AT reader Esther was kind enough to send in some snaps of her recent home improvement project. And let's face it... we've all been there, especially us San Francisco Victorian dwellers. Awkward closets are so abundant in this town. Most of the time we just sort of stare at them and scratch our head, trying to figure out how to utilize the space. So, imagine how happy we were to see Esther's brilliant idea. Take a look, after the jump!

To see more photos of Esther's closet click here.
Thanks, Esther!


Sprout Side Table
Love it, and the last picture answered my question about lighting.
Where are the paisley stamps/stencils (?) from?
Very nice!
fabulous!
LOVE IT!
I'm totally inspired!
Just WOW! Soooo lovely!!!
I'm not sure I'm convinced how much crafting could be done at such a small table, but this is still really great!
great job!!
oh my word. I need Esther's help!
That is the Eliza Doolittle of closet makeovers.
I hope she doesn't want to move her elbows at all while she's sitting in that tiny closet on that hard stool. It is very pretty though.
Awesome!
W - O -W !
This is so cute. How did you do the gilded stencils? Is there special paint for that?
im absolutely infatuated...
I really like this...well done!
reactions to this item have sparked some self-reflection. i must admit: a lot of times i can be a bitchy little naysayer, always finding the potential problems or pointing out flaws. but this is beautiful! what a wonderful job! and so why would anyone feel compelled to critique the transformation of space from something not only ugly but also *inefficient* to something beautiful, practical, and well-designed (in terms of usage)?
so um, i think you'll be fine in terms of elbow space. i don't flail about wildly when i'm decoupaging or making fine cuts with an xacto knife--do you?
anyways, lovely lovely work. would you mid sharing how you measured and cut the tabletop and shelves to get them to fit so neatly?
Yah, I was going to ask about how you measured and cut the tabletop and shelves so perfectly too! I think the space looks great and is the perfect spot to have moments of creativeness! Also, I'm definitely stealing the idea of covering the ikea magnet strips with wrapping paper... why didn't I think of that??
Great job!!
Awesome! I especially like the magnet strips.
great job esther. really nice.
I heart the pink edging! what a nice surprise.
Genius.
Very nice!
This is fabulous. Even if you can't do big things in the space, you can do small projects or just find a clear area to take care of bills or correspondence.
This is the sort of thing I'd dearly love to see more of on AT. Someone has taken a small space and really made it shine.
excellent! and yes, take the door off!
replace it with a fabulous, thick, rich curtain and tie back you love.
enjoy!
I just did this myself, last month. Maybe there's a craft closet meme sweeping the nation?
Mine is much more pastiche and not nearly as beautiful and elegant as Esther's, though. In case you're interested, here are some pictures:
Before, ugh: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jupiterooos/2719859964/
Long view: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jupiterooos/2719860354/
Closeup 1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jupiterooos/2719859060/
Closeup 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jupiterooos/2719859476/
I took off the door and hung a curtain, seen in these pics, but I took it off because it was pointless.
Esther, You are an inspiration. I am a home organizer and am always trying to get my clients to transform small 'junk' spaces into dedicated, useful, ones. Every single client has trouble picturing the final product, so your space will now be an example for future clients. Love the idea of covering the magnetic strips!
This is fantastic! And I agree, THIS is what AT is all about - starting with a small space and making it work for you!
i have an oddly shaped closet like this too and am still unsure what to do with it. thanks so much for your post, i'm inspired! what a great use of space!