[laurie]

I know it's been sooooooooo long since I've been around much (hectic life, yada yada!!!) but, I know where to come when I need expert advice!

Our plans this summer are to finally build our closet.

We are taking out our small 5-1/2' x 6' walk-in-closet and adding that space to our currently tiny 5-1/2' x 8' bathroom to make a larger bathroom.

Soooo, we have 164" to work with in our bedroom for a closet. If possible, I would like to have upper/lower rods for hanging shirts/pants and have drawer space for each of us, and shoe storage. The hamper can go in the new bathroom.

We don't have alot of clothes, and the 6 ft area we each have now has sufficed. We just keep seasonal clothes packed away. But, we currently have a chest AND a dresser in the bedroom. I would like to do away with the dresser and perhaps just have a chest for any clothing that won't fit in the drawers in the closet.

My thoughts: Yes, I love PAX. We really need sliding doors because we'll be stealing space from our bedroom, and there will only be 39" from the front of the closet to the bed. But, PAX isn't cheap. Particularly with the sliding doors. If we did it, I'm thinking the arrangement would have to be:

On my side: (1) 39" (for shirts/pants)
(2) 19" (1 for dresses & 1 for drawers)

Dh's side: (2) 39" (1 for shirts/pants & 1 for
shirts/pants on top and drawers on the bottom

Shoes on floor under clothes and on top shelf.

The problem with this plan is that we would each have PAX sliding doors of 78" each. This would leave unusable area on this wall; not much, but it's still space.

Do you think it would be better to just frame out a closet and use the PAX drawers in the center of that wall, and attach rods to the unit on each side extending to the walls for hanging clothes?

The biggest dilemma, we're not carpenters by any means. How do we build sliding doors? Where can you get the hardware? Is it going to glide as gracefully and quietly as the PAX doors?

Any ideas? Thoughts?

Laurie

[zeuss]

For me, I've taken all our closets out and put PAX in instead. The space they take up provides more storage than anything else. I wouldn't consider framing anything in and not using all PAX. There must be something you can do with the excess space. Maybe draw up some plans and ask the group again. How much space is it?

[laurie]

If we used the PAX, we'd only be wasting less than 8". There's 164" on that wall.

Here's another thought:

In addition to our small walk-in-closet, we have a 5 ft. closet on another wall (go figure). This 5 ft closet would be next to the 164" wall. However, since the PAX would take up 26" of depth, the 5ft closet would be reduced by 26 inches. In other words, the wall of the 164" and the wall with the 5ft closet form an "L". They butt against one another. I figured if I had the PAX closet, it would look funky having some little closet right next to it with a door. But that small closet space could be used for additional storage. I'm just not sure what to do with it. I was thinking of making it a recessed drawer area or something. I don't know. I'm at a loss on it.

[zeuss]

Could you sketch up a floor plan? I'm having a little trouble picturing the room.

[laurie]

zeuss,

Here's a pic. of the floor plan:

Laurie's Bedroom Floor Plan.JPG

The measurements are as follows:

Where I put the Tall Pantry Cabinets is where the closet would go
It is 13' 7-1/2" (or 163-1/2") (not 164), but I could not put in 1/2" in the planner

The window wall
14'11" (or 179") from wall to wall before putting in the closet

The wall with (1) 24" door, currently to walk-in-closet; and the 30" to bathsame measurement as closet wall
The 24" closet door begins 18-1/2" from the window wall &
The 30" bath door begins 29" from the wall with the 1 door

The wall with the 1 30" door:
This is the entry into our bedroom. It begins 4'8" (or 56") from the wall with the closet/bath doors.

The recessed area on this wall is that small closet. The interior of the closet measures 5' 4-1/2" (or 64-1/2") WIDE X 2' 3-1/4" (or 27-1/4") DEEP

The deepness is from the back of the closet, right up to the edge of the outside of the closet where the PAX would meet.

Our bed will sit between the two windows. When we take out the walk-in-closet, we will combine the closet and the bath for a larger bath.

Thanks zeuss for your help.

[laurie]

I was looking on the IKEA site at the wardrobes, and the PAX HAKADAL comes in a 59" wide.

