Coming Out of the Closet

Well, you didn't know it until now, but I've been in the closet the last 6 days--and I'm finally coming out!

I have no before pictures, but the after pictures are glorious--at least to me. No more shoes on the floor. Shelves that were wire are now wood. No more wasted storage space. We've gone from chaos to organization.

Jon went on a trip last week and I went into action. I had been studying the problem for the last two weeks and now it was time to act. I took out all of our clothes then pulled down the wire ClosetMaid system. The walls were disgusting--original flat contractor paint that had been scuffed up for 20 years, so I pulled a gallon of white paint from the shelf in the garage and threw a coat on the wall. Then off to Home Depot! It's my favorite store.

I found the right plywood then had them carve it up--three sheets and at least 20 cuts. Two hours later I dropped it off at home, dragged out my chop saw, nail gun and table saw and measured, cut, and hung.

Things I learned:
1) Walls have bumps.
2) The little levels with the bubble window on top must be oriented bubble window side up or else they are not level.
3) When really motivated to do something, I can accomplish both home school and the thing I want to do.
4) Walls have bumps.
5) Dads are invaluable for info. about building things--if that dad happens to be handy at stuff like that.
6) Paint before you hang it up.
7) Walls have bumps--and I loathe them.


This is the view as you walk into the closet--so much better than shoes everywhere and sweaters piled high and flopping off a shelf that is two inches too short.


Now I've turned 90 degrees to the right and we're looking at my shoes and long clothes to the right and left.


Now to the right of my shoes--my summer shirts on time and winter on bottom.

Jon returned from Chicago to find me still in the closet, painting, painting, painting. I hadn't had a shower in two days and had skipped at least four meals. Needless to say, I got no happy-to-be-home kiss. For two days I painted. Then I bought rods and hung them. I put most of the clothes back in the closet and the shoes on the shelves. Glorious! I was short a few brackets, so I did not finish until tonight.

But now...



Sigh! The only thing left to do is trim out the edge that I had to shim in order to fix the uneven wall and add one shelf that I discovered I had room for when hanging the last rod tonight.

Then, of course, there is this: it's next. But first, Thanksgiving!