Things to Consider When Designing a Custom Closet Organization System

Frustration!  You can't take another day of walking into your overstuffed closet with sweaters on the top shelf falling on you and dress shirts wrinkled from being crammed in too tight.  You have always wanted a custom closet organization system and you are ready to make the first step. 

Overstuffed Closet

You pick up the phone to schedule an in-home consultation......but STOP!   Wait....did we say 'stop'? 

Yes, we did.

It is great that you are ready to take charge of your closet.  However, before you have your in-home consultation, take just a little time to stare at your closet and think.  Not only will this help your in-home consultation go smoother, it will also help ensure that you end up with a custom closet system that is exactly what you needed.  Here is a short list of factors to think about when planning your custom closet organization system.

Current Needs
Look at your closet and determine what needs are most important for this closet.  Perhaps you have a lot of accessories like ties and belts that need a designated space or maybe your love for shoes has taken over your closet floor.  You will most likely have several designated priorities and it is helpful to have them listed out for your consultation so nothing is overlooked.

Future Needs
It is fairly easy to look at a closet and figure out what you need right now.  A trickier but equally as important consideration is what your future needs will be.  Giving yourself just enough shoe rack space for your current pairs of shoes is fine for now but what about when you come home with those new boots you just couldn't pass up?  Make sure you are looking forward with your design goals.

Flexibility
When designing a custom organization system, make sure to consider options that allow you to change things up.  You might decide that you need more shelves for your summer clothes and less shelves for your winter clothes.  Ask for a design that allows you this flexibility.

Style
The list of material and finish options for your custom closet organization system is endless.  Wood, melamine, color and texture options....you name it and it is out there.  Take some time before your consultation to look around for photos of finished custom closets.  Figuring out what you like beforehand will mean you won't end up seeing a picture of something you love a week after your closet organization is completed.  

Reach-In Custom Closet Organization System

Now you are ready for your in-home consultation!  A good custom closet consultant will help you determine the best design to meet your organization needs.  However, taking some time beforehand to contemplate your own goals will really make a difference in ensuring you are overjoyed with your new closet.

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Closets For Life is a custom closet company that works with residential clients as well as designers, builders, remodelers and architects to create innovative solutions for all of your organizational needs including Murphy beds, closet and office organization systems and wine cellars.

For your free in-home consultation, contact Closets For Life by phone at 952-484-0416 or by email at rlyrek@closetsforlife.com. You can also visit our website at www.closetsforlife.com.

Shawnessy Schwartz
Closets for Life Aficionado

Custom Closet Design Finishes - Options, Options, Options!

One of the wonderful advantages of choosing a custom closet organization system, versus a pre-fabricated option from a store, is the fabulous range of cabinetry options you have in terms of color, pattern, finish and texture.  Trust us, there is a whole world out there beyond white!

Whether you want a specific wood tone, a solid color or even a textured finish for your custom closet system, we have it.  Closets For Life works with Kustom Material Laminators (KML), which produces and supplies thermally fused melamine panels that come in over 70 designs and colors including a great finish that is designed to resemble spun linen.  Really, how much better can it get!

To learn more about the expansive number of choices KML offers, check out their website at www.KMLcorp.com.  Then, contact Closets For Life for a free in-home consultation to design a custom closet organization system that is so beautiful, you will wish it wasn't hidden in your closet!

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Closets For Life is a custom closet company that works with residential clients as well as designers, builders, remodelers and architects to create innovative solutions to all of your organizational needs including Murphy beds, closets organization systems and wine cellars.

Contact Closets For Life by phone at 952-484-0416 or by email at rlyrek@closetsforlife.com. You can also visit our website at www.closetsforlife.com.

Shawnessy Schwartz
Closets for Life Aficionado

Closets For Life Testimonials

As a company, we love to hear feedback from our customers.  It helps us become a better company and determine how to provide the best customer experience possible.  We also recognize that as a homeowner, reading a former customer testimonial or receiving a referral from a friend is worth much more than any advertising. 

