By Jennifer Blaise Kramer, Globe Correspondent | August 28, 2008
When Mr. Big asks Carrie in "Sex and the City" if they should buy her a diamond she says: "Just get me a really big closet." One glance at Carrie Bradshaw's ridiculously outfitted walk-in is bound to give you a good dose of closet envy. But in a not-so-splurgeworthy economy, we couldn't help but wonder, what would it cost to redo a simple reach-in closet to house those new fall frocks? We priced out a basic closet - typical in older homes - measuring 6 feet wide, 2 feet deep, 8 feet tall, and outfitted with the staples (basic rods and shelves) but without doors, which are varied, expensive, and not always necessary. Turns out, creating a stylish little place for your beloved Manolos can be surprisingly affordable, no matter what your style.
Classic
California Closets put the closet business on the map. Now they also transform garages and basements into rec rooms and wine cellars, but they still do one classy closet.
Average cost: $800.
Upgrades: Specialty wood veneer finishes. Extending valet bars. Scarf racks. Tie racks. Hidden jewelry drawers with locks.
Steve Nickse of Closet Solutions says he "dreamed of the day when closets would become like dishwashers, a necessity which people would not live without." Now he builds everything from kids' closets with hot pink accessories to his and her walk-ins. Once you go custom, he says, "you'll never go back to one shelf and one pole ever again."
Average cost: $500.
Upgrades: Folding doors that also serve as three-way mirrors. Leather handles. Wicker sliding baskets. Bronze built-in hampers. Antique white finish. Aluminum door frames.
If you want the sleek Scandinavian look, IKEA's mix-and-match modular units come in various finishes, lending a custom look. It's an economical way to go if you're willing to put all those parts together. Complete wardrobes are sold with all the interior fittings for fixed prices. The online PAX planner tool helps you customize before you buy, adding every bell and whistle you choose to tack on.
Average cost: $600.
Upgrades: Sliding green or gray glass doors. Jewelry boxes and compartments. Interior sliding mirrors. Shoe racks. Sturdy sweater boxes.
Italian-made Poliform's streamlined, freestanding closet system can be configured to any space. Our reach-in dimensions could work as a stand-alone wardrobe: put in a loft with a couple chairs you could call it a dressing room. "It's totally design-driven," says Showroom owner Doug Gates, adding that it's key to first take inventory of your wardrobe and then adjust for your lifestyle. If you wear suits every day, you need more hanging space and tie racks. If you have 50 pairs of shoes . . . you get the point. Once everything has a space, he says, "there's no way not to keep it clean."
Average cost: $6,400.
Upgrades: Magnetic motion sensor interior lighting. Canaletto walnut finish. Back glass panels. Shirt box units. Quilted pads on every drawer. Double depth shoe trays.
Design bloggers rave about Easy Closets. While you can't feel the product beforehand, you can design online to no end. Punch in the measurements and customize every detail, or have one of their designers do it for you and get the plans e-mailed back.
Average cost: $800.
Upgrades: Crown molding. Clear shelf dividers. Belt racks. Foldout ironing boards. Antique pewter hardware. Triple hanging racks for infant clothes.
www.easyclosets.com
Instant
The Container Store's Elfa line has kits for just about every closet in the house. Closets come reach-in, walk-in or freestanding; the basic birch and white in our size comes jam-packed with rods, baskets, poles, and shelves so there's really no need or room to add upgrades. For other dimensions, there's a customizing form that takes into account the client's height and wardrobe inventory, plus there are designers in-store to help.
Average cost: $768.
Upgrades: Platinum and walnut finishes. Lined woven baskets. Metal mesh bins. Silk drawer organizers. Matching hardwood hangers.
The Container Store, 1265 Worcester St., Natick, and other locations, 508-655-8500, www.containerstore.com
Inventive
Your home project may start with a simple reach-in and end with a Murphy bed and media center. Neat freaks and minimalists might want to peruse Closettec's website for ways to transform every corner of the house. Owner Jeffrey Rogers aims to "minimize furniture and maximize space," whether it's a garage, office, laundry room, or closet. Don't forget the mudroom, guestroom, pantry.
Average cost: $600.
Upgrades: Wall safes. Recessed armoires. Built-in ironing boards. Tie and sock dividers. Velvet-lined jewelry drawers. Rattan baskets. Desks.
