You may remember this Good Question where an AT Boston reader wanted help with her tiny floorplan after completing a lovely closet-office makeover. Well, it looks like that little closet overhaul inspired another reader to whip her closet into shape and we have the before-and-after pictures after the jump...
Hi! I saw a pic of a great closet workspace last week on AT and I just had to do it. I am an artist and art teacher but I live in a tiny condo that is 336 SF. I need to have a work space at home where I can leave my work in progress laying around without having a huge mess all over my living space.
Here's how Cathy tackled her closet makeover:
I had a butcher block counter top that I took the legs off of and used my Closet Maid storage pieces from Home Depot for legs. I used white shelves from the "as is" section at Ikea for the top shelf then painted the closet the same color as the neighboring kitchen area to spruce it all up. Then I built a small wall out of thin board, covered it with some extra wallpaper I already had to separate the clothes on the left from the workspace.
I move out my rolling Ikea file cabinet for additional work surface and a stool fits nicely in the middle when I need it. I painted an old mirror and hung it in there to make the space feel bigger and not so closed in when I am working. There are also clothes hanging on the rig — those went to the bedroom closet and I put shorter hanging pieces in this closet. There are also things stashed under the hanging clothes that I have easy access to.
This really gives me more space and works for me! Thanks for the ideas! Cathy
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awesome! you did a great job of organizing & utilizing the available space you had! makes me feel like a slacker about my closet :)
view rstrtz's profile
very nicely done! how did you handle electricity?
view Enamorada's profile
Very nice! I'm doing a similar project, only I'm converting a storage space that used to be an office into a closet :)
Hopefully I'll be able to post it soon!
http://www.notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/
view Harpa's profile
stupid comment but: i have the same flatiron! hehe :)
view ma_c's profile
What a great use of space
view bepsf's profile
I'm not sure if I'm understanding this correctly, but is your "stool" actually the filing cabinet? What a great way to have more storage without taking up necessary space!
view Mrs.Mack's profile
dude!
That's Amazing.
I wish I could envision and do something like this... But i always have trouble putting all pieces together.
view AyeshaZ's profile
wow!! well done! :-)
view maike's profile
I have come out of the closet to answer your questions; The stool is actually in the kitchen and I bring it around to the closet when I am working there. I move the rolling file out and use it as another work surface next to me. I ran a power strip extension cord from the living space into the closet and hot glued the power strip vertically on the wall on the right.
view firehousecat's profile
Cool. I also tried a closet office.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lfb/2970394580/
I have started working at home on Fridays and it works great.
view Ben from Cambridge's profile
Ok... I'm a little late for comment? But I have to say I love this!
I really want to make my tiny closet into an home office too. But the problem is, I don't know where I can put all that clothes in the closet. I'm thinking if I can tear down the cabinet in the hallway and make it into a closet with a bi-fold doors. But I'm just not a handy person :( .
Anyways, thanks for this great post! It's realistic and inspiring!
view Sleepybears's profile