Walk In Closets Are WOrth The Investment

Walk in closets are one of the most valued rooms when a home is bought or sold. Outside of the bathroom and kitchen, walk in closets provide a space for the home owner to be themselves and what defines them…on the outside, at least!

As a closet organizing and designing professional, I have to quasi-define what I would consider to be a walk in closet:
-at least four walls with minimum lengths of 66” - yes, there is a reason for this!
-open frame, sliding panels or mirrors, bi fold or other doorway
-height would likely be at least 7’ or it becomes too claustrophobic

The 66 inch minimum above is defined by the approximate 24 inches off the wall needed for clothes to hang properly. If you have two walls facing each other, and clothes hanging from each, 66 inches minus 48 inches leaves an 18 inch corridor to walk between. For most people, that will be just enough so you aren’t dragging against all of the clothes as you decide what to wear.

Personally, I prefer a door that is centered on one wall. That allows full use of three walls and, depending upon width, a pro might be able to add more just inside the right and left of the frame. There would also be no dead corners that are so prevalent in white wire installations.

Of course, the larger the closet the more flexible the design would be. I once had a walk in closet that was 19 feet along the back wall which was larger than the master bedroom! Of course, that particular master bedroom didn’t have any furniture other than the bed itself and a couple of nightstands. With the eighteen drawers, three clothes hampers, two tall stores behind doors, 26’ of double hang and glass doors above hutches, they did not need any bedroom furniture.

You should verify that the industry standard ¾ inch melamine will be used and it is NOT from a home improvement store. The big box stores usually have a low density fiber board which is how they keep the price down. Your problem is that the material will begin to warp within a few years. Then you will spend twice the amount, or more, to get back to square one. Just bite the bullet and, for 20 percent more, you will not have to worry about doing it all over again!

Walk in closets are a HUGE selling point and, if you are remodeling, are an inexpensive way to add value while de-cluttering the bedroom. Let you local custom closet professional, such as Tailored Living, provide you with ideas for your walk in closet or any other storage area in your home.

As always, you should contact your local Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau or a user feedback service such as Angie’s List to verify your contractor's reputation and quality of work. Though most closet firms are fairly reputable, even your city's licensing office may have record of their time in business or other facts.

Good luck with your design or call a closet professional to have them make it the most efficient space in your home!

BUILT-IN FURNITURE FOR COMPUTERS AND ENTERTAINMENT

With the way space planning has evolved, especially in newer home areas such as Florida, Arizona and California, there has been a tendency to provide “built-ins”. Built-ins are essentially a specific function piece of furniture that is not meant to be moved around. These may be preferred due to the angled walls, nooks or even the window and door arrangement which almost necessitate where furniture will be placed.

Two of the most common built-ins are entertainment centers and home office areas. New homes are having specific areas designated with media centers and computer spaces in mind. Here are a few design notes for both types:

ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
Typical entertainment centers are a minimum of eight feet wide which allows for a set of bookshelves flanking a space for flat screen TV. The majority of TV’s are at least 36” wide, so allowing 42” in the middle would mean two 18” wide bookshelves on either side. Of course, the TV opening can be wider as well as the shelves, plus doors and drawers can be integrated for a finished look.

With the add-on devices such as PC’s, game consoles, blue-ray players and surround sound, you may need extra shelving and cabling to accommodate them. Most custom built-ins can be adapted to accommodate the wall plugs, cable outlets and HDMI/CATV/USB cabling. Don't forget that power strips and surge suppressors are vital for the health of the electronics, so make room for them as well.

Since most TV’s are connected to directly to the wall, the entertainment center must also allow for the mounting hardware. The brackets are fairly adjustable and nowhere near the size of the TV, but the angles and side space definition could cause some issues. Along with that, cabling from the TV to other devices should be accounted for in side panel holes with grommets covering raw wood.

