Closets: An Unexpected Expense
Before Hubs and I got married, we each filled up two closets at our respective residences. I don't know why I thought signing a marriage contract would magically shrink our clothes by half. Once we were fully moved into our new apartment, it was clear that we needed more storage space for clothing. We hadn't planned to buy a wardrobe, so we would have to sacrifice something to afford it.
I took a look at our "new apartment" budget, which was roughly $5,000, and cut $300 for a rug in the dining room. We had a $53 overage from what we expected to pay for paint, and a $150 overage from the moving company's estimate. We had $200 for art, which I cut by half. All told that gave us $600 for an armoire, and I thought that might not be enough.
Enter IKEA. The 2012 catalog arrived at my former apartment just as we were realizing we were headed for a storage disaster. If anyplace could get us the functionality we needed from a wardrobe at our designated price point, it was IKEA. We liked the PAX NEXUS on p. 144.
Whatever storage we settled on was going to have to live in the living room, since our bedroom and dining room are just too tiny. When we saw the NEXUS photo in the catalog, we were inspired! At $170 for each, we could get two and put the credenza from my studio between.
We practically ran to Schaumburg. For some reason, the wardrobes were only $160 at the store ($160 x 2 = $320). We got the two armoires, and also two hanging rods ($5 x 2 = $10) and six shelves ($15 per 2pk x 3 = $45). It was all going according to plan until we got out to the Prius where we discovered the wardrobes were 3" too long to fit in the car. Fortunately, we were enough under budget that we could easily afford the $100 shipping cost. All told, we paid $512 including tax.
IKEA delivered them up to our third floor. Totally awesome. We put them together, and moved them into place... but didn't like them. So we spent 45 minutes walk/scooting them around the room, until we found just the right spot.
Here's how they look:
Yeah, I didn't mention the lights. Once Hubs and I got the armoires loaded up with clothes, we found it a little dark in there. Back to IKEA. Two nickle-plated FORMAT cabinet lights for $40 ($20 ea.) + ANSLUTA intermediate cord for $4 + ANSLUTA power supply cord for $5 = $54 including tax. Also, Hubs had to stand on his tiptoes on the step stool to mount them, which you're supposed to do before you put the wardrobes upright. He's a saint.
Here's what they look like open:
HIS holds everything he's not allowed to get paint on, jeans, and off-season storage. HERS holds purses, scarves, outerwear, and a little off-season storage. They hold exactly what we need, and are organized adequately.
Oh, and if you're curious, the paint is our favorite... Gray Owl from Benjamin Moore.
I took a look at our "new apartment" budget, which was roughly $5,000, and cut $300 for a rug in the dining room. We had a $53 overage from what we expected to pay for paint, and a $150 overage from the moving company's estimate. We had $200 for art, which I cut by half. All told that gave us $600 for an armoire, and I thought that might not be enough.
Enter IKEA. The 2012 catalog arrived at my former apartment just as we were realizing we were headed for a storage disaster. If anyplace could get us the functionality we needed from a wardrobe at our designated price point, it was IKEA. We liked the PAX NEXUS on p. 144.
Whatever storage we settled on was going to have to live in the living room, since our bedroom and dining room are just too tiny. When we saw the NEXUS photo in the catalog, we were inspired! At $170 for each, we could get two and put the credenza from my studio between.
We practically ran to Schaumburg. For some reason, the wardrobes were only $160 at the store ($160 x 2 = $320). We got the two armoires, and also two hanging rods ($5 x 2 = $10) and six shelves ($15 per 2pk x 3 = $45). It was all going according to plan until we got out to the Prius where we discovered the wardrobes were 3" too long to fit in the car. Fortunately, we were enough under budget that we could easily afford the $100 shipping cost. All told, we paid $512 including tax.
IKEA delivered them up to our third floor. Totally awesome. We put them together, and moved them into place... but didn't like them. So we spent 45 minutes walk/scooting them around the room, until we found just the right spot.
Here's how they look:
Yeah, I didn't mention the lights. Once Hubs and I got the armoires loaded up with clothes, we found it a little dark in there. Back to IKEA. Two nickle-plated FORMAT cabinet lights for $40 ($20 ea.) + ANSLUTA intermediate cord for $4 + ANSLUTA power supply cord for $5 = $54 including tax. Also, Hubs had to stand on his tiptoes on the step stool to mount them, which you're supposed to do before you put the wardrobes upright. He's a saint.
Here's what they look like open:
HIS holds everything he's not allowed to get paint on, jeans, and off-season storage. HERS holds purses, scarves, outerwear, and a little off-season storage. They hold exactly what we need, and are organized adequately.
Oh, and if you're curious, the paint is our favorite... Gray Owl from Benjamin Moore.
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