Walk-in Closet Cleanup

The Challenge 

If you are like me, then you have more clothes, shoes, and accessories than you have closet space. And what if you have to share this same closet space with a spouse or significant other—oh boy! Things can get pretty crazy in that tight space pretty fast. Well, you are in luck. Using my on closet experience, I will show you how to turn that chaos into calm...all on a budget!

While this DIY project is specific to a walk-in closet, you can certainly make use of a number of these the storage ideas for smaller closets as well. The use of storage bins and storage supplies and the notion of "decluttering" certainly applies. 

The Materials 

• Mainstays Shoe Rack (expandable to store up to 20 pairs of shoes w/ heels) | $13.39: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Shoe-Rack/15566795

• Chicken Wire Basket, Rustic Espresso | $12.44: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Chicken-Wire-Basket-Rustic-Espresso/41884108

• Sterilite 3 Drawer Cart in  White - 
  $16.00
   |
  
  $52.09: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-3-Drawer-Cart-White-Case-of-2/44785970

• Whitmor Spacemaker Hangers, Beige, Set of 2 | $12.50: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Whitmor-Spacemaker-Hangers-Beige-Set-of-20/20510736

• Whitmor Flocked Spacemaker Dress/Shirt | $10.74: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Whitmor-Flocked-Spacemaker-Dress-Shirt-Hangers-Beige-Set-of-15/23750319

• Honey-Can-Do Horizontal Tie and Belt Hangers, 2-Pack | $10.70: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Honey-Can-Do-Horizontal-Tie-and-Belt-Hangers-Set-of-2/23009064

• InterDesign Axis Scarf Holder | $8.82-$15.93: http://www.walmart.com/ip/InterDesign-Axis-Scarf-Holder/26009837

OR

• InterDesign Classico PC Silver Scarf Hanger, Set of 3 | $16.57: http://www.walmart.com/ip/InterDesign-Classico-PC-Silver-Scarf-Holder-Set-of-3/44940946

Note: All items found at Walmart. Thank you, Walmart!

The Execution

Step 1: The first thing is to declutter your space by removing all those abandoned or unused and unwanted items and donating them to your local Good Will or charitable organization. As they say: "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

Step 2: The next thing you need to do is find the best places in your closet to utilize the new storage bins and shoe racks. When you've done this, then you'll likely need to do some assembly, so break out your tools and get to working, connecting Part A to Part B and so on. Have fun!

Step 3: Once assembly is complete, you can start to fill the rack with shoes and bins with wayward items (sweaters, tees, shorts, etc.) and place them in the desired areas of the closet. 

Step 4: Toss out all those old wire hangers and replace them with the new spacemaker hangers. This will keep your clothes from getting tangled when retrieving or moving items. Use the tie and belt and scarf holders for even more organization. You'd be surprised how much these storage-savers can go a long way.

Step 5: Keep shredding unneeded or unwanted items until you are satisfied with your newly reorganized space.

The Results

Before

After

Bonus After Video

Building A Tic-Tac-Toe Bookshelf

The Challenge

I'd spent some time searching online for the perfect bookshelf, one that was not only sleek, modern, and clean in design, but also had those just-right dimensions. Well, I did finally find such a bookcase (see below) that met the design requirement, but lacked the dimensions and all-wood constitution (it was wood veneer). And since I fancy myself a bit of a craftsman wannabe, I  decided to take upon the challenge of replicating it for much cheaper, using real wood.

Tic-Tac-Toe Bookcase, Challenge Piece

The Materials 

• (4) 1.5-inch-thick, 60-inch-long, 11.5-inch-wide wood planks/beams
• (15) 1.5-inch-thick, 15.6-inch-long, 11.5-inch-wide wood planks
• (12) 3/4-inch-round, 13.5 in threaded rods

 
• Drill and appropriate bits
• Wood finish
• Electric sander and sandpaper 
• Wood glue (carpenter's glue)
• 12 Metal T-brackets 

The Dimensions
60W x 11.5D x 84H inches

The Schematic
Before any construction took place, I created the schematic (see below) so that we would have something to follow. It's always good to have a diagram of some sort.

Bookcase Schematic - click to enlarge

Note: The schematic calls for (12) 3/4-inch-round, 18 in threaded rods. However, we now recommend (12) 3/4-inch-round, 13.5 in threaded rods.

The Construction

Initial Goal
The goal was to build the bookshelf by having 6 threaded rods travel from top to bottom inside the vertical supports to ensure stability.

Augmented Plan
Because of our wood selection, using 2-by-8s rather then plywood, we soon realized that we had to deviate quite a bit from our initial construction goal in order to support the bookcase. Rather than use the 6 long rods, we had to use 12 shorter rods, wooden pegs, wood glue, and T-brackets both to support and reinforce construction.