HOME OFFICE OR KID’S STUDY ZONE

A place to organize today’s busy household also includes a place for internet connections, paying bills, current records and surfing for the latest bargain. A computer nook, somewhere between five feet and as large as a whole wall, can be designed to hold all of the house’s needs. The need for built in file drawers, keyboard trays, upper and lower cabinets plus all of the computer peripherals (printers, fax, scanner, external hard drive, etc.) should be measured an accounted for.
You need a minimum of 24” for a chair to slide in comfortably, 30” is the typical desk height and upper cabinets start at the 54” mark (sometime higher depending on ceiling and personal preference).

Children’s study zones, whether in their room or a shared space, should de designed with their needs in mind. This is a creative space, so allow for corkboard, lots of printing, adjustable chair and possibly their own computer. Remember that music is a big player for them, so make sure speakers and headphones are in place to enjoy and share!

Call your local custom closet firm, such as Closet Tailors, as they typically can customize your space without the expense of an actual finish carpenter. They also know the best sizes to accommodate the pieces and parts in today’s busy digital lifestyle!

Chuck is the owner of Closet Tailors of SW Florida since 2007. He has built and installed hundreds of custom storage systems in homes and businesses. You can find more info at:
Closet Tailors of SW Florida
http://www.closettailors.com/capecoral

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Home Office Basics

With many of us either bringing work home or working out of our house, a truly functional home office has become a necessity.  There is a lot of science, including space planning and ergonomics, that is used to make a space workable outside of placing a Wal-Mart workstation in the corner.  Follow most, if not all, of these tips and you’ll be using your space effectively plus reduce stress and fatigue.

Your home should start with about four linear feet and there is a reason:  basic office chairs need 24 inches and the smallest file cabinets are 12 inches wide.  Flank an opening for your knees with two 12 inch cabinets and Bam! - you are at four feet.   Anything under four feet becomes cramped, lacks file and/or drawer space and likely will be overtaken by today’s paperwork!

The desk depth could come into play as well.  A traditional office desk is a minimum of 24 inches deep.  Depending  on the depth of the adjacent walls, you may not want a deep desktop to avoid room blockage.   Eighteen inches is as small as I would allow for a useful space.

The actual desktop surface is also key.  Will you be using it for general writing, bill paying, etc?  Then a melamine or laminate top will work fine.  If you are using for crafts, say scrapbooking, the hammering and cutting would likely damage a softer surface.  Though pricey, invest once in a solid surface such as Corian or granite so you don’t have to replace it.  The color palettes of Corian and granite also allow for a nice contrast to, or tie-in, the room’s décor.  Remember:  30-32” is the standard height from the ground for good ergonomics.

 If the wall above the desk space is available, either open shelving or cabinets can be hung to maximize storage.  Most custom home office providers will match the style and width to the base cabinets.  I often put crown molding on top of the upper cabinets to provide a finished, and much more built-in, look.

Nearly every home office has a computer.  Laptops take up their room while desktops vary greatly in size and shape.  Even the printers, fax, scanner, copier and assorted modems will use valuable space.  Call a local custom closet, such as Closet Tailors, or office organization company as they can recommend proper spacing and options to manage your peripherals.

Most homes do have the space to place a small home office that can act as the communication center, mail room and computer work station.  Follow some of the tips above and you can make yours a reality!

Check Your Hardware Too!

Closet hardware may be an afterthought when considering an upgrade to your storage systems, but it does impact structural strength as well as add a touch of class if done right. The poles, handles, shelf pins and drawer slides all can impact the look and cost. Here are a few things to consider when discussing your options with a custom storage system expert:

Color
Most storage system providers will offer a few basic colors. Most likely, they will offer up a polished or matte silver as that is by far the most popular. Brass and a dark brown with the industry name of “oil rubbed bronze” are also popular choices. Of course, you can ask them to source handles to match the style of the nearby room’s cabinets or furniture. If you have a child’s room needing bright colors, there are plastic covers for underlying steel that may tie the rest of the room together.

Materials
All modern storage systems use metal poles of some sorts. They may be steel, plastic coated steel, chrome-plated steel or my favorite, aluminum. Generally the handles and shelf pins will be a matching material the coordinate the look. The aluminum poles are wider (1 5/16”) and have far less weight while carrying as much or more clothing. I would avoid any support material made of plastic as time will take its toll.

