My sweet wife and I recently purchased a ten year old home for our retirement. The Master Bedroom (love that term in this age of gender equality) has one of those minimal walk in closets that only has room in the center aisle to walk in, turn around, and walk out. It also has the wire shelves with the integrated wire hanger rod. Neither my wife nor I like these wire shelves so I am going to replace them with the traditional one and a half inch or so wood rod.
The question we are having is should we put wood shelves above the hanger rods (she actually wants glass shelves with brass trim but that is another discussion) or would it be acceptable to put wall cabinets (ala kitchen wall cabinets) above the rods on each side. The depth of the closet is only a little less than five feet. Our concern is that it would make the closet feel even smaller. But, on the other hand, it would provide additional dust free and enclosed storage space.
What think the experts?
Replies
I'm no expert, but we do have a similar closet, at least I imagine so.
What is the side to side dimension of yours? Ours is 82" (6' 10"). So far we've opted for two levels of rods on each side (his side, her side) and a shelf above the upper rod. It seems to work well.
I don't see any problem with cabinets other than if your ceilings are 9' high you'd want to keep a step stool around.
Scott.
Thanks for your comments. I should consider the two level rods on one side. However, my wife tends to wear long dresses that need a lot of rod space on her side. So, if I make my side two level, I am afraid there will not be any room for my few long hanging suits and pants. It would give more room for the shirts and blouses though. Must consider (and negotiate).
I believe that my closet width is just about what you mentioned -- seven to maybe eight feet in width. My concern is primarily aesthetics and a potential for an increase in the claustraphobic feeling that would be generated by the overhead cabinets sticking out a few inches more than the rod. I would plan to increase the lighting from the current one fluorescent bulb fixture to probably at least two bulbs.
I would plan to mount the rod at 14 inches from the wall and the cabinets are deeper than that, I think.
From most recent Florida condo plans, "master bedroom" has been replaced by "Owners' Retreat".
Listen to Splintie - she's a genius!
I think yes shelf, no cabinets, myself, but a mock-up is always time well spent.
(Splintie - send my bri- oops, gratuity to...)
Two women telling him "no" on the cabs...think anyone will listen to us? <g>
Make that three. :) I would like the shelving but not cabinets with doors. And yes Terry, if you listen to anyone,it should be Splinty. She KNOWS what she's doing!
If Splinty knew what she were doing, her house would be completely remodeled already. Instead, i've got a 6' ladder in my shower. I suppose i could hang some bulbs and garland on it...
I've seen some of your work as well as read about advice given...and I believe you do what you're doing! :)Need some more time out to work on that bathroom? Kidding of course!!!!Hum.....lights on a ladder in a shower............it would be a Splinty original!!
"i've got a 6' ladder in my shower"You had those photographers from Vickies Secrete over again didn't you?
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That was a communication error, kinda like the old "crowning a stud" thread.
While the cabinets/shelves may stick out an inch or two beyond the rod, the hanging clothes will also stick out beyond the rod--about 10 inches or so. I don't think it will feel claustrophobic, and it will be a good use of dead space.
each of you should have some 'long clothes space' and some 'double space or you will quickly find you don't have 'enough space'. Nix the
closets.Tigger
I don't think I would like the cabinet doors swinging in my face to get at stuff.
I would think your dust-free, enclosed space is the closet itself, no?
If you use kitchen cabinets, they are normally 12" deep. With face frames you lose another inch. That's deep enough to store a woman's folded T-shirt, but not men's shirts or bulky items.
You can get custom cabs made to be deeper, and you can have sliding doors to get away from doors opening in your face.
Why don't you get some cardboard packing boxes and cut some doors in one side, set them on the top shelf in your present closet, and see how it feels when you walk into the closet and open the cab door?
You might do better to invest in some nice storage boxes you can lift up and down a couple times a year if all you're looking for it to hide clutter or spare clothing and don't need to get into it often.
Excellent ideas. I do not know how much you paid the other poster to refer to you as a "genius" but I cannot complain. I will try the boxes idea. We still have several from moving into this house.
Neither my wife nor I are tall enough to see on top of even the current shelf so I do not think that the door is going to open into our face unless we have a step ladder. Of course, we WILL need a step ladder to get anything out of the cabinets so it is going to primarily be for long term storage items.
If you decide to go with the cabinets with doors, check out what's available in laundry room cabinets. They're available standard in 14" depths compared to the normal 12" depth.There's also a style of door that lifts up instead of swings out, like in this link from IKEA: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S79812633IKEA cabs are generally about an inch deeper than a domestic cabinet.
standard wood rod is 1-5/16"
I would not do cabinets there. opening a door means you have to back up or duck, or swing aside. At retirement age you don't need training for boxing matches ( unless you get into it with your wife over those glass shelves) so keep it open shelves.
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Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
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Something to consider for the cabinet doors is hardware that allows the door to flip up instead of conventionally to the side...it gets the door out of the way, and allows a larger door in the confined space. Sometimes the hinge will hold the door up, but usually some kind of a stay is needed - adjustable gas lifters are also available, like on a hatchback car door. The only problem will be reaching the door again to close it - but string works!
Hardware is generally made by European companies, and you may have to search for a supplier that can order them for you, as they deal with the cabinet industry and not individuals. Use websearches to checkout:
great thought!
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I broke through the back wall of the old reach-in closet to create a walk-in for DW (stole the space from an illegal half-bath). Only had a 7' ceiling to work with so less of an issue than yours re: shelf access. And height is an issue for my height-challenged wife...
Anyway, here's what I did, may give you some ideas:
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Edited 12/25/2008 2:08 pm by wrudiger
Don't let 'style' interfere with 'function!'
Especially in tight spaces, wire shelves have the vert real advantage of letting light pass through. Closets are notorious for poor lighting.
1" EMT makes a better hangar rod than wood.
Put boxes up there, and simulate having cabinets by opening the flaps. I suspect you'll reconsider.
Terry
How long you been married?
You REALLY think you are going to have "her" side and "your" side?
My side of the closet is about 1.5 shelf. And 1 rod. And getting smaller
That question, by itself, is just funny! We have been married for 31 years so, up until recently I have been able to maintain a 60/40 split (her favor). Then, when we bought the retirement home, we moved her into it with about half of the furniture. After living apart for ten months with only a weekend about once every four weeks, I found when I finally made the final move to be with her that it was a gentle struggle to regain my real estate in the closet. She has been cooperative when I have asked.
She had also taken over both sinks in the Master Bath and, at one point, tried to ease me out of the guest bathroom also. On the other hand, she insisted that we buy a second desk so I would have a place for my office computer. I know she loves me. It is just that we both have too much stuff including the clothes.
Instead of putting in cabinets up above, put them on the floor under the hanging racks. Put a a pair that are each 24" wide, 16" tall, and reinforce the inside so she can stand on them. The long dresses hand between the cabs, the short coats and blouses hang over the cabinets. You preserve the openess above and have a secure place to stand to access the upper area.
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.