This past week, I tackled my most challenging task thus far…the closet! My tiny cottage only has one very small and narrow closet! — (30″x 60”) That doesn’t even come close to accommodating my very healthy wardrobe! I investigated closet systems online but found everything to be way too expensive and the wrong size! It seemed like the only way to get what I needed would be to build it myself!!
I felt a little intimidated, I’m not a builder! I muscled up my determination, and went to Home Depot, armed with pictures and measurements. The Home Depot staff was very knowledgable and helpful! They walked me around to each department and helped me pick out all the right supplies! For expert advice, I was directed to Super Saul! Super Saul was amused by my naive assumption that I would be able to screw 3 inch screws in with a screwdriver, and hooked me up with my very first power tool! I am now the proud owner and operator of a power dill! (My lust for owning all my own power tools has just begun!)
I went home, equipped with my new stud finder- only to realize that I have old plaster and lathe walls! ( No wonder my stud finder was confused and whimpering! ) My only recourse was manual excavation of the plaster ( that’s hammer to wall) ,to find the studs– which I might add, were NOT a standard 16 inch distance apart! Once I found my 24 inch spaced studs, I was able to attach a large plank, length wise across the wall using my 3 inch screws and my POWER DRILL! (OH YEAH! ) This would be my support board to mount the brackets for the shelf on. I did the same thing for the lower shelf, and then mounted 3 brackets each, attached a shelf across the top of the brackets, and a wooden dowel for hanging my clothes!
It sounds simple, and would have taken a professional a couple hours, but for me , it was five days in the closet with daily trips back to Home Depot for more supplies and advice from Super Saul! But I surprised myself and actually did it! I successfully installed a double row of closet shelves on the long side of the wall, and miraculously, they did not collapse!! Finally, for the first time since I moved in, my clothes are out of the living room and hanging up in the closet!
WOW! I can build things!!
The world is my oyster!
Here’s some before, during and after pictures!