Finish
Polished, matte or oil rubbed bronze are your choices for the most part. We use matte finish unless requested as it does not scuff or show any inadvertent scratches. It is rare that any component would show any wear and tear, but matte finish provides a bit more protection. Some inlaid pulls have wide color variations, so make sure it matches the rest of the hardware.

Size
Chrome poles usually are an inch in diameter while aluminum usually is 1 5/16”. The handles range from a minimum of 3” (to accommodate your hand width) on up to 18” for the refrigerator look. There is no right or wrong on size. Just insure the handle’s screw separation is no larger than the face you try to attach it to. Consult with your storage professional on the allowable widths for your design.

Style
There are literally tens of thousands different styles of handles, shapes and themes to compliment any whim. I’ve seen starfish, Star Wars and Broadway star samples, so don’t let your imagination limit what you’d like the end result to look like. Hafele, SIRO Design and Keeler are all reputable and have a wide variety to choose from.

If you plan to provide a specialty handle, such as bamboo or oversized lengths, confirm your design can accommodate them and installers have the right tools. Closet Tailors has all of the experience needed to make your closet as personal, so contact them or other storage system professional in your area!

Murphy Beds Are Popular Again!

The stogy Murphy bed has now become a stylish staple of the multi-purpose room these days. With empty nesters or locations with high visitor counts (can you say FL in the winter?), making use of the extra rooms for things other than dusty collections of furniture only makes sense!

Murphy Beds were originally devised and patented in 1916 by William Murphy as a space saver for small rooms. As homes, hotels and even military locations were working on European standards, rooms were made smaller which allowed for higher densities. In actuality, it made for cramped spaces and thus the beginning of the “multi-purpose” room.

The Murphy bed as we know it usually is part of a larger wall system that incorporates shelving, drawers, full cabinets and sometimes televisions or entertainment centers. Needing a minimum of 16” depth to allow for a standard 10.5” high mattress, a custom closet or Murphy bed professional can devise substantial storage options if additional wall space is available.

The beds are sized based upon the single, double, queen and king size mattresses that can be bought at any bedding store. Mattress height is key and you should consult with your Murphy bed provider for their exact specifications. There are several options that could affect the allowable mattress height, such as spring tension and side panel materials, so do not stray from the specs.

The beauty of the Murphy bed is that it frees up so much space once closed. I have several clients that use the room as a workout space, home office and library when the bed is not in use. By adding drawers, shelves and possibly a clothes hamper, one could eliminate most of the furniture in what is likely a small room to begin with. If the side cabinets are 24” deep, you could have your clothes stored behind doors. That would allow whatever closet space there is to be converted into something used daily such as entertainment center or home office.

Murphy bed systems are also stylish with a wide array of finishes and colors. Most providers will come close to, if not match, existing furniture. We’ve installed dark cherry, white, maple and a few in-between colors to the customer’s delight!

For anyone needing to maximize the usefulness of a spare room, a Murphy bed will be a key component. Contact a local Murphy bed company or custom closet provider, such as Closet Tailors, to see how you can make double use of your room!

Organize That Pantry!

Now about my pantry…

Today’s pantry has almost been an afterthought in a home’s design.  In days long gone, the pantry had to store jarred preserves, dried meats, potatoes, spices, sugar, flour and similar basic food items.  With the advent of refrigeration and grocery stores, the pantry began to shrink in size and importance.

With sometimes nothing more than a coat closet 24” in width and depth, the main need is to provide flexibility in shelving height.  Spice jars don’t need to be stacked next to a cereal box twice its height and waste space.  Though there are some excellent products to adjust heights of items, such as “stadium seating” spice and can racks, having flexible shelving is the first step.

In the vast majority of new homes, the builder puts in fixed wire shelves throughout.  Not only does the wire shelving allow small items (now where did that soup mix go?) to fall through, but they cannot be adjusted to your needs.  Typical storage panels are on the 32mm (1.25”) European standard and thus shelves can be adjusted at that increment up or down.

