Browse Calgary’s furniture and accessory stores and you can find a multitude of armoires. In Inglewood, Modern Country Interiors features different styles including the Urban Country Computer Armoire, with four drawers, two pull-outs, four doors, available in three woods and 18 different stains. The store’s armoires range from $2,100 to $5,000. “A lot of people are modifying their armoires to be media entertainment units,” says store manager Dalin Heng. “They are multi-functional.”

Over in the Design District, on 11th Avenue S.W., koolhaus Calgary sells moorea wardrobes and java armoire entertainment units, priced at $3,195 to $3,435. The solid maple moorea comes with two removable shelves and rod, in blond, espresso, chocolate, wild walnut and dark tea finishes. While the java in solid maple has two removable shelves, one fixed shelf and two drawers inside, available in most of these same finishes.

Timeless classic
 “Armoires are classic pieces that are popular now and probably always will be,” says Sotropa.

Popular armoire types, she says are “ antiques that have been retrofit inside for modern day purposes like storing audio video equipment or for home office equipment and armoires with interesting finishes and patinas.”

At Urban Barn in Kensington, the company’s Bahama line boasts an armoire ($1,599) and increasingly more popular TV cabinet ($599). “Each piece in the Bahama line is hand-crafted and bench-built from reclaimed timbers from Siberia, with special attention to such details as dovetail joinery and floating panels,” explains Andrew Rennie, marketing manager. “(They are) solid wood throughout and hand-finished using high grade European oils.”

Organizing tool
Not only stylish pieces of furniture, armoires can be ideal organizing tools. “An armoire can house anything that will fit in it,” says professional organizer Rhonda Gervais, owner of Calgary firm Organizing Matters. “Armoires are great because they can be used in almost any room in one’s house and can hold a whole variety of things.”

Besides armoires as portable closets for rooms without them, she says, they can be a shelving unit that has doors so that the objects inside are not visible. ”It is always nice to have things sorted behind doors so that what you can see doesn’t become a visual distraction.” Many of her Calgary clients don’t actually want to look at what is being stored in their armoires all the time.

She suggests armoires be used as sewing stations, craft supply storage, linens, games cabinets or toy storage. A larger armoire can hold one group of things, for example, craft or sewing supplies and projects. Placing such belongings in one area, she advises, can make it easier to complete a project and locate the items you need.

“The list (of armoire uses) really is endless,” admits Gervais. “It is always a good idea to be totally open when organizing anything. There are no set rules, so if the things will fit, and it is easy to access, then go for it.”

“One does have to be careful with things (in your armoire) being out-of-sight, and out-of-mind, because (they) can truly be forgotten.”

Organizing tips
What are common sense tips on organizing your armoire? Professional organizer Rhonda Gervais suggests:

Look within. “The first step is to decide what is going to live in (your armoire).”

Form groupings. “Then I always suggest using bins or baskets for smaller things that can be grouped together. For example, if it is to be used for kids’ toys, something like Lego should be in its own bin, sitting on the shelf.”

Give support. “Be sure to place the heaviest things on the shelf with the most support.”

Label well. “Label any bins or baskets that you can not see into easily, so that it is obvious what is inside.”

Smart Buys
Interior designer Reena Sotropa, of Corea Sotropa Interior Design, offers smart armoire buying advice:

Consider style. “Be sure that the style of armoire that you are choosing is suited to the style of your home.”

Measure first. “Being that armoires tend to be quite large, it is a good idea to measure first to be sure that you can easily move it into your house (front door, interior hallways etc.)

Define function. “If you are the type of person who moves often or likes to change things up, it is a good idea to buy an armoire that is suited to many different functions. (For example, what stores your home computer in your small condo may be your linen storage in your next home.) CL

For more information:
www.coreasotropa.ca 
www.moderncountryinteriors.com
www.koolhausdesign.com
www.urbanbarn.com
www.organizingmatters.ca