SPLURGE vs STEAL: Master Closet Makeover

I recently was the lucky recipient of every woman's dream by winning a closet makeover from two local companies in the Charlotte area.  It turned out to be a huge project, but well worth all of the efforts once it was complete. 

As an interior decorator, I take pride in my home and work hard to make sure that everything is just right.  Unfortunately, over time my closet had become the one room that I could keep the door closed (hey, even Martha Stewart has a junk room!) and skip on the "nickle home tour".  With a busy schedule of being a stay-at-home mom and business owner, my Summer 2011 goal of cleaning out our closet just did not end up happening as planned.

Below are BEFORE and AFTER pictures as well as links to further details about the closet makeover adventure, from organization to installation.  In this particular post I detailed out the expenses of the project (for those who may not be lucky enough to win a closet) to show how much it can cost to create a your own dream closet with a few money-saving tips.  I do have to send out my thanks to the two companies, Simplicity Professional Organizers and Closets By Design of Charlotte, NC, that helped make my closet transformation happen!


Far Wall - BEFORE



Far Wall - AFTER



Shoe Wall - BEFORE



Shoe Wall - AFTER


























SPLURGE vs. STEAL

Organizational Tools

The first part of a closet redo is the dreaded project of pulling everything out and determing what you really need and what you can give away.  I was fortunate enough to have the help of professional organizers, which would be your SPLURGE at approximately $55 per hour.  Simplicity Professional Organizers came in and helped me dig through my 14 X 6.5 foot closet in just one morning, which could be well worth the money if you want to get that part over and done with and get some expert tips on how to stay organized.

Non-slip hangers are a key organizational tool that you can find at Bed Bath and Beyond for $23.99 (with your 20% coupon) for a box of 50.  That's only 48 cents a hanger - STEAL!  Depending on how many clothes you have, it can add up, but is definitely worth the investment by helping keep your closet looking streamlined and organized.  Another STEAL on hangers that I used was Ikea's Bumerang curved wood hangers available in black, white, light wood, or dark wood for $4.99 for 8 hangers (62 cents a hanger).  These work great for pants and also jackets or blazers.

Clear plastic storage bins are also key by allowing you to see what's inside without having to pull them down.  Ikea carries the Samla series in clear or black plastic in sizes ranging from 1 gallon for $1.49 each - STEAL! - to 15 gallon underbed storage containers for $8.99 each.

Want more detail?  Read more on Master Closet Makeover: Step 1 - Organize!

Decorative Tools

Paint is one of the least expensive ways to change the mood of a room and is always a STEAL! (especially if you do it yourself).  This 14 X 6.5 foot closet required two gallons (at approximately $25 each for no-VOC) and a quart of metallic paint ($15) for the stenciling.  The stencil, found online at Cutting Edge Stencils, was $40.  So with a little sweat equity, patience, and $130 (including painting supplies), you can change the look of a room dramatically.

 

HomeGoods is a favorite store of mine when I'm looking for steals.  I found the 7 foot tall full length mirror in the AFTER pictures above for only $100 - STEAL!  I also found the tufted ottoman at HomeGoods in a brown chenille fabric for $80.  With a quick trip to the upholsterers for $115 and 3 yards of printed linen fabric at $9/yard, I got my custom tufted ottoman for $222 - STEAL!

For more tips on how to stencil and further details, read my post Read Master Closet Makeover: Step 2 - Decorate!

Custom Closet Installation

Most of you know that custom closets are definitely a SPLURGE for anyone, with systems sometimes even getting into $10,000+ range.  We have a huge closet, and I asked Closets By Design to design something within the $2,000 budget that was set for the contest.  They did a great job by giving us a few inexpensive additions (valet bar, laundry basket, and belt rack) and kept the costs down by only including shelves and hanging bars in the system.  Overall the value of the closet system was $2500 (they gave us the extra $500 in perks as part of the contest - yay!), which in custom closet standards was a STEAL.  I did add the crown moulding for an additional $350, a definite SPLURGE on my part, but worth it in my opinion!

For more details on the wonderful benefits of hiring closet designers for your custom closet, read my post Master Closet Makeover: Step 3 - Design & Install!

For a true STEAL and a do-it-yourself approach, check out the Allen & Roth closet system at Lowes for a more traditional look, or the Stolmen system from Ikea for a modern feel.

Overall, here is how this project added up:

Organizing Expenses - $595

• Professional Organizers (2 organizers, $55/hr for 4 hours) - $440
• 5 boxes of non-slip hangers - $120
• 7 packages of curved wooden hangers - $35

Decorating Expenses - $452

• Paint and supplies - $130
• 7' tall mirror - $100
• Custom upholstered ottoman - $222

Custom Closet System (with crown moulding addition) - $2850

TOTAL Closet Expenses - $3897

If you didn't have a chance to read my other posts about the closet transformation, below are exerpts from each to peak your interest:

Master Closet Makeover: Step 1 - Organize!

I have a confession to make. As much time, energy, and money I have spent on decorating my home, my poor master closet has lacked the attention it deserves and, over time, I lost control.

Spending 10 years in retail had created quite a collection of clothes, shoes, purses, and accessories that have slowly been mounting in my large walk-in closet over the 5 years we have lived in our house.  And I admit to doing something that we all do - freak out at the last minute when company is coming over and throw various items (from papers, books, small kitchen appliances, etc) in my closet.  Read More

Master Closet Makeover: Step 2 - Decorate!