Larger walk in pantries, whether they be in new homes or renovations of existing larders, offer many options.  One of the most useful is a series of sliding baskets with varying depths.  The most common uses include storing pasta, potato chips, cookies and quick grab snack items like Fruit Rollups or granola bars.  Baskets can also be used for real potato, fruit and vegetable storage such as onions.

Another more common use for pantries is wine storage.  These are not the vintage Rothschild-type, but more of commonly consumed wines as is custom in France or Italy.  Sliding wine racks can store typically four bottles across in a 24” opening and are easily stacked to maximize the space.  Though not as efficient, traditional lattice work can also be framed to provide the tilted and display look. Zig-zagged lucite frames also allow convenient stacking.   Remember: keeping your “house wine” in the same place as food storage will keep it top of mind as you set up your shopping list!

The last upgrade I see most often is a recycling center.  Depending upon the quantity, this can be as simple as an extra basket to a full blown, three can sliding system from Rev-A-Shelf or Hafele.  Usually recycling bins require a portion of the pantry system to be deeper (at least 18”) to allow for can and rail depth.  If you don’t mind the top being open and contents partly visible, the pantry can be of same size with smaller rails. A sliding shelf is also an option with framed in bins to keep them from toppling off.

Call your local custom closet and storage company, such as Closet Tailors, for pantry designs whether it be a closet size or walk-in.   With design software and industry innovations, they have fresh ideas for all your storage needs!

For pantry organizing in SW Florida, call Closet Tailors at 239.209.4616 or click link!

Nice simple garage

Here is a nice simple garage install done on 3/11/2010 in a Cape Coral, Fl. home.  This is 24" deep, tall 7' high cabinet, pegboard for tools, electrical outlet pulled flush and a plywood workbench with trim.  The customer was extremely pleased with it!  We had previously upgraded their master closets, guest rooms and pantry, so this may be all we can do...  :)

Visit us at:  Closet Tailors of SW Florida or jump over the my information site at: Closet Tailors squidoo page

Closet Organization Basics

A custom closet, or any storage for that matter, should not be about the type of material, future potential or even the height, width or depth.  It should be about the best use of the space allotted while meeting the needs of the user.  This article will attempt to guide you through the evaluation of your needs and what direction they will take you in getting organized and installed.
Here are the basic steps one should take in deciding what type of storage system to use:

• What are you going to store vs. discard?  I have to encourage many of my clients to purge the space, whether it be closet, garage or pantry, and it usually feels good in the end.  Though they dread the thought of pulling all of the clothes, shoes, gas cans, tools out, that also forces them to evaluate what they NEED to keep vs. what they WANT to keep.  Now that you have a good idea of the “keepers”, move on to step 2!

• If it is a closet, measure the linear footage of each type of clothes.  In other words, use a tape measure along the front edge of the rod and see how long each section runs.  Shirts and blouses, long dresses, folded over pants (or are they hanging long?), hats and folded clothes on shelves.  Shoes need to be separated – men’s vs. women’s – as you have to allow for the difference in width.  Garages need the same kind of count only looking at cans, sporting goods, tools, coolers, etc.

Now for space planning:

• How high are the ceilings?  Most people cannot reach any higher than seven feet without a step ladder.
• What is the allowable depth?  Minimum storage depth should be 12” as everything from books, cans, shoes to a folded shirt will need at least this much.
• What is the width of the space?  That determines the number of vertical supports.  In a garage, I would not run over 24 inches in between supports unless I knew it would be for light uses.  Closets can be spaced out upwards of 42” if only used for hanging clothes.  I tend to stick with 36” widths on closet shelving as they too are subject to overloading.

Now it is a matter of laying out the linear footage along the divided spaces to insure you have enough of each type to accommodate your belongings.  The good news is that, if you live in a modest size town, there are usually closet or space planning professionals that will work with you on the above steps and come up with a workable plan.
As I am in the custom storage industry, the software we use is invaluable to maximizing the usable space while taking into account the client’s needs.  The steps above are exactly what I use (plus a lot more hard earned experience!) to please my customers.



To learn more, please visit:  Closet Tailors of SW Florida and Closet Tailors

New video of Closet Tailors work!

Here is a new video of some closet work done in SW Florida - Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs, etc.