Our Steps

1. We went to local hardware store and had the wood pieces cut to size, according to the dimensions specified above in the Materials section. 
2. We center-drilled a 3/4-in round hole, 6-in deep in the top of three of 15.6-inch-long vertical planks.
3. We threaded a 13.5-inch-long rod into each of the first three vertical planks. 
4. We followed that by drilling three 3/4-in round holes (about 13in. apart) in each of the 4 horizontal planks.
5. We assembled the first shelf by threading the rod in each of the first three vertical planks into the appropriate hole in the first horizontal plank and reinforced with wood glue. Once assembled; this left three exposed, vertical threaded rods that would be used to attach the second row of vertical planks (see photos below). 
6. We took six more vertical planks and center-drilled a 3/4-in round hole, 6-in deep in both the top and bottom. Then threaded a 13.5-inch-long rod only into the top, as we'd done in step 3. 
7. We threaded the bottom of three of those six vertical planks into the exposed rods from the first row we assembled and reinforced with wood glue. 
8. We threaded the second horizontal plank in place, matching the three holes in it with the three exposed rods from the second set of vertical planks. 
9. We could and would now attach the third row of vertical planks and follow that with the attachment of the third horizontal plank. Keep in mind that we are still reinforcing with wood glue.
10. We would assemble the forth row of verticals and forth horizontal plank in a similar manner, leaving all the final three vertical planks to attach.
11. For the final three verticals, we center-drilled the hole in the bottom of each and threaded each into the final three exposed, vertical rods, reinforcing with wood glue.
12. We attached t-brackets to each joint (12 total) in the back of the bookshelf for even more reinforcement. 
13. We sealed any joint gaps with wood finish and applied sanding where needed.
14. Stain and varnish to your liking. Note: We decided to leave our shelving in its natural state.

Photo Gallery

It's said that "a picture can say a thousand words," so I'll let the construction unfold through the gallery of images (click on images to enlarge). 

 

  
















The Results

So, without further ado, here's the semi-finished product: 

Semi-finished Bookcase (without stain) - click to enlarge

The New Look
Originally, when we built the bookcase, I had intended to stain the bookcase. At that time, we had carpet on the floor, so the stain would have worked nicely. We've since installed a beautiful hardwood floor that just blends so wonderfully with the natural color of the bookcase, as you can see for yourself in the picture below.

 

Natural Bookcase with Hardwood Floors - click to enlarge

Reupholstery Gone Right!

My Materials 

• 1 Thonet Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Armchair, antique shop ($50) 
• 1 Thonet Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Armchair w/fabric, ebay ($30) 
• 3 yds Company C Nori fabric in Slate, modern-fabrics.com ($100) 
• Upholstery Services, Houston-based ($130 per/chair)  

My Story  

So here's how it all got started. I found the first Thonet chair a few years back at an antique shop in Tenaha, TX, on my way heading back to Houston from Shreveport. I fell in love with the lines of the chair and knew it was a great find @ $50.  As luck would have it, I found the second Thonet chair a little over a month ago on Ebay for $30. It was local, so it was an even better find. 

Initially, I had considered reupholstering in leather, but after online research about mid-century modern furniture, I stumbled upon some great resources for fabrics and fell in love w/ the Company C Nori fabric in Slate from Modern Fabrics.  

Note: At the time of writing this blog, it seems that fabric color is currently not available anymore. Boo!

Fabric Sample

Fabric Info

 

At any rate, the next step was to determine whether I would attempt reupholstering myself or leave it to the professionals. And after a bit of online research on DYI , it was clear that I should consult a pro, which I did. I found a nice little upholstery shop in the antique district here in Houston and let Luis do his  magic and boy, did he ever!  He was even able to replicate the arm padding that had only been on one of the chairs--Fantastic! (Thanks, Luis!)

My Results

So, without further ado, here are the finished products: 

Chair 1 (antique find) Before/After - click to enlarge

Chair 2 (ebay find) Before/After - click to enlarge

Bottle It: DIY Diffuser Station

You can turn an ordinary block of wood and recycled lotion bottles into an amazing reed diffuser station!

Materials Needed

Pencil
Level
Ruler
Wood Finish (stainer)
Paint Brush
Old Bottles
3x3x36 Poplar Square (wood block)
Drill
Large Drill Bit
Saw
Diffuser Oil
Reeds
Twine
Sander or sand paper
Safety goggles/glasses

Steps

[1]
Gather your old lotion bottles and remove all the labeling from them. You may need to use an adhesive removal solution to aid with this. Wash the containers thoroughly and set them aside to dry for later.

[2]
Go to your local hardware or home improvement store and purchase block of wood (I used a 3x3x36 Popular Square block). You'll cut it to size later, depending on the number of bottles you have. Keep in mind that you can make your station as long or as short as you wish.

[3]
Use your ruler to measure out the length you wish your station to be and mark the cut line on your block. Since I used only 3 bottles, my station is 10" long. Once the cut line is marked, use one of the bottles to trace its circumference on the block. Be sure when tracing that you space them equally. In my case, I made 3 circular tracings on the block. This will be where you drill your slots for the bottles.

[4]
Use a drill with the appropriately-sized drill bit to drill your slots, each 1/2" deep into the block. In my case, I used a 2-1/8" drill bit (see photos).

[5]
Once you've drilled out your slots, use your bottles to test the levelness of the slot depth, positioning the level over the bottles. Drill to level the slots, as necessary.

[6]
Use your saw to cut off the excess block from your station, making your cut at the line you'd previously drawn. Then smooth any ragged or rough surfaces of your block with your sander or sand paper.

[7]
Apply your first coat of stain (I used MinWax Golden Oak 210B) to your block and allow to dry thoroughly (It's good practice to apply at least 3 coats). While your block is drying, you can proceed to Step 8 to begin sprucing up your bottles.

[8]
Wrap several rows of the twine around the neck of each bottle, making it as decorative as you wish. Then fill each bottle with the diffuser oil and place a set of reeds in each.

[9]
Apply the remaining coats of stain to the wood block. Once dry, set your diffuser bottles into the wood block slots and place anywhere in your home. The fragrance will be pure delight!