Give me one more chance and I’ll do it right. Who hasn’t uttered these words at some point in life?
Brian Rawlings of Classy Closets said many of his clients promise to do it right the second time around as it relates to their bedroom closets.
For those building new homes, it’s a no-brainer. Master closets with plenty of space are routinely installed and most have space for two people. It’s about size and accessories, he explained.
However, for those in older or smaller homes who hope to remodel with more closet space, Rawlings said it becomes a little trickier.
For empty nesters, it might be beneficial to rearrange walls so that space from an adjacent bedroom can be used for a closet in the master bedroom. Some people simply have no space left, but most are able to improve their space with the help of a professional.
When space is not an issue, the “working closet” is better than lemonade on a hot day. It’s a walk-in closet that provides plenty of space to store all of one’s clothes and to get dressed. With adequate legroom, an island might be included to sit on while dressing or putting on shoes. “We’ve taken the closet from a room that you normally don’t take anybody into, and now you want to show people,” he said.
Rawlings, who owns the Classy Closets franchises in Highlands Ranch and Colorado Springs, said working closets have become the norm in newer homes. They might include cherry wood or other dark shades, along with oil-brushed bronze or brushed-chrome handles or knobs. He said closets often follow in the footsteps of the kitchen, citing the soft-touch drawer as an example. It will close itself when it’s within an inch of being shut.
Lighting is another area that has come a long way. With LED lighting, it’s easy to illuminate the closet in any number of ways. And, the energy consumption is less than ever.
In older homes with less square footage overall, there are a few more challenges. To get started, Rawlings said he measures the space and determines the amount of clothes the client has. Then he can determine if the client’s expectations can be met.
When remodeling older closets for people who need more space, Rawlings said it’s not a deal-breaker if the closet is narrow. Those built with one rod and just one overhead shelf can easily be transformed into a two-rod set up with five shelves. The basic set up only costs about $350, Rawlings said, and the homeowner ends up with more space for shoes and shirts. At times, he is unable to help people who have already maxed out their space with multiple rods and shelves. “I lose some business,” he admitted, but said it’s better to be honest and move on to the next job, where he can make a difference.
Because tall ceilings have made a comeback in recent years, an additional rod can be installed above eye level that is easily accessed with a pull-down system that operates on a pneumatic cylinder.
When remodeling, it’s particularly important to make sure the improvements match the rest of the house when the job is completed. For some people, matching the new closet doors to the bedroom or bathroom door is important. Rawlings said there are always ways to match up stains, woods and veneers to meet the need.
And then there are extreme makeovers, even in the world of closets. Rawlings mentioned a closet that a woman had installed in her Denver condominium that topped out at $30,000. Yes, that extreme is going to include all of the expensive woods and fancy accessories: “Nationally, the closet business is over a billion dollars,” Rawlings said.
More often, Rawlings said people will spend $4,000 to $10,000 on a closet that will provide enough space in some cases to eliminate the need for dressers in the bedroom. “They may have a table in the bedroom, but they want everything in their closet and they want their clothes and shoes neatly organized,” he said.
Photo provided by Classy Closets
