaces come to life.
