Cindy Coulter

MY ADVICE:

• When you think there is no way to gain any more space in your closet, look up! Most people don’t realize how much available storage is up there. It’s a great way to utilize every inch of your space! Place less frequently worn or seasonal items up high, leaving the prime real estate for everyday items at eye level and below.

• To prevent closet overflow, follow one simple rule: Whenever you acquire a new piece of clothing, eliminate one existing piece from your current wardrobe. Depending on the item, donate it, sell it, or discard it. If you can’t bring yourself to make the hard decisions on what to keep and what to let go of, there are professional organizations out there, such as NAPO (National Organization of Professional Organizers www.napo.net), who can help you.

• Baby steps. If you are overwhelmed with many potential projects, prioritize them and start with the most important first. Many times clients think they need to do the master, the 3 kids’ closets, laundry room, mudroom, pantry, entertainment center and garage—all at the same time. While Closet Factory can certainly help with all of those areas (and more!), I recommend starting with the master and the pantry…maybe the kids’ closets. The rest can be done one or two areas at a time. This is a much more manageable approach to what could otherwise become such an intimidating project that they don’t do anything at all. Over two-thirds of my business is from repeat clients!

“It is beyond my expectations. The grand-ness of it, the classic-ness of it, the functionality of it. I am so looking forward to moving into this house and having my office where I will be able to work comfortably and get my job done. Thank you, Cindy, so very much.”

– George from Cleveland

MY FAQ’s:

 “How do you first approach a space? In other words, what’s the first thing you think about when you first see a client’s closet space/storage problem?”

When I first see a client’s space, I try to figure out what’s working and what’s not. I ask a lot of questions to find out how they are going to use the space. For example, is it a guest closet that also doubles as off-season storage? Is it the master closet and she has 100 pairs of shoes she wants to display? Is it a home office that also needs space for the kids to do homework? As a designer, I can create a generic solution for any space, but in order for that space to work for my client’s unique needs and wants, I have to get into their head to determine how they use their space.

 “What is the biggest design obstacle you’ve overcome? i.e. awkwardly angled walls, electrical sockets in bizarre places, big collections in small spaces.”

One of my biggest obstacles was with a client who owned over 500 pairs of shoes and boots, and had a small bedroom she wanted to convert into a dressing room. I designed an entire wall to house 235 pairs of shoes, out of the box…and she could see all of them! I utilized 24” deep shelves so she could place her shoes, not side-by-side, but one behind the other. That way she could see one shoe of each pair and know the match was right behind it. Since she also needed space for hanging clothes, we utilized the opposite wall and the small existing closet for her hanging clothes. I wasn’t able to fit all of the shoes in that space, but as I told my client, “I’m good, but I’m no magician!”

 “Since collaboration is such an integral part of the design process, how do you like to engage or connect with clients in order to help them realize their vision for a space?”

People, in general, like to talk about themselves. So I ask LOTS of questions to find out their preferences. Do they hang their pants long, or fold them over hangers? How do they like to store sweaters – in drawers or on shelves? I also show pictures of previous projects with similar features. This leads the client to a sense of ownership very early in the process. They feel that they helped design the closet even if they had no idea what they wanted before I showed up.

 “How are you inspired by a home’s existing décor? Is there anything specific that you look for during an in-home consultation?”

I look around the home to get a general sense of color, style and design. This helps me make recommendations about design elements or colors I feel will fit with the overall feel of the home. Of course, if they are undergoing a dramatic change of style, for example updating a very traditional look with a fresh new contemporary feel (like I recently did in my own home!), I make sure to ask if they are considering a style change.

 “What are some ways a custom designed home office can improve productivity? In other words, how does the right type of home office help people do business?”

It is essential that a home office be set up properly based on the client’s unique needs. Right-handed people need a different layout than lefty’s. Very tall people need extra leg room. Many people have abandoned the computer tower in favor of laptops. Multiple monitors are commonplace, although much smaller than the old “television style” monitors many people used to have. Many times, people want their home office to function in much the same way as their at-work office. If the printer is to the left within arm’s reach at work, then I try to design the home office so they have that same functionality.

 “What are some modern organizational trends, or what’s a trend you’re looking for?”

I am finding that more people are downsizing their wardrobes. There’s still a large market for huge walk-in closets with lots of clothing and accessories, but I’m also hearing many clients say they are trying to de-clutter their life, and that can also include reducing the daily decision of what to wear. Hey, if Einstein could wear a brown suit 7 days a week, or if Mark Zuckerberg can wear a jeans and a hoodie every day, maybe they’re on to something!