Closet Tailors of SW Florida

Closet Tailors of SW Florida is the premier design and installation team for your custom closets, garage, home office, pantry, Murphy Bed, entertainment center, craft corner, study zone and laundry areas. In fact, there aren't many areas that we couldn't devise a better way to store your belongings. All we need is your idea to start the creative process of devising a solution!

Most cabinets these days are made out of high density melamine. Closet Tailors of SW Florida uses 3/4' thick, 100 lbs density which is nearly double that of the big box home improvement stores. We also offer over 20 different colors with a rich array of cherry, maple, dark oak along with basic white and almond.

Closet Tailors of SW Florida uses a fully computerized design system that renders your spaces in 3D so you see it before it is done! We also custom cut materials on-site as needed to fit the demanding deviations that inevitably pop up.

Of course, Closet Tailors of SW Florida is licensed and insured as all reputable businesses should be. Dave Owen at Oswald Trippe is my agent and I'll be glad to provide his contact info for verification.

One can be very skimpy in building a custom closet, but what is the point? Though I don't advocate adding 4-5 belt or tie racks (unless the closet is enormous), there are a few simple add-ons that make the closet more useful. Closet Tailors will provide the best location and quantity for yours!

• Valet Rod - a simple rod entends away from the vertical panels to provide a place to hang dry cleaning, next day's clothes or your fold-over travel bag. These usually run $35-50 USD depending upon depth and color scheme.
• Belt rack - I've seen ones with six pins- get more! In fact, I usually substitute a tie rack as they have upwards of 22 pegs.
• Ties - I've got you covered! 22 pegs, slide out to access and easy to add more if you collection grows over time.

These are the basics though a small safe, pull down third row of hanging and dirty clothes hampers are right up there.

Take a look at Closet Tailors of SW Florida for more pictures and ideas!

Though it is so simple, a valet rod is useful for so many things.  Think about how Closet Tailors of SW Florida could add one to hang dry cleaning, air out clothes for tomorrow's work, temporarily hang your travel bag while packing or even throw the bathrobe up there while dressing.

The valet rod extend about 10" when you are using a 14" deep closet system.  There are different styles, some more elegant than others, but it comes down to functionality.  Most of the time, the rod is neatly hidden behind clothes so its appeal is all in the eye of the beholder.

Closet Tailors of SW Florida can design and install a custom office space for either home or business using world class 3-D software and materials.  Whether you need extra filing space, computer desks, upper cabinet storage or built in meeting space, Closet Tailors can build your dream work environment!

Study zones for kids are many times integrated right into their bedroom storage system.  Carving out a dedicated place to study helps them focus on tasks.  Attachments for computer and power cabling are available to keep the zone tidy.  Check out other options at Closet Tailors pages here.  Check out sample office pictures below!

As a professional in the custom closet field, I often come across questions on what materials to use for various projects around the house. Being biased, I usually lean towards melamine for a few reason stated below. I'll give you a bit of the good and bad parts of each.

White Wire Mesh:
Good - it's cheap and, if installed properly, fairly sturdy.
Bod - over time, it grows its own version of what can only be described as grimy mold. It is not adjustable and, if NOT installed properly, will almost certainly fall and leave some nasty holes to patch. There is virtually no adjustment once installed.

Melamine
Good - wide variety of colors, easily customized, lots of options and adjustable. Properly designed systems will also get the maximum usable space out of the room. It is easy to add on or adapt a system to lifestyle changes.
Bad - if you ding it, repair is nearly impossible other than to cover it up or replace the part.

Wood
Good - built in, nearly the same options as melamine, great colors and texture
Bad - finish fades over time, possible warping unless maintained well, repairs are difficult at best, cost is 250% of melamine

Having installed all three, I'd say that melamine is your best choice for flexibility and cost in the value equation. Most realtors will tell you that you will get 90-120% of you investment in a custom closet, so think of it as a value add to your home rather than expense!

Closet Tailors of SW Florida was featured in an article from the Charlotte County Weekly paper. To be fair, they did cite another closet company, but you only want the BEST ----> Closet Tailors!

To reade the full article, please click below:

Closet Tailors in Charlotte Florida Weekly

To sign up for a complimentary consultation and design, visit http://www.closettailors.com/capecoral or call 239.209.4616 and we'll connect promptly!

Garage storage is a matter of available wall space and ceiling height.  The more open wall space and height will provide flexibility in design, allow for overhead options and dramatically increase the linear footage.  Depth from the wall is also a key factor as usable space can increase by 20-40% with an increase of 6” in depth.

