1.25.2012

A Built-In Closet for All My Disorganizational Needs

Someone break open the bubbly: our built-in closet is, well, built. Sort of. (Don’t get too excited with that bubbly.) It is built with the minor exception of a couple spots that fell victim to our failure to chant “Measure twice, cut once.” Seeing how it is impossible to get a full picture of the entire wall, though, we’ll have to look at it in pieces.

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The left half is mine, complete with 10 upper shoe cubbies. At least, there will be 10 cubbies once we get a newly cut shelf for that last one on the right—it was too small. Measure twice, cut once. Measure twice, cut once. Rick woke up screaming that last night. (Or was that just the cats attacking each other while I tried to sleep? I can never be sure.)

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The right half is Rick’s, with zero upper shoe cubbies because he is a man and owns approximately 1.5 pairs of shoes. And here you meet the second victim of our failure to “Measure twice, cut once.” Somehow, that upper board ended up being way too short.

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Here, let me disguise it with a hot dog-eating mask. I need to get in all my hot dog-eating mask business before Picnik closes, after all. (Sad face.)

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All better.

We decided on cubbies for both sides because I am an Organizational Trainwreck when it comes to my clothes, and the smaller the space I have in which to lose a cami just at the precise second that I desperately need to wear it, the better. The openings underneath our cubbies are for laundry. We’re still working through that particular part of the plan, though, and have yet to come up with something brilliant. (Any ideas?)

And just because I like then-and-now pictures:

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Is it just me, or do closets look way better with nothing in them? Maybe I’ll give away all of my clothing and join a nudist colony.

No? Bad idea? Weird idea? Creepy idea? Okay, I can see your point.

My desire for my closet to look neat is why we will, at some point in the future, be building sliding doors to cover up my lack of neatness. Of course, that step of the project won’t be happening any time in the near near future, unless we figure out a super inexpensive way to build custom sliding doors. We have other things to pay for like heat and cereal and that $1 for ordering Castle Season 1 through inner-library loan.

I’m going to put together a post with more detailed step-by-step photos of putting it all together, probably after we’ve corrected our little measuring blunders. In the meantime, I invite you to not be totally disturbed by my udist-nay olony-cay reference OR my ability to revert back to ig-Pay atin-Lay without notice.

Enjoy your Wednesday. :)

26 comments :

  1. oh I love it!! I have a nice built in closet right now but the place I'm moving to sadly does not. I'll have to live vicariously through you now. Also, it's nice to know that superwoman Erin is human and makes mistakes like the rest of us...or maybe it's just all Rick's fault? ;)

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  2. As always you make me smile...it is so nice to start my day with one of your posts. I think the closet is fantastic...I'm jealous...maybe one day I'll share my closet nightmare...maybe. Happy Wednesday!

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  3. Oooo, fancy! You guys seriously do impressive things. But you knew that.

    And no more hot dog eating masks? How will the world go on? (I think this Picnik thing is a hoax. That's what I always tell myself when something horrible happens.)

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  4. :( I'm showing my sad face because we have no more hot dog eating masks or all the other great tools of Picnik to look forward to.
    Onto happier news, the closet is looking pretty darn amazing. I can't wait to see the final reveal.

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  5. Whatever will you do with all that cubby hole goodness? Ohhhh, the things I could store in there. Jealous.

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  6. So much storage! And very impressive that you built it all yourselves (I would've just gotten a kit and tried to put it together). Any plans for how you'll reach the cubbies on the top (I'm thinking a rolling ladder a-la Beauty & the Beast).

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    1. Oooh that would be fun...but I'm just going to find a cute stool/stepstool. I definitely will need it, because I am short and can't reach, but we didn't want to waste that upper space!

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  7. Always impressed. Way to go guys! I bet you're so ready to have a closet back.
    I'm in denial about Picnik. Lalala...it's not happening.

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  8. Agh, I was all excited about your closet... then you told me Picnik was closing!!!!! I had no idea... I obviously haven't been on in a bit. Nice thing is they're giving me back a refund for the year long membership I bought...! But I'll miss Picnik :(

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  9. I think most of us struggle with disorganization. The shelves are great. Would you consider using curtains instead of doors? Different look and easier on the budget if you snag some more good JoAnn Fabric clearance stuff.

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    1. Our initial plan was curtains, but then we took down all the clothes and racks and realized we liked the crisp look that really only doors could provide. I also didn't want TOO much fabric going on, since we already have the curtain for the attic door. But it was definitely an idea we considered, especially because of the potential price difference! :)

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    2. what about panel curtains?

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  10. I wish I had your closet!

    Hot dog-eating mask = hilarious! I've not used Picnik but now I'm sad I didn't.

    PS - My closet is an epic mess and I've had to resort to keeping things under the bed that I wear regularly. I just can't get rid of clothes!

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  11. Hi Erin, You are hilarious! And oh my I love your new closet! so jealous :) I'm looking forward to seeing it all done!

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  12. Is it weird that I would totally be a nudist if people wouldn't stare at my ladies? I'd have to move to Florida though, I can't be having frostbite in my crack.

    Re cheap doors: Restore has them for $1 regularly, if you pick a common pattern you could find 4 matching. Are you near a restore? If not I can carry one to your house... nude... in the snow both ways uphill. No biggie ;) Now I feel like a creeper, I took that too far. ANYWAYS, maybe you could think of a way to rig up the cheap doors? I love the closets. You all are master closet builders. I am in awe of your skills!

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  13. On the laundry cubbies... could you use a mesh that you could attach/detach? It would hold clothes in, allow them to breathe, and be easy to remove to get the clothes out.

    Anyway... I'm jealous! I'd love to have a closet that huge!

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    1. That could work! We definitely want something that would be easy to remove. And I hadn't thought of the breathable thing...must consider that, too. Thanks for the reminder. :)

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  14. Haha! You always make me smile! :)I love it! And I can't wait to see your closet all done! Are you going to hang curtains to cover the mess until you get doors?

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    1. Nope...want to save our money and time for some doors/other projects, I think. Although it would definitely be a good idea if the mess was too much! I can deal with an exposed closet in my stairwell if I know that it is only temporary. :)

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  15. Love it! It looks fantastic! I am so impressed you guys tackled that yourselves! Well done! ... wow that was way too many exclamation marks...

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  16. BEEEEautiful! I want to go sit in your closet and gawk at it inappropriately. It seems like you guys just knock these (giant, impressive) projects out in no time. Can I borrow both of you to come finish everything in my house in about five minutes please? Pretty please?

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  17. Hola! I love when I find a blog and can tell within 2.4 seconds that I like it. That's a compliment! ;)

    Besides the fact that I now like your blog (yippee)...I came by from Jamie @ Charmingly Ordinary to tell you she might have changed my life. Really, really. You know that honey & acne tip she gave? Tried it! It's working. 72 hrs later and I'm in love with honey on my face (who'd a thunk?) Anyway, I posted alllllll about it yesterday. It's verbose, but I promise to entertain while enlightening. ;)

    P.S. I'd take your closet in a heartbeat....short boards and weird hotdog eating faces with it. ;) Btw...I don't use picnik or fotoflexer...but have you heard of fotoflexer? Another free editing tool. Just FYI, in case. Have a great day!

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  18. BTW, I linked you up! http://vintagerevivals.blogspot.com/2012/01/who-is-your-blog-crush-ultimate-linky.html

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  19. It's coming along!! I love that hot dog man; I am sad there will be no more picnik. I will have to check out this fotoflexer thing.

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  20. This is such a great idea! I love the look of your new organizational wonder! Love the hotdog mask, too!
    blessings,
    karianne

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