The old wire racks were doing what wire racks do. Sagging, bending, and holding less than the customer needed. They’re quick to put up, and that’s about all they have going for them.

Before

In Progress

This closet was built from scratch, start to finish. I built it in modular sections, each one sized so one person could carry it in and set it alone. A good build starts in the shop, thinking about how it’s going to get out the door and into the room.

The cabinets are 3/4 and 1/2 inch birch plywood. Birch takes paint well and holds a screw, which is what you want in something that will get opened and closed every day.

Each run sits on a plinth base. Get the base level and the cabinets on top go in plumb and square. Skip it and you spend the rest of the job chasing gaps.

There was a clock on this one. A torn-out closet means everything you own is piled on the bed. The customer needed their things back where they belonged, so we moved fast. Fast is fine when the thinking gets done ahead of time. The sections went in one at a time, and the closet was back in use.

After

The cabinets are finished in Benjamin Moore Advance satin, which cures hard and stands up to daily use. The walls got eggshell.

Built right, a closet is something you stop noticing. You just open the door and everything is where it should be.

Details

• Removed failing wire rack shelving
• Fully custom cabinets in 3/4 and 1/2 inch birch plywood
• Built in modular sections for solo transport and install
• Cabinets set on leveled plinth bases
• Drawers, cubbies, and hanging space sized to the customer’s storage needs
• Cabinets painted in Benjamin Moore Advance satin, walls in eggshell