Five ways to make over a simple wardrobe

Instant dressing room

A bit of Old Hollywood glamour makes getting ready so much more exciting.

The designer: Sabrina Linn, designer and stylist.

Her style: Feminine grandeur with a touch of modernism.

How-to:
1. Wallpaper the back panel before assembling the wardrobe.
2. Install supplied clothes rod. Add shower curtain rings to hang jewellery and scarves.
3. Outfit shelves with boxes and trays, lean a mirror against the back panel and use drawer dividers to keep purses and lingerie tidy.
4. Drill a hole at the top to install a light.

Knob know-how: Opt for geometric Greek-key-shaped pulls for a retro-glam vibe.

Get this look: Hemnes wardrobe, Ikea. Similar pulls, Anne at Home. Martinique wallpaper, Designer Wallcoverings. Jewellery trays, Homesense. Woven basket with lid, boxes, both West Elm. Drawer dividers, Ikea. Kyoto fabric for drapes, tassel, Designer Fabrics. Custom drape sewing, Sabrina Linn. Decals (inside wardrobe), pagoda tall, O'verlays.

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Indoor potting shed

The traditional rural greenhouse is reinvented as a miniature mud room.

The designer: Michael Penney, decorator and blogger. Catch him on Sarah 101 on HGTV.

His style: Flea-market vintage meets classic country.

How-to:
1. Replace back panel with beadboard and give wardrobe a fresh coat of paint inside and out.
2. Add storage baskets and a large bucket for your supplies.
3. Screw in cup hooks on the inside of one door to hang tools. Attach a bulletin board to the inside of the other door for notes.
4. Store bulbs and seeds in the drawers.

Knob know-how: Replace standard pulls with oversized white ceramic ones for a touch of British country.

Get this look: Hemnes wardrobe, Jute rug, baskets, metal pail, cloth-covered boxes, all Ikea. Grosgrain ribbon, Mokuba, 416-504-5358. Ceramic knobs, garden tools, both Leevalley. Table, Elte. Beadboard, The Home Depot. Paint: wall, Pale Powder; Armoire exterior, Arsenic; Armoire interior, French Gray, all Farrow Ball.

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Mini home office

A chic, organized workspace hides behind a sophisticated facade.

The designer: Kimberley Seldon, our contributing design editor, interior designer and founder of Dabblemag.com.

Her style: Uptown traditional with modern elegance.

How-to:
1. Apply trim molding with a gold antiqued finish to the outside of the doors.
2. Paint the inside kelly green.
3. Upholster back panel in satin and hang a large empty frame to create a message board. Cover inside of doors in fabric.
4. Have a carpenter add a shelf on pull-out hardware to create a retractable desk.
5. Drill a hole at the top to install a light.

Knob know-how: Get a traditional look with classic distressed-gold ring pulls.

Get this look: Hemnes wardrobe, Ikea. Handles, hardware, both Lee Valley. Lighting, Sescolite. Interior paint, Vert-de-gris, Para Paints. Trim, Central Fairbank Lumber. Fabric, Sea Cloth Dance Leaf in Forest, Oscar de la Renta Montespan Satin in Kelly, both Lee Jofa. Door upholstery, Studio La Beauté. Interior and trim painted by Halstead and Company Ltd.

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Portable pantry

Form meets function in a colourful and mod two-toned kitchen super-cupboard.

The designer: Arren Williams, creative director of home fashions at the Bay and CityLine regular.

His style: Modern pop mixed with timeless glamour.

How-to:
1. Replace back with a perforated panel.
2. Paint wardrobe in two steps: Use tape to create a dividing line. Start with red, then move to the blue.
3. Install supplied clothes rod. Use oversized rubber bands and S hooks for hanging.
4. Attach magnets to hold a perforated panel in place and create a hidden storage area under the shelf.

Knob know-how: Use brightly coloured rope for an unexpected, playful twist.

Get this look: Hemnes wardrobe, Ikea. Advancia copper tri-ply cookware, Distinctly Home large bowls, Distinctly Home tea towels, Royal Doulton 1815 tapas bowls, Bodum universal knife block, Bodum Presso storage jars, Bodum bistro ceramic knives, Bodum bistro salt and pepper mill, KitchenAid Architect Series stand mixer, all The Bay. Flooring, Kaindl Sugar Maple, The Home Depot. Wardrobe painted by Beresford Inc.

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Home bar and wine cellar

Artful graffiti takes centre stage in this cocktail station that's sure to spark conversation at any party.

The designer: Malcolm Patterson, designer and stylist on HGTV's Summer Home.

His style: Masculine sophistication with an edge.

How-to:
1. Paint the wardrobe inside and out in a mix of bright colours. Consider working with local talent (graffiti artist Nicholas Sinclair did this paint job) to turn the piece into a work of art.
2. Hang a glass-storage rack at the top for stemware.
3. Outfit shelves with an ice bucket, tongs, decanter and bar essentials. Place bottle holders inside drawers for wine.

Knob know-how: Make supplied knobs blend in by painting them in your chosen colour palette.

Get this look: Hemnes wardrobe, Ikea. Graffiti, Dudeman.ca. Wall paint, Refined Melody, Para Paints. Rug, Elte. Side chairs, side table, both Avenue Road. Wine rack, Neatspace.ca. Wineglasses, martini shaker, both The Bay. Bar accessories, glass tumbler, decanter, all William Ashley.