When was the last time you used your coat closet for the storage of coats? When was the last time you actually wore a coat? Thought so. So why is it that we almost always see front entrances to houses with a little closet near the door?
I see this a lot. On a recent visit to a home in Lost Creek, I noticed the ubiquitous coat closet and asked the owner what was inside. Guess what: No coats, just throw pillows for the living room sofa and chairs.
I'm thinking about my own house, seen here at right. I designed the front entry with not one, but two coat closets. This was 15 years ago, before I knew better! As you can see, In one of these closets we store gift wrapping paper and gift bags. In the other, we store cups, plates, wine glasses, and serving platters for entertaining. No coats to be found!
I think the coat closet is a remnant of our forefathers that lived in New England, where you really do wear all kinds of coats, sweaters, raincoats, and use umbrellas, hats, and boots for those trips into the snow. Somehow we have subconsciously translated New England to Texas. It's time we recognize that we live in a place where flip flops, shorts and T-shirts are the norm, and let's do away with the coat closet once and for all.
And another thing. Who really uses their front doors? When was the last time you came home through the front door? For some of you, the answer is every day, because you either don't have a garage or you can't park in there due to all of the 'collectibles' you've carefully accumulated over time. But for most of us, the front door is another vestigial house component, rarely used. I'll come back to this one next time.
