I recently had a request from a loyal reader about my attempt to make a custom closet. So here it is…
I’ve been slowly working on renovating my condo. One of the big issues for the reno is maximizing storage space, because there ain’t much of it. So I invited 5 closet builders to show me how they’d redesign the closets and how much it would cost. These builders were:
- California Closets – expensive, and unresponsive–we had to ask them twice for the quote
- Canadian Closets – the cheapest bid, but we hear they use lower quality hardware
- Metropolitan Closets – had hard time listening to what I wanted, then told me they wouldn’t do what I wanted
- Original Closet Warehouse – decent price, but inefficient design
- StoreMor Closets – had to ask twice for quote after they visited, and they ignored each request
My first lesson was how hard it is for people to think beyond where they’ve thought before. Indeed Metropolitan Closets told me that they would not take a job that required them to think beyond. And none of them managed to design a closet system that maximized the space, because the space is unusually large such that thier standard modules and assembly practices wouldn’t work for the space.
In other words thier thinking was entirely restricted to the standard modules they carry and the standard ways they use them.
Well standard wouldn’t solve my problems so I had to do it myself. Fortunately I had the whole thing designed in Sketchup and all I needed to do was go buy the pieces and assemble them. Of course I had more lessons to learn.
My second lesson was once you have a plan stick to it, don’t improvise. When you’re in the design phase you’re free to do what ever. But once you’re in development, stick to the plan. I ended up with exactly what I planned out, but only after trying a couple of mid-project improvisations that didn’t work out, requiring a lot of back-peddling, and forcing me to waste hours and hours of time and near countless trips to the hardware store. Ready, Fire, Aim simply does not work.
My third lesson was once you have a plan and know all the matials you need, buy all of the materials at once, in fact buy more than you need, and don’t start building till you have all of the materials. Do not go off half-assed.
And the biggest lesson was get it done right, the first time.
I have learned these last three lesson before, doing other home improvement projects and rebuilding an old 73 BMW 2002. I guess it just takes a while for lessons to sink into my head.
hey!! what am I? chopped liver? make that two loyal reader’s requests…
Haha, sorry. No chopped liver. I actually hadn’t noticed you commented when I wrote the post. I stand corrected: 2 loyal readers–woochoo!
My day has been made – btw I checked out the new closets the other day and I think they are great… okay well I really only looked in the upstairs closet but was amazed with all the space! woo hoo way to go!
I stumbled across your blog while trying to locate a closet organizing business we used recently to do some work for us. We have several times in the past few years and used two of the vendors you mentioned in your article. We found them to be spetacular in product quality, service and fexibility in meeting our needs. We trusted their experience at the professionals and accepted several of their recommendation for changing our original ideas. The explanations they gave made sense…even to a layman. We would have gone with the first company that we used in the past but lost touch and ended up trying someone new.
We have had positive experiences a number of times now and I’m somewhat shocked that you would go to the effort to write such negative comments about several long standing businesses with solid reputations. Are you a negative person? It seems odd that that many companies are that bad. Who knows…maybe I misunderstood your thoughts. Sorry if I have. Anyway, we are about to enter yet another agreement with one of the comapanies you mentioned and are looking forward to antother great experience. Hope you have better results in the future.
It is quite obvious that your design did not work originally. That is why these well respected companies probably avoided you like the plague after you would not listen to reason. You said it yourself: ” I guess it just takes a while for lessons to sink into my head. ”
I have personally dealt with Metropolitan Closets and find them to be a first class company, as most of the companies you have slandered probably are.
I am a closet designer. Part of my job is to talk people out of dumb ideas before they are built. I would refuse to do it wrong or put up a big fight before giving in. People blame the designer in the end- even if the designer advises against the less than optimal ideas.