So, below are a few testimonials from Closets For Life customers.  Two of the reviews are from Angie's List where Closets For Life has a 'A' rating.  If you are a member of Angie's List make sure to check out our other testimonials as well.  Happy organizing! 

Custom closet testimonial:

Love our new closets. We had three different closet/home organization companies come out to look at four spaces: Two bedrooms, upstairs linen and the front entry coat closet. Rick stood out to us as the best value. His price was right in the middle and his designs were best. And, in the case of one closet, he was happy to come back out and remeasure in order to accommodate some changes I desired. We also like that he is a local, family-run business.

Rick handles most of it himself. (He came out to measure, created the design and drawing, and did the install.) His brother custom cut the shelving for our unique spaces. He was very professional, punctual, clean. He was creative and had various ideas to consider for each space. Also, he went the extra mile, taking away the old shelving for us. He was always responsive to phone calls and email. In the end, we decided to have Rick install three closets (walk in bedroom, reach-in front entry and walk in upper linen closet)... We're very happy with the overall process and product and would use Closets for Life again for a garage or basement project should we decide to better organize those spaces as well. Rick is very capable and he installs a quality design and product.

~Brian, St. Paul. MN

Wine cellar testimonial:

Rick put in the wine racking in a new wine cellar. He handled everything from the design to the install. It went exactly how it should have. No surprises, he did exactly what he said he would and it turned out perfect.

~Josh, Minneapolis, MN

Custom garage cabinets and shelving testimonial:

We had Rick from Closets For Life come out to give us a quote on a cabinet and shelving system for our garage.  From the beginning he was detailed, professional and asked great questions about how we planned to use the space. The day after meeting with us, he sent 3-D plans of what we had discussed - fast! We chose Rick over two other quotes because his price was very reasonable and we were impressed with how he listened to what we wanted.  We are extremely happy with the garage cabinets and shelving he installed in our garage. 

~Beth, Edina, MN

Murphy Beds - Not Just for Jokes Anymore

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear 'Murphy bed'?  For most people, probably a comic skit involving someone being trapped in a folding up bed or maybe awkward looking fold out bed that you had to sleep on as a child during visits to a relative.

We are here to tell you that Murphy beds, beds that fold out from a wall-storage area, have come a long way.  Invented in 1876 by William Murphy, today's Murphy beds fold up and pull down with the touch of a finger and can be designed into a beautiful office or other wall unit system designed to maximize space and blend into its surroundings. 

The current tough economy and real estate market has many people looking for ways to maximize existing space in their home in lieu of adding on square footage or moving to a new home.  For example, if you have a guest room that is rarely used and no home office, installing a Murphy bed as part of an office system is a perfect solution.  When guests are there, just fold out the bed. 

Otherwise, keep it folded up and enjoy your office space!  As an added bonus for your guests, the Murphy bed can hold a comfortable standard mattress, unlike pull out couches that have thin and uncomfortable mattresses to sleep on.

If we have peaked your interest in Murphy Beds, check out these videos:
A Comeback for the Much Maligned Wall Bed - A news clip about the comeback of the Murphy bed and the reason behind its regaining popularity.

Murphy Bed Humour - A compilation of Murphy bed comic highlights.

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Closets For Life is a custom closet company that works with residential clients as well as designers, builders and architects to create innovative solutions to all of your organizational needs including Murphy beds, closets organization systems and wine cellars.

Contact Closets For Life by phone at 952-484-0416 or by email at rlyrek@closetsforlife.com. You can also visit our website at www.closetsforlife.com.

Shawnessy Schwartz
Closets for Life Aficionado

A Grown-up's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I am writing to you with the hope that you can help me. I can't find the Christmas presents I bought and hid earlier this month. It is great that the kids didn't find them but now I can't either.
 

Could you please send an elf to my house to give me a clue as to their location? Are they hidden in the linen closet behind the disorganized heap of sheets? Or perhaps in garage behind the pile of gardening tools? Any help would be much appreciated.

Oh, and Santa, for Christmas can you please bring me a professional organizer and a new custom organization system for my closets? I have been a good girl this year.

