The Custom Media Wall That Transformed Our Home
There are certain projects in a home that quietly change everything. Not because they’re flashy or trendy — but because they make your everyday life feel calmer, more beautiful, and infinitely more functional. That’s exactly what happened when we decided to transform our builder-basic upstairs loft into a fully custom media and storage wall with California Closets. And honestly? It turned out even better than I imagined.
Why We Went Back to California Closets
This wasn’t actually our first project with California Closets. A few years ago, we used them for our primary bedroom closet, and I was blown away by both the design process and the final result. I worked with designer Todd Golbeck, and from the beginning, he understood how I wanted our home to feel — elevated, timeless, functional, and family-friendly without sacrificing style. That process was so slow (about a year) and he was so patient with revisions, ideas, and different iterations. Their online designs tools brought the vision to life so it was really easy to visualize and make edits as needed.
When I started dreaming about what to do with our upstairs space, I immediately knew I wanted to work with Todd again. The room had all the classic “builder basic” problems: blank walls, not enough usable storage, and furniture that felt temporary and disconnected from the architecture of the home. We had multiple standalone pieces trying to do the job of one cohesive system, and the space always felt visually cluttered. With two kids, two dogs, books, games, electronics, blankets, and all the daily life that accumulates in a busy household, I needed something that worked hard but still looked beautiful.
Designing a Built-In That Looks Original to the Home
What I love most about this project is that it doesn’t feel like furniture. It feels architectural. Like it was always supposed to be there. That was incredibly important to me because our Sonoma home already has a lot of detailed white trim and millwork throughout. I wanted the new built-in to complement the existing character of the house instead of competing with it.
We chose Classic White cabinetry, which blends seamlessly with the rest of our interior details, and paired it with Benjamin Moore Silver Satin walls for a soft, warm backdrop that keeps everything feeling light and airy.
For contrast, I selected matte black Haniburton hardware from Schaub, which gave the entire design a more tailored, sophisticated look without feeling overly modern. We have black Emtek hardware throughout the home on our doors and while I really debated doing an antique brass to break away from the black - the black felt more cohesive. The result is crisp, timeless, and incredibly custom.
The Storage Is Life-Changing
One of the biggest wins from this project was eliminating two bulky standalone furniture pieces that were taking up space without truly functioning well. Now, everything has a place. The closed cabinetry hides all the practical family items you don’t necessarily want on display, while the open shelving allows space for styling, books, art, and meaningful objects that make the room feel personal and layered.
BEFORE - Two pieces of RH furniture we brought from our previous home. Not the right size or vibe for the space.
It completely changed how the room functions for our family. Instead of feeling like a catch-all space, it now feels intentional, organized, and calming. And as any parent knows — when your home is organized, life just runs better.
The One Design Choice I’m So Glad I Listened To
This system took a lot of planning, and there were definitely moments where Todd pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way possible. The biggest one? Lighting.
I initially questioned whether we needed it, but adding integrated lighting ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire design. At night, the built-in glows softly and creates this warm, elevated atmosphere that makes the whole room feel custom and high-end. It highlights the styling details, adds dimension, and turns what could have been “just storage” into a true focal point of the home. It also creates the perfect glow during family movie night. It’s subtle, but it makes an enormous difference.
A Project Worth Investing In
There are home projects that look good for photos, and then there are projects that genuinely improve how you live every single day. This was absolutely the second kind. It added storage. It removed clutter. It elevated the entire upstairs. And it made our home feel more complete.
Most importantly, it created a space that works beautifully for our real life — kids, dogs, messes, movie nights, and all. Working with Todd Golbeck and California Closets again was such an easy decision, and this project reminded me why. The level of planning, customization, and detail makes the end result feel truly one-of-a-kind. And now when people walk into the room, they assume it was original to the house.
