What is the investment of a custom closet?

Taking Stock of Storage


A tip-top closet is a substantial investment, so it is wise to enlist the expertise of a closet-design specialist. On average, a professionally designed closet will cost around $2,000, but depending on the size of the space, the size of your wardrobe, and the amenities you choose, you can easily spend $40,000 or more.

The first step in any closet design is tabulating inventory. To ensure the most space-efficient layout, every tie, earring, and pair of shoes must be accounted for. "We want to see it," David Linda, president of SpaceMan Home & Office, always tells new clients. "We don't want you to tell us, we want to see what [clothes] you have." The average person, he adds in his defense, has no idea how many clothes he or she actually has until they come to him for an audit.

Storage preferences also play an important role in the design process. Jennifer Williams, president of St. Louis Closet Co., never overlooks any lifestyle detail when considering a new design: "Are your pants hung over the hanger or by the cuff? Do you roll your ties or hang them? Are sweaters folded or hung? Do you want drawers for your undergarments?" Those are a few of the detailed questions she asks clients.

How Much Room?

The space itself is the next major concern. In new homes, designers typically have a lot more control over the size and shape of a closet. David Linda's SpaceMan Home & Office is based in Houston, where a good chunk of business comes from newly developed high-end properties. "Everything here is new and more modern, and they actually plan for closets, as opposed to old houses," he says. "They frequently have 15-by-20-foot closets."

Many people in the market for a closet makeover don't have the luxury of a newly built space—particularly those in confining urban apartments. Some closet designers specialize in making efficient use of small spaces. For one job in a tiny loft apartment in New York's Tribeca neighborhood, Charlton brought in a library-style rolling ladder and added a roll-out shelving system to take advantage of the closet's vertical dimensions.

* Article from Business Week

Fall time=purge time

Fall is the time of year that makes you want to start the preparations for staying inside where it is warm. The winter chill will soon be in the air and hot chocolate, fires in the fire place and warm fuzzy blankets draped over the coach will be a fixture in homes.

Kids move all their play time inside and mom's can no longer say ride your bike (to wear off that excess energy) outside, giving moms a small moment of piece.

That reminds me of my Fall ritual which always helps to make the coming winter months a little more bearable.

1. Move all the summer clothes out to other closets or to the back of the closet space.
2. Clean out the kids clothes, starting with last years winter clothes that may no longer fit or are worn and give to a charity or bring to a resale shop
3. Start clearing out the pantry - Are you ever going to use those noodles that fell to the back of the cabinet?
4. Go through book shelves and the kids room to donate books that either are not worth keeping (will you ever read it again?) or the kids have out grown (preschools love donations of books for younger kids).
5. Time to move the bikes, floats,  sports equipment and all other summer items to the cabinets or in the attic. Pull out the snow shovels, sleds and other winter sports.

Now that everything has it's place, it is time to embrace the winter.