I'm already feeling better.  The process of getting rid of all of my junk that I didn't need and giving it to other families in need is so cleansing! 

Now it's time to focus on the fun part - decorating!  Yes, I am an interior decorator, and I will decorate my closet.  I think we all remember Carrie's closet in "Sex and the City 2" (available with Spanish subtitles below!) and who wouldn't be inspired by that dream?  My goal was to create a glamorous dressing room but with a much smaller budget and space than Carrie and Big had to work with.  Read More

Master Closet Makeover: Step 3 - Design & Install!

All of the hard work is officially done - organizing, rehanging the clothes, painting, stenciling, and accessory shopping is complete.

I can now kick back and let Laura VanSickle from Closets by Design coordinate the design and installation of the perfect closet system that will meet my husband's and my needs.  Again, we are on a budget here - as much as I would love mirrored doors, spotlights, and drawers with glass pulls like Big and Carrie's closet, we've got to be realistic.  Read More

Island Chic Master Makeover for under $1600!

I recently worked with a client originally from Florida who was desperate to update their "college feel" master bedroom to a retreat that reminded her of the beaches from home.  The trick was also complimenting the look to the trendy Uptown condo that they live in while being budget-conscious.  What we came up with was a hybrid of a glamorous master bedroom but with a beachy feel - something similar to what you might find in a chic island resort.  The best part was that everything you see here came under $1600, which includes my design fee!

BEFORE

The focal point of the room was the bed, which is why it was so important to create the Wow factor here.  We did this with a 5 foot-8 inch tall custom tufted upholstered headboard in a creamy linen fabric. 

Working with the blue paint already on the walls, I found updated but beachy fabrics to give a pop of color against the neutral headboard and ivory Pottery Barn linens.

The side table was a great find for $156 at Sleepy Poet Antique Mall with just a few touch ups of paint needed to get rid of the outdated gold trim and a little bronze spray paint to update the existing pulls.

BEFORE

The finishing touches were a bronze lamp from Big Lots for $35 with a Seagrass Lampshade from Ballard Designs.  The pearlized tile box was another antique find from Sleepy Poet as well as the turquoise Ball Jar "vase".  Some fresh hydrangeas complete the look that is glamorous island living 30 floors up in Uptown Charlotte.

Here's how we got this look for under $1600:
Prices below include design fee and sales tax

Custom Linen 5 foot-8 inch Tufted Headboard - $656
Pottery Barn 300 thread-count ivory duvet, shams, and bedskirt - $240
Two Custom Euro Pillows w/ removable covers - $218
One Custom Decorative Pillow w/ removable cover - $103
Antique Bedside Table with updated paint - $198
Bronze Lamp with Seagrass Lampshade - $98
Accessories - $54
TOTAL = $1567

SPLURGE vs STEAL - Where to Get Your Office Organized with Style

As more and more companies transition to "alternative work schedules", many of us are lucky enough to find themselves working from home these days.  I recently made the decision myself to leave a job where I was required to sit in a cubicle for 40-50 hours per week to the splendor of working out of my own home office.  Nothing is better than being in your own space that is perfectly organized and decorated just to your taste..........wait, your home office isn't exactly up to par?  (Mine isn't yet either - work in progress).  Well, have I got good news for you!

I was shopping at The Container Store yesterday for closet supplies (Before and After of master bedroom closet makeover to be posted soon!) and decided to check out their office supplies, as well.  Was I amazed at the sights, colors, and patterns before me - never have I seen such a vivid and fun display of paper sorters, boxes, file folders, pushpins, or magnets all in one place!

Here's the SPLURGE
The prices on these are not exactly cheap - anywhere from $5.99 to $12.99 for the paper boxes (yes, per box) and magazine files you see above.

In addition to their colored cardboard box assortment, you can also find the fiberboard multi-colored document storage stackers (above left) for $24.99 (again per box).  Their file folders are a reasonable splurge, especially for that visible file rack on top of your desk - $3.99-$5.99 for a package of 6.  (I figured I could use the inexpensive manila folders from Office Depot for the files that are tucked away in drawers.)

They also offer the Mighty Magnetic Strip for your reminders, phone numbers, or notes for $12.99 in the colors black, white or silver.  My favorite, however, was the Mini Magnetic Strip for $4.99 with their additional color options of blue, green, or pink.  If you need the extra space, who's to say you don't just use 2 of the Minis for their color appeal?

Now here's your STEAL  
If you're looking for something similar to perk up your workspace but don't want to pay those prices, I found my magazine files (white, black, green, orange or black/white stripe available) at Ikea for $3.99 for a pack of 2.  They also offer CD boxes ($3.99 for 2), DVD boxes ($5.99 for 2), or large file boxes ($9.99 for 2) in the same color collection.  Now I'm not sure how many of you buy CDs anymore (apparently they haven't caught onto iTunes in Sweden yet), but the box is great smaller size for other supplies.  Ikea has a large selection of other inexpensive office accessories and can help anyone on a budget get organized with style. 

Kasset Magazine File

Kasset CD/Miscellaneous Storage



Now for the actual organization.....here's a great article with 12 steps to getting and keeping your desk organized.  I'll be posting pictures soon of my home office with my Ikea and Container Store finds when it's ready for viewing.....stay tuned!