closet companies

So you want us to out the closet companies!?

California Closets is the biggest, but I heard they are quite expensive.

I found this thread helpful:
http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/17441-closets

I recently used Creative Closets to do 6 closets. I was very happy with the quality of the products and service. They basically use the same materials as everyone else but the prices are anywhere from 1/2 to 1/3 of some of the others I checked out. It's a small business by a guy named Stino.

The Container Store

Creative Closet is in business for over 20 years. They did my first coop 20 years ago in Chelsea and recently did 2 large closets, a linen closet, and a huge walk in closet for me in my new place. They do what they promise, on time, at the price they say. And that price is about 40% less than California Closet. California is very nice and has fancy computer renderings; Creative does the drawings by hand. They both offer free estimates and designs. You can compare them for free. The materials they use are IDENTICAL. FWIW, the day I moved from my old place, the closets were in essentially the same like-new condition they were when installed 18 years earlier. I am easy on my stuff, but still, that's pretty good quality.

For other threads on here, search "creative closet" or "creative closets".

thanks all. Creative Closets was at the top of my list after reading the threads and you have confirmed why. we are doing this renovation long distance so i may not be able to get competitive bids and wanted to get the right company first if possible. BTW, Kyle, i read all your threads and get a wealth of information especially about renovation and design. thanks!

rosina: after a reno you feel you have all this newly acquired knowledge that is utterly useless since you're done and unlikely to do another reno for many years. At least being able to share some of it with others on for, fwiw, makes it feel a little more useful.

KW: who was your rep at Creative Closets?

still a few weeks away before i can budget for creative closets, just wondering if anybody has rough estimate of what each closet runs, they are bigger then a normal closet but not true walk ins? just looking for average price. thanks.

Does anyone have any experience with the do-it-yourself closet solutions, in particular Elfa or the Schulte freedom rail

Kiz - I just installed 2 Elfa closets in my co-op apartment last week. Overall i am very happy with the purchase and for about $1500 think it was well woth the investment. One was a walk-in (4x6) and another was a standard 4 foot reach in closet. I found the designers at container store very helpful and the walk-in closet fit perfectly (had slight issue with the reach in)

Couple things to be wary of: 1. Most of the nicer shelves from ELFA come in a standard size, so you may be limited to using less attractive wire shelving. This happened to me with the reach in closet, since it was not wide enough to accommodate 2 of the 24 in wooden shelves.
2. The hardware that they supply for plaster walls will not work for alot of NYC apartments, so you are better off going to your local hardware store and getting metal anchors and screws to install the units with...

Other than those 2 issues, I highly recommend the ELFA systems for a quick DIY project. If you know how to use a level and a drill, you can put these in in a day. My fiancee LOVES the slide out shoe rack aand the organization offered by the new closet. She has invited her mom and aunt over just to show them the closet...

Thanks Dave
Just on first look, the Elfa system seems to have more option in terms of accessories, but is about 20-30% more expensive than the freedom rail. the freedom rail looks a little more customizable.

Dave, do you have standard drywall, why was it that their supplied anchors did not work?

kiz, for Elfa wait for one of their big sales. They do them about twice a year, I believe. I got 40% off for my closet, and I believe all the sales I've seen have ranged from 25-40, so it's well worth the wait if you're not in a hurry.

Thanks-- sale at container store, correct?
Any idea what times of the year they tend to do those?

Yes, at Container Store. I'd work with one of their people there - they're pretty great. I think they typically do one sale in Jan-Feb. I forget when I got mine exactly, but think it was late summer, so there may be one coming up.

If you go to the container store (we just got an Elfa system), and go to one of their info sessions, you can win a $25 gift card also. Elfa systes are great, not spectacularly beautiful, but nice enough and highly functional. Also, one thing to note is that they are very strong. We talked to california closets but they said that their shelves couldn't support suitcases, whereas Elfa definitely does. Good luck!

I've purchased an Elfa system in early January before during their annual sale, not sure about any summer sale.

Thanks fo the info
Has anyone out there used Anthony's closets, I just got a fairly reasonable quote from them

Experience with Freedom Rail? How does Elfa compare in price to Creative Closets?

I've had California closets (similar to Creative) and Elfa.

Elfa:
1) the rods are not flush to the wall, because of the way the rods attach to the brackets above (they are not attached to the side walls). You lose a good 4 inches of closet hanging space. If the rods are in the middle of your system, you still lose a couple of inches to the hanging brackets.
2) See above with respect to shelves - if you want to maximize, get longer shelves that go almost to the sidewalls (they won't recommend this, but I do this).
3) Horrible drawer system. Clunky, and the drawers are "free-hanging" so there is wasted space between drawers where you can't store anything. The rails for drawers are uber-annoying and often come apart
4) Elfa is terrific when you need to do a periodic re-org and re-arrangement as your needs evolve (perfect for kids). And for kids, you can really take advantage of the hanging space and re-space further apart as the kids get older

CC/Creative closets:
1) Not truly custom, so you end up losing some space at the ends if your closet isn't a standard size. Lose a little hanging space because the rods attach to their walls instead of the real wall
2) Great drawers - much better than Elfa, because they are real drawers, and you can stash more stuff in. Also greater choice in drawer with
3) Can't reconfigure as easily and more $ than Elfa while not being truly custom

So, after 4 years of a reno, where I went exclusively Elfa to save $, my conclusion is that it is fine for kids, large storage areas (where you don't care if you lose a few inches), but for my side of our closet, I'm going to go truly custom. One of our neighbors has a reasonable and good carpenter for that. Stay tuned.

Price - Elfa was 30-40% less than California Closets and probably 20% less than Creative.

What about Easycloset? Is the Freedomrail as strong as the Elfa?

We used easycloset in our apt a few years ago. I wasn't able to master their on-line design, but I called up and had someone do it for me - she was very helpful. Their warehouse/showroom is pretty close to the city if you want to see the stuff in person - maybe 30 minutes from the GWB in Jersey. You put it together IKEA-style, though slightly stronger. It was easy. We had the contractor install the bracket in the back of the closets, but I don't think it would be difficult to do yourself. I managed to make pretty tight fits, and it has held up very well. I'm happy with it. Everything came cut to the right size and no parts were missing.

Just got estimates from a few companies--Anthony's closets was by far most reasonable, price was just about the same as if i did it myself with elfa