Behind Closed (Garage) Doors

We need more room! This cry is heard in homes throughout America. Space is constantly in demand. Too much stuff ends up in piles sucking up valuable space and adding to clutter.

For Shear Linker, mother and admitted craft-aholic, their garage was one of those places that seem underutilized. "We were using our garage as a storage center for all of our junk. It was just wasted space," said Linker. With two small children and few flat surfaces for crafts and play areas, the garage seemed like a logical place to expand.

They contacted Carolyn Palmer, senior designer with Closets by Design, for ideas. She went to the Linker's house, spent time with them to assess their needs, and ultimately created a room that far surpassed the family's expectations.

Closets by Design of Charlotte builds and installs custom closets, garage cabinets, home offices, pantries and laundry rooms. Eric VanSickle, and his wife Laura, opened Closets by Design three years ago. Finding a permanent home for your stuff is their job.

For the Linker family, they installed custom cabinets and counters in a garage converted to a multi-purpose craft and playroom. How did they do it?

All of the junk in the garage was temporarily moved to an outbuilding while the cabinets were installed. The end result? A room the entire family enjoys.

"Now, everything has a place and I even have space for future storage. I do scrap booking and make hair bows and now everything is organized," said Linker. "I have a wrapping paper center, a place for the vacuum cleaner, dress-up clothes for kids on hangers, and even a TV. At night all the toys go into their place and we have a place to relax and hang out together. It has become our most used room in the whole house and is so easy to keep organized."

For Eric and Laura VanSickle, the Linker job is especially satisfying, as their design team was able to apply organizational design skills to an area of the home that is often underutilized with respect to storage.

"Often underused space exists in hidden places, such as under stairways or in garages. Using an already existing space for storage organization can save money on electrical work and new construction. "Clients come back to us again and again, as they are becoming more creative in finding spaces in their home to organize," said Eric.

For more information and a free, in-home design consultation, call Closets by Design at 704-588-7272.

TIPS FOR CLUTTER CONTROL
Analyze existing space for potential conversions
Consult with a contractor and cabinet design specialist
Keep kids' shelves and cabinets low for their access
Assign some of the newly created space for future storage