Sincerely,

Susan in Eden Prairie

Get yourself the perfect gift this year, the gift of organization. Get started by contacting Closets For Life for a free in-home consultation. We will listen to your needs and design the closet or garage organization system you have always wanted. Santa will be so proud.

For a free in-home consultation, contact Closets For Life
by phone at 952-484-0416 or by email at rlyrek@closetsforlife.com.  You can also visit our website at www.closetsforlife.com.

Reasons to Have a Wine Cellar

Whether you love to entertain or enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, having a home wine cellar is a great idea. Think a wine cellar is too expensive or only for a serious wine connoisseur? Not true! Hear us out on why a wine cellar is a fabulous idea for anyone. 

Wine cellars are convenient: Having a well stocked wine cellar means you will have a bottle of wine when you need it. Sure, you can run out to the store and buy wine on an as-needed basis but having a supply of your favorites is so much easier. Just a grab a bottle for last minute dinner plans at a friend's house or a romantic dinner at home. One less errand to run.

 

It's easier than you think : We stumbled across a fun blog, www.BlogYourWine.com written by Kris Chislett. His blog is informative about wine, yet approachable and humorous. He points out that you don't need a huge amount of space to have a wine cellar.  Having a custom wine cellar built in your home is wonderful but it doesn't have to be that way. You just need somewhere that is out of direct sunlight, away from any amount of vibration and in the coolest part of your house. Add wine racks and, ta-da!, you have can have a wine cellar. 

 

Collecting is fun: Collecting wine can be fun! On Blog Your Wine, Kris suggests buying a few bottles of a wine considered 'age-worthy' and conducting a fun experiment. Buy a few bottles, and drink them over the course of a few years, taking notes along the way. You don’t have to be a millionaire to do it, and it’s a great way to experience what even just a little bottle age can do to a wine. Another site suggested buying bottles of wine released in the year your child was born and then saving it for their 21st birthday.

 

A wine cellar will save you money: It's a well known fact that its cheaper to buy wine by the case. Having the proper place (like a wine cellar) to store larger quantities of wine will save you money in the long run.

 

If a home wine cellar is in your future, Closets For Life can help. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Closets For Life is a custom closet company that works with residential clients as well as designers, builders and architects to create innovative solutions to all of your organizational needs including wine cellars of all sizes.

Whether you are interested in racks or a building complete wine cellar, Closets for Life will come out to your house for a free home consultation to help you design a wine cellar that perfectly fits your needs.

Contact Closets For Life by phone at 952-484-0416 or by email at rlyrek@closetsforlife.com. You can also visit our website at www.closetsforlife.com.

Shawnessy Schwartz

Closets For Life Aficionado

Great Closet Accessories

If you haven't ever peeked into the world of closet accessories, we understand. It's not something the average person thinks about (unless you are us). However, we are here to tell you that once you start to look at all the fun and functional closet accessory options available, you won't be able to stop dreaming about what to add next to your own closet!

Closet accessories are like icing on a cake. Whether added to an existing closet or incorporated into a new custom closet design, closet accessories can transform even the most basic closet and greatly maximize its storage potential in a fun and functional way.

At Closets For Life, we frequently incorporate closet accessories from Rev-A-Shelf into our custom closet designs.  Below are just a few of the many options available. If these peak your interest, check out the Rev-A-Shelf website www.rev-a-shelf.com to see more.

Clockwise, starting at upper left:
pull out hamper, pants rack, pull down closet rod, pull out belt rack

Whether you are looking to add just a few closet accessories to your existing closet or want a whole new custom closet design, Closets For Life can help. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Closets For Life is a custom closet company that works with residential clients as well as designers, builders and architects to create innovative solutions to all of your organizational needs. Closets For Life is a family owned and operated business.

For a free in-home consultation, contact Closets For Life by phone at 952-484-0416 or by email at rlyrek@closetsforlife.com. You can also visit our website at www.closetsforlife.com.

Shawnessy Schwartz
Closets For Life Aficionado