The brief and overall design were
determined by Stephi. My task was to convert her ideas
into a working wardrobe. A complication, although not
obvious from the photos is that the wardrobe has been built
in front of and around an offset chimney breast.
The design had to include a "dressing table"
with plenty of light along with storage for: jewellery,
shoes, hats, handbags etc. The wardrobe is made from pine and
finished with a satin polyurethane finish.
Click each photo for a larger image
Photo 1 above . Aview of
the entire built in unit.
Photo 2 and 3 below left and right:
Left hand and
right hand units.
Photos 4 and 5 below
The centre section of the wardrobe (the dressing table) from two different
views.
The lights set into the "ceiling" are of a type that
do not radiate much heat. Therefore sitting at the dressing
table for any period of time will not be made uncomfortable
by "top down" heat.
These lights can be adjusted by the touch switch (more of
which later) just visible on the left hand side of the unit.
Photo 5&6: below
To the left and right of the dressing table are
recessed and lit shelf units. In these recesses, essential
"perfumery" is set out and easily accessible .
Not only do the lights illuminate perfume bottles
but, it adds to the available light without creating
shadows.
These lights can be adjusted by the touch switch on the
right hand side.
Photo 7... Below left, jewellery.....
The lower rack is for ear rings. Here they have been set out
so that choices can be made and by virtue of hanging , do not
become entangled one with another.
Above the earrings are the bangles.
Hanging over the mirror (made from hickory for a subtly
different colour of wood) are necklaces.
Photo 8 ... above right.
Touch switches on various household appliances are beginning to appear in
the high street shops (UK at least).
Sold with a sense of magic about them,
they work through some clever electronics.
Now, you want to know how it works don't you ???
If not skip the next bit.....
The metal plate you see in the picture is connected via
a wire to a small "chip" (within which
are a series of of logic gates) in the transformer
casing. Touching
the plate discharges - through your body - a tiny condenser in the chip. If the lights are off, one touch
brings the lights on. If they are on, one touch
turns the lights off.
By definition the chip knows the status of the lights
therefore; if you touch and keep touching the metal
plate the lights will either dim up or down
depending upon their status. By extension.... if you
touch the plate for about 4x seconds or more, the
lights will dim up and down continuously and, hey, you
have your own light show....
Photos 9 and 10 below ...
The right hand side of the wardrobe is for long garments and
shoes.
Photo 9 l/h , shows the shoe racking shortly after
installation. Photo 10 r/h shows the same
racking some time later. Notice the off set divider so that boots can be accommodated.
On the inside of the l/h door is a full length mirror. The
door is on traditional butt hinges and will - by design
- fold back against the wardrobe.
Photos 11 and 12 below ...
The left hand side of the wardrobe is for accessories and
includes a chest of drawers. There is also racking for
shorter garments Below, you can see the chest and above that,
facilities for handbags belts etc...
Photos 13 and 14 below....
Running along the top of the unit are cupboards for
additional storage.