How would it look to take out the "framing" of the recessed closet area, and continue the PAX closet into this recess? Would that look funny?

I could then do (3) 59" wide with sliding doors. I'd still have 13" left over. Would have looked nicer to have (2) 98", but I'm 6" short on that wall.

(3) PAX HAKADAL would be $1,650.00. That includes the frames and doors/hardware, correct?

Then I would still have to purchase the interior fittings, and drive to Chicago to get it. Do you think the doors are going to fit in the back of my 6ft bed pickup?

Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll run a special on shipping wardrobes, but I'm not holding my breath.

[zeuss]

I would definitely support the idea of taking the framing out of the original small closet and just running the Pax into the space. (Unless that closet would be a really helpful addition to the room next door.) The only drawback I see is the work of taking the framing out and redoing all the drywall patching that will need done. Drywall patching is such a pain, but the end result will be so worth it.
The ceiling could be raised from closet height to room height and the room will feel bigger. The bigger feeling will help a bit with the fact that 2' is being taken up with Pax down the whole wall.

And making the walk in closet and bathroom one room is one of the suggestions I was going to make. Bathrooms are usually so tight that the extra space would allow for a bigger double vanity, maybe a makeup seated area, a separate shower and tub - all the niceties. I recently visited a show home where the master bath and master bedroom were about the same size 20x20. This is as it should be....

Are you going to go with the sliding doors? I've only used the hinge doors. The price difference is so much that I couldn't justify it. We going to try to squeeze my son's stuff into 2 narrow units with hinge doors. (we're going brown-black with the Hemnes BB door)

[zeuss]

Originally Posted by laurie

Then I would still have to purchase the interior fittings, and drive to Chicago to get it. Do you think the doors are going to fit in the back of my 6ft bed pickup?

Are you going for the tall or the super tall height. I know the metric 201cm or the 226cm. The 201cm fit in my van no problem at all, but the super tall units are like the tall kitchen pantries - really really awkward to move. And then for me, Ikea is only 5 minutes away so I'm spoiled.

[laurie]

We're 5 hours away from IKEA. So, we not only have to justify the cost of the trip, but the cost of the units/doors as well. I suppose the taller units would fit if we kept the tail-gate down, but then we'll need to keep everything else from sliding out. This cost is why I was tossing around the idea of just framing in a closet and having 1 PAX unit in the center with drawers, and then rods for the remaining closet area on each side.

The room is SO small as it is, and we're going to be making it even smaller with the closet addition. We haven't decided what doors we would use if we go with PAX. On one hand, the aluminum/glass sliding doors would make it feel less closed-in, but it's a bit too contemporary and the clothes show through. I don't want to go too dark, or it will make the room feel cave-like. And then, the white may feel too country/traditional. I'm leaning toward a contemporary room with a tiny bit of asian influence. Do you think the HAKADAL is the best for that?

If we do the 59/59/59 combination, we could do the drawers in the center 59and the hanging clothes in the other two. The hinged doors would be fine if I can just find something I really like. The FEVIK doors seemed nice with the stiles, but again, the clothes show through. Is there another type of hinged door that isn't displayed in the catalog?

The new bathroom will at least be of average size with the new space added. It will still only be 5-1/2' wide x 13'3", but better than 5-1/2' x 8'!!!
No room for a separate shower and tub, so we're going with a shower with built in seat, and a longer vanity. I was thinking of having a larger opening into the bath with pocket doors. Glass doors would have been nice, but I'm sure my hubby wouldn't appreciate that while he's sleeping and I'm in the bathroom at 4:15 a.m. with the lights turned on.

PS. I saw the plans for your son's room and it looks great! My son also has a bright red wall. Your color scheme looks terrific.

[zeuss]

OK First off - that room is NOT small! I have a small bedroom! There is just room enough to walk between the end of the bed and the opposite wall. That's small. But I still managed a wall of PAX down the side leaving only enough room for a bed and 2 nightstands. We have about 2 feet around the 3 sides of the bed.

I wouldn't worry about it feeling dark - what colour are you painting? What colour is the floor? I'm putting black-brown PAX in a kids 9'x9' room. It is all about what you do with the rest. But the light wood certainly with give you a light airly look.