DESIGN OF THE MONTH > DEC 2011 > WINNER: Ellen Gundersen!

Congrats to Ellen Gundersen!  She is the winner of the Design of the Month – December, 2011.  Ellen transformed an outdated basement bar into a breathtaking Before & After!  This beautiful bar features sleek High Gloss cabinets, chrome accessories, Ecoresin details, and a granite countertop.  It was installed by Rachel Precourt.

Before: The existing bar counters were basic off-white laminate.  There was a lack of storage due to the small area behind the bar counter there were no back cabinets – just a blank wall.

After: From drab to dramatic!  The bar is now a beautiful focal point. In the designer’s words “It looks fresh and the Hollywood Silver eco resin creates visual excitement. She got lots of extra storage in the back cabinets and the pull-out wine racks. She added new bar stools, and a new juke box to finish off the design. It’s very cool!!”

Ellen used California Closets 3D CAD Software to create the design.  It looks just like the finished product!

The design called for more storage, so Ellen added 2 beautiful Chrome Stemware Racks (holds up to 12 glasses each).  She also added Chrome Pull-Out Wine Racks, making wine storage a breeze!

In the designers words:  ”I designed panels of high-gloss black and framed high-gloss with Ecoresin inserts to be installed on the front faces of the existing bar cabinets. These panels looked great because they visually tied the existing front bar cabinet to the new back cabinets.”

Meet the Designer

Contact Ellen by email: egundersen@calclosets.com
See more of Ellen’s work

800.225.6901 | californiaclosets.com
California Closets services CT, MA, ME, NH and RI.

“Design of the Month” Winner – September, 2010

California Closets has selected the “Design of the Month” Winner for September 2010 – designed by Ellen Gundersen of California Closets.  This modern Black and Aluminum garage is the very definition of “the cool factor”.  Not only is it gorgeous, it’s a tailored solution that’s custom fit to their lifestyle.  The system was seamlessly installed by Brian Davenport.

Ellen designed Black slat wall panels with Aluminum channels on the side walls of the garage.  This instantly organizes items and even matches his car!  It was designed to reflect the way that you live and the ways you want to utilize your space.

“This family lives in Weston, MA in a beautiful, architect designed house.  I did their closets when they first moved into the house in 2006.  Their taste is very contemporary and they like things organized and simple – no clutter.  They became frustrated with their garage because it was the only space in their house that was disorganized and messy looking.” – Ellen Gundersen, California Closets

Ellen designed a smart and organized solution with shelves and cabinets.  The 30 foot long system stretched across the back of the 3 car garage. The cabinets are black with aluminum laminate faced doors and contemporary “bar” handles that reflect the clean and simplistic architecture of the house.

CAD Design: The middle section (above) features a workbench with cabinets above and below for miscellaneous tools and household items. 

The left side (above) is for the kids sports equipment with pull out baskets for balls/helmets, and vertical cubbies for lacrosse/hockey sticks and baseball bats. For some homeowners, that could mean a workbench system—with table space for woodworking and custom storage for tools and materials.

Slat wall is a system that offers a solution for neatly hanging skis, ladders and shovels.

View Ellen Gundersen’s Online Portfolio

This is Ellen’s 2nd time winning the Design of the Month! Her work is absolutely incredible and very impressive.  See her winning design from March 2010.  Contact Ellen by email: egundersen@calclosets.com

800.225.6901 | californiaclosets.com
California Closets services CT, MA, ME, NH and RI.

“Design of the Month” Winner – March 2010

California Closets has selected the “Design of the Month” Winner for March 2010 – the Before & After makes this transformation a must see!

The beautiful, yet functional design of the Wine Pantry was completed by Ellen Gundersen, a Design Consultant for California Closets.  It was installed by Brian Davenport and Ryan Betti.

AFTER: Ellen Gundersen (Design Consultant for California Closets) transformed the once cluttered storage room into a gorgeous wine bar and organized storage room! Ellen also left room for her client’s wine fridge and designed in great countertop space above it with more cubby wine storage above that.

AFTER: Wine Pantry CAD elevations by Ellen Gundersen

BEFORE: a basement storage room that had just been collecting clutter for years. The family also had a great affinity for wine and entertaining and not a lot of space to do it in. Ellen Gundersen, a senior design consultant with California Closets, came to the rescue!

Wine Pantry CAD elevations by Ellen Gundersen

AFTER: This contemporary style design uses a combination of closed storage (to hide some of the old, but necessary clutter) with open, diverse wine bottle racks and countertop for mixing.

AFTER: The transformed room is design in a Roman Walnut finish and is accented with Umbrian Oak wine “x” inserts, stainless steel slide-out wine racks and hardware, and light rattan baskets.

Expert Designer Ellen Gundersen transformed the once cluttered storage room into a gorgeous wine bar and organized storage room! See Ellen’s online design portfolio.

Ellen Gundersen - Design Consultant for California Closets and March 2010 Winner of "Design of the Month"

Ellen has an Architecture and Interior Design degree. She has been in the design business for 30 years; designing commercial interiors, retail stores and residential interiors. She calls upon her extensive design knowledge and stringent training here at California Closets to achieve a solution that is simple, efficient, flexible and beautiful.  Contact Ellen Gundersen by email: egundersen@calclosets.com

800.225.6901 | californiaclosets.com
California Closets services CT, MA, ME, NH and RI.