apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

For what you're storing, this closet is not that bad -- it doesn't look substantially worse than our LR closet after the husband has been home for a couple weeks, and I'm practically OCD about closets.

I'd replace your existing InterMetro unit with one that has taller poles so you can get another shelf or two in, which should allow you to make the computer equipment look tidier.

If you want to be ambitious, you could consider whether it's possible to have your back-up equipment be something different and more compact.

Hi Wende,

We actually have a hard time with taller wire shelving as right above the current top shelf on the right side is our electrical subpanel which can't be blocked. I'd definitely have more compact backup equipment, but that costs money whereas using the previous gen computers is free!

Aaaaaahhhh... sometimes I wish it was possible to delete/revise comments here, as I remember our struggles to find closet space that accommodated our shelving needs, and I feel kinda stupid for not thinking you might have similar ones. Oh well. :-)

This is huge by NYC standards. Just curious..do you need a 10' ladder? Maybe you do, but if you have outside space (as I'm imagining you must, since even 12' ceilings throughout wouldn't need a ladder that high), maybe store that outside?

How often do you use your luggage? Maybe store some of the off-season coats and clothes inside a suitcase that you don't use very often?

Clothing wise, the closet rod doesn't seem jammed. Maybe you can consolidate onto one rod (eliminate x-tra coathangers) and then free up one wall for addt'l storage of items.

And I'm a fan of clear-plastic bins to separate/store stuff in the closet. Wires, cables in one bin. Purses, bags in another. Hats, gloves, in another.

JenPDX,
Thanks for your clear bin comment - I've just had a breakthrough thought on my own closet clean up. Instead of putting all my bags that I don't use so much back on the closet floor or hanging here and there in the closet, maybe I'll put them in some plastic bins and put those in some of the newly created space I just made in the closet. Such an obvious answer to a bin user such as myself, but I've never had the ah-ha before.

Fiona: We have 12' ceilings, so the 10' ladder is used to change lightbulbs, switch the seasonal settings on the ceiling fans, etc. We tried to get away with an 8' ladder, but it left us (especially my petite and adorable wife) rather precariously balanced. It is a very large closet, for which we are very grateful.

JenPDX: The luggage is used a fair amount, and some of it is currently doing storage container duty as well.

Oh, the closet rods aren't jammed because there is enough stuff stored below the rod that there are "blank" sections where coats have no room to hang. On the floor in various sections of the "hanging" area are: the hamper, a footlocker with off-season clothes, top section of the tripod.

How's the space set up in the rest of the apartment? What do you have and where? Can you make out a floor plan? Like the folks did during the Smallest Coolest Apartment Contest.

You had also mentioned that you were looking for a new bed, and I posted one for you in The Cure area, as well as emailed it:
http://www.haikudesigns.com/europa-platform-beds.htm

Consider using that under bed area for the cold weather clothing. As well as adding to your clothes storage via dressers.

Things that are not easily accessed are not easily used. Backup computers should be with the office things. Inexpensive, sturdy shelving can be found at IKEA, like IVAR:
http://tinyurl.com/8f4dv

Stain it black, give it a coat of matte poly, and use the fabric panels and KVADRANT rail system to cover the front if necessary. Even using just the drawers with casters could be helpful in your current closet.

Have you tried those bags that you attach a vacuum to, and it sucks out all the air for storing out of season items? That might be ideal, keeps everything dust free and easy to store. Again could be put in the under bed area.

If the shelving is covered with fabric, you can put anything on the shelves. Yes, the vacuum can go there. Easy to get to.

Of course, I have no idea what kind of space you have. I'm thinking of all the ideas that were shown in SCC, like David and Im's or Lucy's Love Shack.

And pick up the book. Chances are, some of that can go.

Max, I have 9' ceilings, and I am 5'6" and can reach my ceilings to do work with a 3' step ladder. You can definitely downsize to at least a 6' ladder unless you have a super-short woman in the house, and then you could still go to 7'. Just a thought, because that's a huge ladder to store.

When will the contest be settled? I didn't see a timeline for announcing finalists - or are these the finalists?

According to ladder safety recommendations, you are not supposed to stand on the top surface or top rung of a stepladder. At 5'2" that meant that for my 10' ceilings at my old house, I had to have an 8 foot ladder. For 12' ceilings I'm sure I would need a 10' ladder. Please be careful out there. My mom fell off a ladder recently (and she's an experienced remodeler) and she was bruised up something fierce. It was a miracle nothing was broken. You don't want that at all.