After three decades in my workshop, surrounded by the scent of freshly cut walnut and the satisfying rasp of hand planes, I can tell you this: building closets is about so much more than assembling boxes. It’s about understanding how someone lives, what they treasure, and then crafting custom closets that become silent partners in their daily life. This is the Italian way—we build with our hands and our hearts.
How I Design and Build Closet Systems
Every project begins the same way in my workshop—I sit with clients over espresso, sketching on paper, asking questions. Show me your favorite jacket. Tell me about your morning routine. Do you prefer to see everything at once, or discover pieces gradually? These conversations shape the closet systems I’ll eventually build with my own hands.
When I’m designing modular closet components, I’m already visualizing the wood I’ll select from my lumber storage. That particular walnut board with the cathedral grain—perfect for the visible doors. These figured maple pieces—they’ll become the interior closet drawers where my client will see them every day. Each wardrobe closet I build starts as raw timber that I personally choose, joint, and plane before any joinery begins.
My approach to walk in closets draws from generations of Italian furniture makers. My grandfather taught me that every joint should be stronger than necessary, every surface worthy of touch, every detail considered even if hidden. When you open one of my closet drawers, you’ll find dovetails cut by hand, not machine. The bottom panel sits in a groove, floating to accommodate seasonal wood movement—just as it should be.
The Workshop Reality of Building Custom Closets
Let me walk you through my process. When someone commissions wardrobes or storage solutions, I begin by templating the space myself—no delegating this step. I measure twice, three times, checking for walls that aren’t plumb, floors that slope, ceiling heights that vary. These imperfections become part of my design calculations. Italian buildings, especially historic ones, rarely have square corners. My closet design must accommodate reality, not idealized dimensions.
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