As a consumer, you will have to consider whether it is important to keep everything clean, i.e. behind doors, or does open storage work.  Doors will GREATLY increase the price as they need hardware (hinges, plates, handles), use up as much (or more) material as a couple of vertical panels and take extra man hours to install.  Without a doubt, doors provide a cleaner look and will keep your garage gear cleaner.

Open storage is actually more useful as is does allow overhang for deeper items.  Who doesn’t have a cooler, lawn chair or odd size scrap wood that is not exactly 18” or 24” deep?  You should take into account what you will be placing on the shelves as well.  Spread your weighty stuff – paint cans, cases of water, motor oil, spare parts and tool bins – out across several shelves.   No self respecting garage company will extend shelves farther than 30” wide.  Despite best intentions, they WILL be overloaded and eventually fail if too wide.  A 24”-30” shelf, no less than ¾” thick, will hold most all of the typical garage items without trouble.

Most garages, depending upon the part of the country you are in, are a minimum of 9’ high.  Newer homes are easily going to 12’ and, depending upon the building codes for sloped roofs, could even be higher.  Since the vast majority of vehicles are less than 7’ high, that allows 2-3’ of usable space over the hood of the vehicle for a downward hanging rack.

These overhead racks can add a tremendous amount of storage space to an otherwise cramped garage.  In a typical two car garage, it will be approximately 22-28’ wide and allow for 2-3 large racks.  The larger of the overhead racks is the same size as a sheet of plywood – 4’ x 8’ – or 32 square feet.  Considering that the space will likely be at least 2 feet deep, you now have waist high storage for everything from holiday decorations to tax records.

 If you can add three of similar size, that is like creating a brand new 10’ x 10’ room just for storage!  Make sure you check the load rating of the rack as they vary greatly.  I happen to use Onrax’s product which holds up to 800 lbs if installed properly. 

Your garage has a wealth of storage space and the right combination can free up tons of interior space for daily items.  See your local storage professional for ideas and professional installation.

Now about my pantry...

Today's pantry has almost been an afterthought in a home's design. In days long gone, the pantry had to store jarred preserves, dried meats, potatoes, spices, sugar, flour and similar basic food items. With the advent of refrigeration and grocery stores, the pantry began to shrink in size and importance.

With sometimes nothing more than a coat closet 24" in width and depth, the main need is to provide flexibility in shelving height. Spice jars don't need to be stacked next to a cereal box twice its height and waste space. Though there are some excellent products to adjust heights of items, such as "stadium seating" spice and can racks, having flexible shelving is the first step.

In the vast majority of new homes, the builder puts in fixed wire shelves throughout. Not only does the wire shelving allow small items (now where did that soup mix go?) to fall through, but they cannot be adjusted to your needs. Typical storage panels are on the 32mm (1.25") European standard and thus shelves can be adjusted at that increment up or down.

Larger walk in pantries, whether they be in new homes or renovations of existing larders, offer many options. One of the most useful is a series of sliding baskets with varying depths. The most common uses include storing pasta, potato chips, cookies and quick grab snack items like Fruit Rollups or granola bars. Baskets can also be used for real potato, fruit and vegetable storage such as onions (use a dark liner to block ambient light).

Another more common use for pantries is wine storage. These are not the vintage Rothschild-type, but more of commonly consumed wines as is custom in France or Italy. Sliding wine racks can store typically four bottles across in a 24" opening and are easily stacked to maximize the space. Though not as efficient, traditional lattice work can also be framed to provide the tilted and display look. Zig-zagged lucite frames also allow convenient stacking. Remember: keeping your "house wine" in the same place as food storage will keep it top of mind as you set up your shopping list!

The last upgrade I see most often is a recycling center. Depending upon the quantity, this can be as simple as an extra basket to a full blown, three can sliding system from Rev-A-Shelf or Hafele. Usually recycling bins require a portion of the pantry system to be deeper (at least 18") to allow for can and rail depth. If you don't mind the top being open and contents partly visible, the pantry can be of same size with smaller rails. A sliding shelf is also an option with framed in bins to keep them from toppling off.

Call your local custom closet and storage company, such as Closet Tailors, for pantry designs whether it be a closet size or walk-in. With design software and industry innovations, they have fresh ideas for all your storage needs!

The stogy Murphy bed has now become a stylish staple of the multi-purpose room these days. With empty nesters or locations with high visitor counts (can you say FL in the winter?), making use of the extra rooms for things other than dusty collections of furniture only makes sense!

