Organization Solutions For The Entire Home

One of the most common questions that clients ask me is why they should choose Closet Factory over other closet companies. This can be answered by watching one of our testimonial videos from a repeat client of ours in the Los Angeles area:

Lastly, our lifetime warranty and customer service are very unique in this industry. Knowing that we stand behind our product makes my customers feel at ease. Whether it’s your Design Consultant or the Customer Service Department, there is always someone there to help. Getting an answer when you need it is very important. After all, good quality service is priceless!

More than just custom closets, we offer organization solutions for every room in the home. Visit our Expressions section to view our variety of hardware, finishes and custom design elements!

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Custom Garage Cabinets for an Organized Space

Garage as defined by Webster’s dictionary is “(Noun) a shelter or storage place for an automobile or automobiles”.  However, my definition is “(Noun) the unused furniture-holiday decoration-tools-old books from college-camping equipment-bike catch all where I also have things I don’t know what to do with area with no room for a car”.  Yes, like many other people, my garage is a mess.  Excuse me, my garage used to be a mess.

This too small of a space was packed from floor to ceiling with everything except the kitchen sink.  There was a walkway to get to the washer and dryer, but not much room for anything else.  I did get motivated to finally dig in and clean it out.  I had decided to buy a new car and wanted to park it in my garage at night.  I knew I had my work cut out for me, but you can learn from my experience.  It is really not as bad as it seems…and when it is done, you will have an organized garage space that really works for you.

Step 1:  Dress properly for the occasion.  Wear old clothes and comfortable shoes.  It is a dirty job so be prepared.  Wear long pants to protect you legs.  If your garage is prone to insects such as spiders, consider wearing gloves. It is also hard work so get help!  Make it a family affair. Or offer to buy pizza if friends are coming to visit. Play music that everyone likes to lighten the atmosphere.

Step 2:  Take everything out of the garage and separate it into three piles:  things to keep, things to throw away and things to sell or donate. For anyone who has a hard time parting with things use this rule:  if you haven’t used it in the last year, get rid of it.  Throw away anything that is broken.  If you haven’t fixed it, toss it.  Make sure to also dispose of things properly.  If you have old paint, cleaners, motor oil or other substances, contact the city to see where to take it.

Step 3:  Organize.  Take all of the items you want to keep and separate them into categories.  My categories were:  tools, holiday decorations, luggage, cleaning supplies, camping equipment and miscellaneous.  Buy large bins to store these items.  Bins can be found at Home Improvement stores or discount stores.  Make sure to buy large bins with tight closing lids.  This will prevent insects from getting into the contents inside.

Label the front and side of each bin as to the contents.  For example, four of my bins are labeled “Christmas Decorations”.  Another boxes are labeled “Camping Supplies”.

Step 4:  Deep Cleaning.  Clean your empty garage thoroughly.  Sweep the floor and hose it out.  Remove any cobwebs and wipe down the walls.  If the studs are exposed, clean off the cross bars of any excess dust or dirt.

Step 5:  Determine the room needed for the car.  The most important goal for me was to park my car in the garage.  I had to determine how much room I needed and that included when the car door was opened so I could get in and out without scratching the paint.  I also had to have adequate walking room to get to the extra refrigerator and washer and dryer when the car was in there.  I learned to leave at least 24” as a good walkway.

Step 6:  Organize.  Place all of the bins in the garage along one wall.  Have them facing so the labels can be read easily.  Group them together so all bins relating to each other are together.  Pile them as high as you can so that you can easily get to them.  With other items that don’t fit into the bins, group them together and place them where it makes sense.  For example, I have four folding camping chairs and a 12-person tent together.  If possible buy hooks for large garden tools such as rakes, for sporting equipment such as bikes and other unwieldy items.

Step 7:  Trash or donate what you will not use.  Throw away all items that you separated into the trash pile.  Do not second guess yourself.  If it has been sitting in your garage for several years for you to “someday get around to fix it”, toss it.  That one item is taking up valuable space.  With all other useful items, have a garage sale or donate everything to a worthy charity such as Salvation Army.

In a few hours (or better part of a day), you will have a clear and organized garage.  That is exactly what I did few months ago.  The only struggle is that the garage doesn’t always stay neat.  It is difficult to get to bins on the bottom of each pile.  My next step is to get a garage system of cabinets.  This will also make the garage look better. But for now I am happy with the results and I love the freedom of clearing out that cluttered space.

Download Our Garage Organization Preparation Guide for additional tips!

