Washington Heights, Art Deco lobbies, and the long prewar hallway.

Upper Manhattan has some of the city's best prewar apartment stock. Along Fort Washington Avenue, Cabrini Boulevard and the streets around Fort Tryon Park, Art Deco buildings from the 1920s and 1930s have generous rooms, sunken living rooms and long hallways. The closets are usually original: deep, dark and fitted with one rod and one shelf.

The foyer closet

Most of these apartments have a coat closet by the front door, sometimes behind an arched opening. Rebuilt inside with a coat rod, a shoe rack, a bench and a drawer for keys and mail, it becomes the most useful closet in the home. New panelled doors can match the building's original style.

The long hallway

Prewar hallways are often wide enough for shallow cabinets on one side. Linen storage, books or a pantry overflow at 12 to 16 inches deep keeps the path clear.

Bedroom closets

Original bedroom closets are often 24 to 30 inches deep and narrow. Double hanging, a drawer bank and lighting can double what they hold. Where a bedroom has no closet, a built-in wardrobe wall is the answer.

Co-op paperwork

Many buildings here are co-ops. Expect an alteration agreement or at least a certificate of insurance and set work hours. Read how we handle co-op and condo installs.

Close to our studio

Washington Heights and Inwood are a short drive from our Mott Haven studio, which makes site visits and follow-ups easy.

Start with a free 3D design, see custom closets in Manhattan, or read our Harlem brownstone guide.