Custom clothes storage for a considered home
Gerda & Konrad, London E9
A wardrobe in disguise
Gerda and Konrad had recently purchased their second home, a beautiful midcentury house overlooking Victoria Park in east London, and wanted to add functional storage for clothes to their bedroom.
However, they didn't have the space for a full-height wardrobe because they weren't keen to lose the existing wall-to-wall shelves – a strong architectural feature they loved about the house and that was perfect for displaying their collections of books and artwork. They also didn’t want to compromise the spacious and airy feel of the room with tall and bulky furniture.
Working with a local design company was important to the couple, so they quickly found Lozi on Hackney Road and decided to commission a custom short wardrobe, with the dimensions of a sideboard, to make the maximum use of their space.
Together we managed to hide an enormous amount of function and storage in a calm and minimal design that would fit under the existing shelves, and even made the most of the lovely light flooding in from the park through the window by incorporating a pull-out dressing table and writing surface.
Designed with integrity
This new piece of bespoke Lozi furniture would replace a plywood sideboard by Jasper Morrison, which had been the first item of furniture the couple bought together, so they were very clear on what they wanted from the project: the minimal and calm aesthetic of natural plywood, but with more functionality to suit their current needs.
One important requirement was that Gerda and Konrad wanted no metal runners or mechanisms in the piece, only plywood, so that it would remain serene and aesthetically pleasing whether the drawers and desk were open or closed.
This meant the dimensions needed to be spot-on – ideal for Lozi's CNC-led design and making – and our team paid particular attention to the tolerances of the desk so that it opens and closes smoothly.
We also developed a plywood locking feature to stop it at the perfect depth when you pull it out. Our signature, subtle cable-management means the desk can easily be used as a work-from-home space should the need arise.
A highly considered layout
Their Lozi designer carefully considered the position of each function along the sideboard to create the most pleasant and convenient day-to-day experience for Gerda and Konrad. Clean lines and symmetry were important to keep the design from looking too busy, because it will be the first thing the couple see from their bed in the morning and they wanted to complement the serene atmosphere of their home.
Although the couple initially wanted the desk by the window, their designer realised having it right at the end would feel too cramped in the corner, so they agreed to give it more breathing room by moving the pull-out surface towards the centre.
She also calculated that it would be quicker for the couple to retrieve or put away hanging clothes than folded ones, so we placed the adjustable shelves for folded clothes in the centre, where Gerda and Konrad would spend time folding and putting items away without interference from the wall and door. We then flanked these with a mix of small and large drawers either side, and pushed the hanging storage that would be accessed most briefly to either end.
Unique handle details
Gerda and Konrad loved the look of Lozi's simple circular recessed handles and specified them for the doors and small drawers, but their designer advised them that the large drawers would need a wide handle to open smoothly and comfortably. She therefore created a bespoke handle design for their project, which uses the same Lozi visual language but joins up the circles to create a suitable handle for a wide drawer.
Overall this bespoke wardrobe disguised as a sideboard hides an enormous amount of function and storage in a calm and minimal design that's not too imposing in the space.
Gerda and Konrad can put their clothes out of sight with ease while maintaining their minimal shelves to display treasured items and the all-important light spilling in from the park, while Lozi's calm aesthetic of characterful simplicity perfectly complements their minimal and considered home.
-
Please find our guided pricing here
Each project varies depending on the size of your home, the complexity of the design and your choice of materials and finishes.
-
Bespoke free-standing half-height wardrobe with hanging rails, adjustable shelves, small and large drawers
Integrated pull-out desk with plywood mechanism and cable management
Design and development with our in-house designer-makers
Fully bespoke handle design for large drawers
Making, by our own team of makers, on Hackney Road
Delivery and installation by the same team of makers
-
Any other home accessories shown
-
After submitting your enquiry and confirming a quote that suits your budget, you'll be allocated one of our highly skilled designer-makers and they will schedule a site visit, where relevant. Based on your requirements and personal style, we'll provide a digital 2-D design to visualise the project outcome. Your designer-maker will ensure the experience is stress-free, supporting important design decisions and providing tailored, design-led solutions. All Lozi furniture is then made in-house and if appropriate, carefully installed by the designer-maker and workshop team.
Click here for a full breakdown of each stage.