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Walk In Closet Organizer System

How we start our day tends to dictate the overall flow of it. Think of it this way – when you wake up, do you wake up frantically to an alarm clock or do you allow yourself to wake up calmly? If you can start your day in a soothing way, you tend to be more effective.

When you get out of bed and go to get dressed, how organized is your closet? Does everything have a place? Can you find what you need? Do you know everything you have in your closet? Now imagine you had a perfectly organized closet. How much easier would it be to start your day? You go to pick out a top and all your shirts are together. You are looking for the right pair of shoes and all your shoes are together in one place where they are ALL visible. Picking out the perfect thing to wear would be a breeze and take less time.

Once you are dressed and ready you head to your car. Do you have a nice clean car or is the back seat a mess piled with papers and empty water bottles? How do you feel about your car when you leave the car wash? No matter what part of your life you are examining, when your life is clean and organized your level of stress is diminished and your effectiveness is dramatically improved.

It’s a simple task to be and stay organized once you have an organizational system in place. It is also quite easy to maintain. Usually getting started is the hard part. However, it can be easy with a little help. We all need to start somewhere, and I say let’s start with your closet. I personally benefited from having a closet that is organized. I took everything out of my closet, had a NEW closet system installed and then was able to re-evaluate what should go back in and what needs to be discarded.

Once I put everything away and everything had its own place, it has been a breeze to keep it up! I cannot believe the difference it has made in my day to day life. Who knew being organized could be so life changing? Let me or one of the other fabulous closet designers help you. This is what we do every day. We are experts at helping people get organized. For you to get started, all you have to do is call. We are ready to help you change your life.

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Review custom storage systems for every room your home.

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As the other designers and I toured her charming New York City apartment, we took into account the design elements and style of the apartment to incorporate into the closet design. We noted the luxurious fabrics dressing the windows from floor to ceiling, the calm blue wall coverings and the creamy white furnishings throughout the home.

Designing a nursery is slightly different than designing other types of closets. Nursery closets must have truly functional changeable components. Children grow, and their closet needs change. Keeping this in mind the European styled hanging rods and storage shelves were made to be adjustable in height.  One of the key elements is to be able to adjust the distance between hanging garments and shelving storage. Since space is at a premium, adjustability saves space.  As Sasha’s son grows, his closet will grow with him.

We designed the closet system in a soft white melamine with muted brushed chrome round rods. It featured slanted shoe shelves with clear toe stops, clear doors and and drawer handles. Adding backing to cover the wall gave the space a built in feel look.

Sasha can now beautifully arrange all her sons clothing and toys. Now everything is at her fingertips and be special mementos are at in arms reach. Sasha’s favorite accessory is the brushed chrome Valet Rod from our Synergy collection. It allows mother and son to pick out the outfit he will wear for the day.

Get a detailed look at  Sasha Lazard’s Closet Design by going to her Style Page!  

To check out the image gallery & video check out Sasha Lazard’s Closet Story.

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Mary Alice’s three-story brownstone is located in the historical area of Brooklyn, New York called Cobble Hill. The building has stunning exterior and interior architecture including tall ceilings with highly detailed crown and base moldings.  The interior décor is modern contemporary and has a sleek color palette of white, grey and black with current artwork and pop photography adorning the walls. The challenge was to create an organized space that would house all of her clothing and accessories, transforming the entire third-floor of the home into a two dressing rooms that displayed her collection beautifully.

Prior to the renovations Mary Alice’s  wardrobe was hard to stay organized, lacked enough closet space, and was housed two spare rooms. Her shoes and handbags were not easily visible and often these beautiful pieces were hidden behind the closed doors of her closets. The vast wardrobe consists of couture clothing, a multitude of designer shoes and handbags as well as the most incredible jewelry and accessory collection that I have ever seen!

After the initial meeting with Mary Alice we decided to use a charcoal grey (almost black) wood grain melamine called “Midnight Stroll” and brushed chrome hardware for both of the master closet rooms. This was a great choice because it kept with the contemporary feel of the home and matched her personal style.

Mary Alice Stephenson's Master Closet Dressing Room Jewelry Island

The main dressing room houses of all of her clothing from beaded evening gowns by top designers, basics, separates and casual wear. Mary Alice prefers to hang most of her clothing so it can be easily found and easily color coordinated. Several valet rods were installed to showcase her most beloved pieces her outfit for the next event.

My favorite part of this closet is the island in the middle of the room. It has 48 velvet line pullout trays with Lucite fronts filled with her unbelievably spectacular jewelry collection.

