Planning a luxury master closet is no easy feat. From custom shelving and lighting to a unique island, it’s a huge project for any homeowner to tackle, but one that will produce the closet of their dreams.
As Erik and Lori Murphy of Loveland were building their new home this year, they hired Closets by Design to create their two master closets as well as daughter Mekenzie’s closet.
While they met with and received quotes from many other companies, Closets by Design offered the best value and were able to achieve what they wanted. Erik is an avid Pinterest user, and Senior Design Consultant Bob Boberg took his ideas and vision and brought them to life.
“I ask [the homeowners] what they would like to have and take a bunch of notes,” Bob say. “I say, ‘give me your ultimate wish list, and if the space allows, we’ll get that stuff in there.’ Then, I ask them to prioritize it, in case there’s not enough room and we have to remove something. But in [the Murphys'] case, we didn’t have to do that.”
Erik and Lori knew they wanted to have islands in their closets, and other companies hadn’t been able to work with them to include that.
Erik also wanted to do something special and surprise Lori with custom handles and drawer pulls featuring Swarovski crystals, and Bob was able to install all of those custom looks.
“The main challenge was trying to get everything that they wanted into the limited closet space that they had,” Bob says. “We also coordinate my design with the electrician for lighting and electric plugs that need to be concealed, plus coordinate with the builder.”
Other custom features in the Murphys' closets included a custom glass-top island and LED lighting details in Erik’s closet, plus valet rods and hanging hooks in Lori's and Mekenzie’s closets.
Lori’s closet is white and elegant, while Erik’s is dark and masculine with art deco touches. Mekenzie’s is pink with a vintage vogue look.
“I’ve wanted a pink closet since I was a little kid, and now I have it!” Mekenzie says.
Mekenzie picked the colors and the fabric for the seat in her closet, and the “bubble” light fixture matches her bathroom. She also wanted a counter to display decor and to use for folding clothes. She chose glass-front closet doors like her mom’s closet.
“Bob helped with a lot of finishing details that made a big difference. All around it was a great experience,” Erik says.
The design process for these unique closets took about 30 days with all the customization requested. Working with the building contractor, the total build from design to finish was 45 days. However, a typical design process is one to two days with installation usually within two to four weeks.
“Once they got to installation, the team from Closets by Design was always good about coming and going on schedule, and within the window that they promised,” Lori says. “That is something that can be so helpful when you’re getting work done in your home.”
According to Bob, 100% customer satisfaction is his motto.
“Once it’s set and done, I want the customer to be 100% happy: happy with the look, with the functionality and happy that they did business with us,” Bob says. “There’s a lot of follow-up after the sale and after you do the design. I was at the Murphys' multiple times because I had to see that it was looking right, and to fix any problems that might arise.”
It’s also a good idea to ask about the experience of the person who is doing your closet design, especially if it’s complex or different than the norm. Bob has more than 40 years of design experience and has been with Closets by Design for more than 11 years.
Beyond the personalized service, they also have the largest in-house production facility in the greater Cincinnati area with all modern equipment and the most designers of any company serving the area. In addition, Closets by Design has the largest area showroom with products on display from basic closet designs to the more elaborate. They provide one-stop shopping for any room in your home needing more functional storage solutions.
“It’s a team effort over at Closets by Design,” Bob says. “Our installation crews are not subcontractors; they’re in-house people. We carry million-dollar liability insurance and workers comp. We are in charge of the whole job, which means that nobody is passing the buck.”
Closets by Design specializes in custom garages, home offices, entertainment centers, laundry rooms and more.
“Anything the customer needs, we can design, manufacture and install,” Bob says.
To find the design solution for the closet of your dreams, visit the showroom, browse online or call for an appointment and get paired with the right designer for your project.
Closets by Design
11275 Deerfield Road, Cincinnati
513.469.6130, Cincinnati.ClosetsByDesign.com