Murphy Beds were originally devised and patented in 1916 by William Murphy as a space saver for small rooms. As homes, hotels and even military locations were working on European standards, rooms were made smaller which allowed for higher densities. In actuality, it made for cramped spaces and thus the beginning of the "multi-purpose" room.

The Murphy bed as we know it usually is part of a larger wall system that incorporates shelving, drawers, full cabinets and sometimes televisions or entertainment centers. Needing a minimum of 16" depth to allow for a standard 10.5" high mattress, a custom closet or Murphy bed professional can devise substantial storage options if additional wall space is available.

The beds are sized based upon the single, double, queen and king size mattresses that can be bought at any bedding store. Mattress height is key and you should consult with your Murphy bed provider for their exact specifications. There are several options that could affect the allowable mattress height, such as spring tension and side panel materials, so do not stray from the specs.

The beauty of the Murphy bed is that it frees up so much space once closed. I have several clients that use the room as a workout space, home office and library when the bed is not in use. By adding drawers, shelves and possibly a clothes hamper, one could eliminate most of the furniture in what is likely a small room to begin with. If the side cabinets are 24" deep, you could have your clothes stored behind doors. That would allow whatever closet space there is to be converted into something used daily such as entertainment center or home office.

Murphy bed systems are also stylish with a wide array of finishes and colors. Most providers will come close to, if not match, existing furniture. We've installed dark cherry, white, maple and a few in-between colors to the customer's delight!

For anyone needing to maximize the usefulness of a spare room, a Murphy bed will be a key component. Contact a local Murphy bed company or custom closet provider, such as Closet Tailors, to see how you can make double use of your room!

With many of us either bringing work home or working out of our house, a truly functional home office has become a necessity. There is a lot of science, including space planning and ergonomics, that is used to make a space workable outside of placing a Wal-Mart workstation in the corner. Follow most, if not all, of these tips and you’ll be using your space effectively plus reduce stress and fatigue.

Your home should start with about four linear feet and there is a reason: basic office chairs need 24 inches and the smallest file cabinets are 12 inches wide. Flank an opening for your knees with two 12 inch cabinets and Bam! - you are at four feet. Anything under four feet becomes cramped, lacks file and/or drawer space and likely will be overtaken by today’s paperwork!

The desk depth could come into play as well. A traditional office desk is a minimum of 24 inches deep. Depending on the depth of the adjacent walls, you may not want a deep desktop to avoid room blockage. Eighteen inches is as small as I would allow for a useful space.

The actual desktop surface is also key. Will you be using it for general writing, bill paying, etc? Then a melamine or laminate top will work fine. If you are using for crafts, say scrapbooking, the hammering and cutting would likely damage a softer surface. Though pricey, invest once in a solid surface such as Corian or granite so you don’t have to replace it. The color palettes of Corian and granite also allow for a nice contrast to, or tie-in, the room’s décor. Remember: 30-32” is the standard height from the ground for good ergonomics.

If the wall above the desk space is available, either open shelving or cabinets can be hung to maximize storage. Most custom home office providers will match the style and width to the base cabinets. I often put crown molding on top of the upper cabinets to provide a finished, and much more built-in, look.

Nearly every home office has a computer. Laptops take up their room while desktops vary greatly in size and shape. Even the printers, fax, scanner, copier and assorted modems will use valuable space. Call a local custom closet, such as Closet Tailors, or office organization company as they can recommend proper spacing and options to manage your peripherals.

Most homes do have the space to place a small home office that can act as the communication center, mail room and computer work station. Follow some of the tips above and you can make yours a reality!

I have been awarded the Expert Author status from Ezine articles for my series on closet and storage systems. Here's another in my efforts to educate and inform!

Closet Materials - cost, form or function?

We have an install scheduled for Naples, Fl at Bridgewater Bay next Wednesday with an entertainment center, computer desk and garage.  Just finished four closets in Estero,Fl last Saturday.

Follow up on repeat client in Fiddlesticks (Fort Myers), Cape Coral and will be heading to Punta Gorda tonight to meet a potential client at 6 PM.  Just trying to stay in the game, baby...

If you have home or office storage needs, please call 239.209.4616 or visit us online at Closet Tailors of SW Florida.

According to a study done by Closets magazine covering 1,000+ respondents, closet spending will rise throughout 2010 and continue into next year. Average price for a master closet was just over $3,000 and expected to hold steady. Read more here:

Closet spending trending up through 2011