Mary Alice's accessory custom closet shoe organizer system.

We designed the second room to be a closet for all of her shoes and handbags. Adjustable shelving was installed on both sides of the room. To keep her handbags more organized we added these great Lucite dividers. Now Mary Alice can easily find the shoes or handbag she is looking for.

Once this custom closet was filled, it looked like the shoe department at Saks 5th Avenue. The end result… a beautiful and organized dressing room and accessory closet. Mary Alice said Closet Factory has changed her life!

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Have you heard of the quote, “Practice makes perfect?” When it comes to organization, it is our behavior that makes our environment perfect. In this case, “Perfect habits make perfect.” By developing a few routines that are done consistently, you can change your house into a pretty neat home.

1. Designate a place for everything – Every item that you own should have a home. This means that when you use it, it goes back to the same place. That way you will always know where to find it. Imagine if you parked your car in the same parking structure every day in a different space. The spaces were not numbered. There would be days where you would forget where you parked and get frustrated. The same goes for items you use in your home. If the scissors and tape are always in the same drawer, you know where to find them when you want to wrap presents.
2. Clean as you go – As soon as you are done using something, put it away in its designated place. Leaving it out to put away later is just an intention that doesn’t usually get done. Before you know it, you have good intentions laying all around the house.
3. A time for everything – Organize your day so that there is a time for everything. For example, after a meal make time to do the dishes. If the kitchen is cleaned after every meal, there will not be a pile up of dishes to be done all at once. If you don’t feel like doing a lot of dishes, cook a meal that does not use a lot of pots and pans.
4. Same place; different day – Create a place where you can drop everything when you get home. Always put your car keys and cell phone in the same spot when you get home. When you are done with work and walk in the door, have a place to put your computer bag, purse and everything else you carry in. It makes your departure every morning less stressful.
5. Family Communication Center – Have an area for family communications. If there are phone messages, dates to remember or items to buy, all information should be in the same place. This will prevent confusion and anyone being in the dark as to what is going on.
6. Incoming papers – Have an inbox for all incoming items that need to be handled. This goes for bills to be paid, papers for the kids that need to be returned to school, invitations to RSVP and any other actionable items. Make sure to empty the box once a week.
7. Sort mail immediately – When you open the mail, do it near a trash can or recycle bin. Get rid of anything you are not going to use such as junk mail. If something needs action (e.g. bill to pay), place it in your “In Box”.
8. Filing system – Use one drawer or accordion file as your place to keep needed papers. Create a system for those papers you need to keep. For example, if you receive any important document that you will need to use for taxes, file it in your drawer. If you don’t need to save a paper, shred it or trash it.
9. Organize electronically – For everything possible organize electronically. Scan documents and keep them in folders in your computer. Make sure all passwords to all of your accounts are together in one document with a nondescript name so no one can tell the contents by looking at the title of the file. This will eliminate the need for being overwhelmed with papers.
10. A little bit at a time – If you have a huge task of getting your home in order, pick one small space to clean. Conquering everything at once can seem like a monumental task, but breaking it down into smaller chunks make it seem much more manageable. Clean one drawer every day or spend two hours a week on an organizing project. You will be encouraged by your results and your house will feel good in no time.

Take it from a former Clutter-Maker. I follow these steps now and it made a huge difference to me. It takes focus and desire to make these changes, but in no time you can reclaim your house one room at a time. You will feel incredibly free and have a home you will be proud of. In fact I entertain more now than ever before because my house looks so good.

By Kathryn LaBarbera – Closet Factory Los Angeles

Learn how to beautifully organize your home. Download your very own Personal Closet Inventory Worksheet and receive a FREE custom closet design consultation.

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The last ten years has seen an extraordinary explosion of loft style buildings in Los Angeles and the surrounding beach cities. This is especially true in Downtown Los Angeles and Marina Del Rey as these areas are the target of luring people to city living. The buyer gets a lovely wide open space with four walls, high ceilings, big windows, a separate bathroom area and a strip of a kitchen. They move in all excited and then like a punch in the stomach the realization sets in. They ask themselves, “WHERE DO I PUT MY STUFF?”

That’s where I and the Closet Factory come to the rescue. The most common solution is to divide an area for a sleeping and a living room. The best way to do this is to have a two sided wall unit. On the side that is facing into the bedroom area we would put a two foot deep, eight foot high closet with either frosted glass sliding doors or swing-out doors.  In the center we design a set of drawers with the bedroom T.V. sitting on top

Click on image to enlarge

of the drawers. Hanging and shelving goes on the left and the right

On the other side facing the living room area we would have the T.V. in the middle with drawers or a cabinet with doors below. Bookcases to the left and right look really sharp and can hold books, picture frames and pieces of art. I like to add lighting in these areas to make everything pop.  Many clients like cabinets below the shelves for additional storage.

