Client Stories:

A Dramatic Closet Before & After for Design Executive Kevin Sharkey

client: Kevin Sharkey

location: New York, USA

design consultant: Carolyn Musher

Custom black closet with flowers | California Closets

closet with multiple color coats | California Closets

What Kevin Sharkey Wanted

Kevin Sharkey, Executive Director of Design at Martha Stewart Living and longtime California Closets customer, is no stranger to meticulous organization. From his collections of perfectly polished antique silver, to his color-coordinated library of books, everything has a beautiful place and his wardrobe is no exception. Ten years ago, Kevin tapped California Closets New York to transform his closet into an all-white dressing area, but after his recent, bold decision to paint his entire light-filled apartment black, he decided it was time to revisit his closet design to support his modern storage needs and style.

There is not one room of my house that doesn’t have California Closets.

Kevin Sharkey

Custom black walk-in with mirrors | California Closets

Custom black island dresser | California Closets

How California Closets Did It

Working again with design consultant Carolyn Musher, Kevin upgraded the existing layout of the room with shelves and drawers on the right and left sides, and double hanging space along the back wall.

For the center island, designed to Kevin’s height, he added a highly-polished black granite top for a statement work surface. A true collector, Kevin requested drawers on either side to hold his array of ties, glasses, and gloves. Additionally, Carolyn also added a clever inset of shelves on the back of the island to neatly store Kevin’s sneaker collection.

Along the back hanging wall, Kevin replaced shelves with trays for his t-shirts with shallow pull-out drawers for easier access. And he swapped his white hangers for black — a small detail but with Kevin’s discerning eye, now creates a crisp and uniform aesthetic.