 A Closet
Affair
Has your closet become
your dirty little secret?
Clean it out, and start a love
affair
with the most intimate
space in your house
by Priscilla Kohutek
photography by Robert French
On the radio show, Fibber McGee and Molly, which premiered in 1935, the main character, “Fibber,” was known for telling tall tales, but he was even more famous for his horribly cluttered hall closet. An incurable pack rat, he kept everything he’d ever owned. Over 70 years later, “Fibber McGee’s closet” is a clich8E still used today to describe a messy, chaotic closet. Sound familiar? Is the ghost of Fibber McGee lurking in yours?
Who doesn’t have at least one closet disaster? If yours has become like a dirty little secret — a shameful mess you’d be embarrassed for your friends to see — it’s time to take control. There’s no room in our busy lives for clutter and confusion. But don’t worry: Help is out there in the form of custom closet designers. No matter the size of the home, there never seems to be enough storage, so a closet designer’s job is to make every inch count, regardless of size or budget. Kim Theriot of More Space Place claims that, for this company, no job is too small or too big.
Everyone’s needs are different, so designers must gather information about the person who uses the closet. They may ask, “How tall is that person, how many long-hanging pieces does he or she have, how does he prefer his pants be hung — folded over a hanger, or hung by the waists or cuffs?” This determines the height to set the rods. They may also ask how many shoes and handbags there are and whether the client prefers shelves or drawers. Shelving is also a consideration, as it is less expensive than drawers. Doors can be added to the shelves for camouflage.
Jack and Rhonda Harris at Closet Connection take a laptop along so they can design the closet while they consult with the client in the space. Jack notes that clients are furnishing their bedrooms differently now and are asking for more built-in storage in closets, especially in children’s rooms where play space is needed.
The cost of a customized closet varies, on the low end, from $50 to $75 per linear foot, up to whatever the client cares to spend. Theriot says about $125 per linear foot is common. Most of all, the materials used affect the overall cost.
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