The other alternative is to create a corner walk in closet in the bedroom area with frosted glass sliding doors. The walk in idea is a very popular addition for more closet space but extra area above the closet to store suitcases. Many people opt for lighting coming down from the storage shelf to illuminate the walk in interior.  I have added bookshelves or a small desk on the outside of the closet for even better use of space.

Lofts are so much fun because it is a wide open space like a blank canvas. All we have to do is be creative and really have some fun. We can design a pull-down bed, a place to store larger items like bikes and vacuums. There many more ways to make the loft experience a happy one. This is just one more way that the Closet Factory is your solution.

Receive a FREE custom closet design consultation from our expert Designers.  Download your very own Personal Closet Inventory Worksheet and learn how to maximize your space.

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By Amy Livesay – Closet Factory Portland

Sometimes it’s the little things that go into making a closet custom.

In this example, Closet Factory designer Amy Livesay specified six custom
Elements for this dresser section, which is part of a larger walk in closet system.
These unique features helped make this ordinary walk in closet, extraordinary!

1. Custom Glass inserts give the closet the “impressionist” of a classic Monet.
2. A mirror underneath the upper cabinets adds both utility and makes the closet appear larger
3. Bead board cherry backing adds texture and interest to complete the back wall
4. Hardwood shaker style doors and drawer faces add warmth to the space
5. Crown moldings scribed to the ceiling add a finished detail you would expect in a custom closet
6. Period hardware ties these new cabinets into the décor of the existing home

Next time you need organization, consider the small details that will make the space personal for you and your home.

By Amy Livesay – Closet Factory Portland

Visit Closet Factory’s “Expressions” section for the choice of styles, colors, products, layers, and organizational functionality to suit your custom closet needs.  Receive a FREE custom closet design consultation and learn how you can personalize your dream closet system.

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The fashion maven, style and beauty expert shows off her newly renovated closets. Photograph: David Rosenzweig

Time Out New York got an exclusive look at the glamorous closet renovations of Mary Alice Stephenson. Being a 25 year fashion industry insider Mary Alice has acquired an extensive wardrobe collection that rivals royalty! The closets take up an entire floor of her Brooklyn brownstone and her story will premiere in our Closet Stories Video Series January 30th!

Photograph: David Rosenzweig

Photograph: David Rosenzweig

The tricked-out closets were provided by custom wardrobe company Closet Factory and were put into Stephenson’s rental last fall. The space, which was previously a spare bedroom, took just a month to design and install, and was done with her busy schedule in mind. “Being able to see everything is so important to my life,” she notes. Since Stephenson doesn’t own her brownstone, Closet Factory created the walk-in wardrobe so that it’s not permanently attached to the walls and will be able to transport smoothly to her next pad. – Elizabeth Denton, Time Out New York, Closet case: Mary Alice Stephenson

 Visit the Closet Stories Video Series section of our website! Currently LIVE is Sasha Lazard with her video, bio and exclusive interview about her child’s closet style.  The ever stylish Mary Alice Stephenson will premiere Jan 30th and the fabulous Jill Zarin, author and former Real Housewives of New York personality will debut Feb 20th!

 Join Our Facebook Photo Contest and tell the story of your closet! It’s easy and you can win an $1000 Visa Gift Card to shop at the store of your choice!

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1. Install a tension rod under your sink but in front of the garbage disposal. Hang all of your spray cleaning supplies. It will free up space on the bottom shelf and keep things readily at hand.
2. Have too many wires going to your power strip? Use old bread closures to record which wire is which!
 
3. Traveling and don’t know what to do when you go to pack your dirty shoes? Simply put them in the plastic shower cap that is usually supplied by the hotel. It will protect all your other clothing.
 
4. At the beach and your feet our covered with sand? Simply dust baby powder on your feet and brush off the sand. It makes a messy job really easy.
 
5. Scratches on the base of a new chair? Something as simply as a walnut rubbed onto the scratch will make the scratches seem to disappear!

By Jan Stotlemyer – Closet Factory Washington DC

Receive a FREE custom closet design consultation and learn how you can get organized for the new year.  Download your very own Personal Closet Inventory Worksheet and learn how organization can improve your life.

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