did you have anything in writing? any texts or emails as to the size?

when you asked for this broom closet, other than 'for my vacuum', did you specify any width? I know you mentioned your vacuum was 12", but did you say you would like it a foot larger so you could fit other items as well?

If not, and he didn't come and take measurements of your vacuum, you're both to blame.

when you showed him that your vacuum clearly doesn't fit, what did he say?

can he remove that side panel and give you a double closet?

Get a Roomba instead? I have two, they make life so much easier. Or you could get a smaller vacuum.

Enclose the bottom of the bench and store the vacuum there

Put the vacuum elsewhere. get a cordless vac, and have him add a charging outlet IN the closet.

At that width? I'd have PUT ANOTHER on the far left wall side, , and lived with a smaller bench and more symmetry.

Easy enough to do NOW.

Your contractor is NOT ever your designer. It's on you, unless you have a designer.

The broom will fit if you hang it on a hook. Get rid of the mop and get a swiffer. That also can hang on a hook.

Really the vacuum fits and in writing and with drawings is how you communicate with a cabinet maker or contractor no verbal chit chat that you think they remember at the end of the day.

Just hang the brooms up

Not ideal but turn the vacuum up a bit. Don’t have it resting completely flat and it will be fine. Brooms on hooks is a great idea. It is t perfect but since there were no drawings and specifications there is little recourse

I’d leave it. Everything looks really nice, It would be a lot easier to buy a new, smaller vacuum.

Alas, you will have to store the vac; front hall closet, under the bed, in garage, ie wherever you kept it previously. Beautiful mudroom, enjoy it.

Something had to give. Less seating, or more storage. You couldn’t have both.

Unless you emphasized the large amount of closed storage, and backed that up with a design sketch specifying at least a 24” wide cabinet there to hold everything you wanted stored there, you weren’t going to get all of that utility stuff and a good sized bench too.

You got a perfectly adequate “broom closet”, as asked for. And a valuable lesson that when you’re designing something for someone to build, you have to draw it out yourself. It’s always on the designer to communicate the specs.

Following. Thanks.

Unfortunately you really should have stopped all work in that area unless sketches or designs were to shown to you and you signed for them.

I like Jan's idea bc you loose just half of a cabinet that has to be cut to fit another pantry by your installer. Of course the seating has to be trimmed etc. This will also add symmetry to the area as well.

Hoping you resolve this, good luck!

Flip the door to the other side and get wider opening hinges to start. Then look on a cabinet accy web site and look for a possible pull out which would make it easier to load although you usually loose space.

Hate to say it but it would probably be cheaper to get a new skinnier vac.

I think you've already solved your issue - it's really nice the way it's laid out currently and your Contractor has done a nice job with finish work. Although hind sight is 2020 if it were me, I'd leave it and use the space for a mop/broom and bucket leaving the vacuum in the coat closet (not too much of a space steeler) or have Contractor add shelves for additional storage and keep all cleaning materials in the coat closet.

It's always hard when expectations aren't met but without precise measurements and confirmation on materials to be stored you sometimes end up with what you get. If you ever do another project take the time to draft up a floor plan, cabinet construction sheet when custom and sign off on everything - including contractor if you want to make sure there are no questions as to what you expect in the end.

The broom and dustpan will fit behind your vacuum on the inside wall. Hang them up high enough to clean the top of the vacuum's base. There are some ways to hang the broom and dustpan on the door so they won't bang back and forth when the door is opened Extra vacuum parts can be stored in the cabinet above.

If you have a bucket and mop to store, you could try storing them in the garage rather than in the house. Mops can be hung up to dry fast and keep them clean. Or switch to a flat Swiffer-type mop with washable pads and no squirt bottle built-in.

You don't love the set up, Just fix it. Another tall cabinet on the left side. Same width as the door above. Cut the bench, nobody sits, it's a dumping ground for packages,99 % of the time. You lose a couple hooks. Big deal. : )

Hi everyone. I just wanted to say a big thank you to you all for the comments, feedback, and suggestions. Always helpful to get different perspectives and it is appreciated. A particular shout out to Beth H and KR Kitchen Remodeling.

To answer some questions and give a little more context in case the lessons learned help anyone else who might read this -

* There was a description in writing of what I was looking for, but it did not include exact dimensions for the broom closet. However, I did clearly ask for a broom CLOSET, and what was built was a CABINET.

* I had some drawings as a base that our cabinet person had done. I switched to a custom build instead of the cabinets because - wait for it - there wasn't a cabinet large enough to fit the vacuum! There were a few other changes from those drawings, all of which he did incorporate.

* I asked for a sketch of the proposed cubbies several times, but never got one. I was told at one point that the carpenter is very good but a little hard to pin down. (How true, I have learned.)

* I was supposed to meet the carpenter on site when he came to measure, and in retrospect realize how important that would have been. However, he didn't show up the day he said he'd come, and then when he did come he gave me short notice and I was unable to be there.

* In my recollection, I had a phone conversation with the carpenter in which I explained that I wanted a broom closet about 16"-18" wide. He claims we only spoke about the set up for our bathroom. (I was also interested in a linen closet about the same size and a vanity.) The conversation would have taken place as we were driving 10 hours for Thanksgiving with 2 kids and a dog, so I cannot 100% guarantee that we talked about the broom closet but I feel 98% sure that we did. But, it's a phone conversation, so of course there is nothing in writing.

Lessons learned.

Thank you everyone.

There are NO phones in remodel. NONE. There is paper, drawings and dimensions and signatures, and face to face with paper drawings dimensions and signatures. . That is ALL there is. Which, you ( admittedly ) learned.

"There was a description in writing of what I was looking for, but it did not include exact dimensions for the broom closet. However, I did clearly ask for a broom CLOSET, and what was built was a CABINET. "

A "cabinet" broom /utility is actually quite common at 18" even at 24 inch widths, so this was hardly "custom" . They sold you what they had. The term "closet" is one a contractor will frame with a door that matches the rest of the doors in your home.. Simple framing and done, and perhaps a custom ordered door.

It's a relatively easy fix, so either live with it, or fix your mistakes. : )

" He clearly knew I wanted a vacuum to fit into it, as twice he asked if I wanted an outlet in the closet for charging "

Judge Judy always says: "Don't tell me what he knew, just tell me what he did. You don't know what he knew."

What am I missing? Isn't the vacuum IN the closet (cabinet)?