Herter Brothers Wardrobe with Inlaid Panels (1875–1883)

Before built-in closets were common, a wardrobe like this held a household's clothing, and its design translates directly to a modern closet wall or bedroom built-in. The doors are framed with narrow stiles and rails, and each recessed panel is scattered with small floral inlays rather than covered edge to edge, which keeps a large surface from feeling busy. A decorative frieze across the top and a matching band across the base tie the piece together. Herter Brothers often used this restrained Anglo-Japanese approach in bedrooms. For a built-in wardrobe today, the same idea works: a quiet dark or painted frame, one repeated motif, and a defined top and bottom band.