What are you storing? Clothing? Precious gems? First editions of Shakespeare's folios? I would think that if the cost of a closet exceeds the value of what you're putting in it, then it would be a hard NO for me.

We have had closets frequently exceed 1M for a true high end build.

Maybe my build isn't high end enough, but I think the IKEA PAX units worked out okay.

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I generally think a lot of this is about the design and spending time in execution. Making things that are plumb, level and square, the work as intended, using all the fitments, lighting, etc.

I could have way more fun with $40K on art and furniture.

I used the ELFA system from The Container Store for closets and pantry. I'm not a "closet snob", so I was happy with their base system with the metal shelves/drawers./rods

Hard to photograph the closets, but here is my pantry just after it was completed. It shows the drawers and shelves, which can be arranged whatever way works best for that person.

I would say we are a higher end build. The other more expensive houses in the area would be due to lot location on the Gulf/Intracoastal and not quality of build.

I had also used this closet system in my LA area house, which was on the higher end for my town, but not as expensive as those of similar quality/size, but closer to the ocean and/or Beverly Hills areas.

I need my closets to be practical and don't care if they aren't making any Instragram lists!

Are you re-selling right away? This is something that a future buyer can easily remodel/customize to match their "closet snob" level! ;-)

I used white in the pantry and the brown/bronze in the closets.

This all depends on what they are building. If it includes true built from scratch case goods with drawers and cabinets then the price may be fair. You are likely ordering the equivalent of 1/3 of a kitchen's worth of custom cabinets.

The question is really whether or not you want to spend your money on this. I personally have never placed such a high priority on my closets. And, there are many decent non-custom options to choose from.

Like any other house project, consider multiple options and get multiple bids for those options.

1. Get a second quote for truly custom.

2. Book a free custom closet consultation with the The Container Store for Elfa. (In person or online if you don't have one near you.) Get a quote for that.

3. Book a free consult with Ikea to see what pieces they have that will suit your needs. Ikea cabinetry is known for its longevity and durability. I presume the same is true for their shelving. It is not the same as getting a crap Ikea coffee table!

4. See what businesses in your are offer systems that are customizable and not as custom and from scratch as your current quote.

Real ikea closets

Real Elfa Container Store closet

I gave up the milkcases more than three wives back!

I would think that if the cost of a closet exceeds the value of what you're putting in it, then it would be a hard NO for me.

Indeed!

The bid is from the cabinetmaker doing the library and bar--odd perhaps for a family of teetotalers. Meeting again tomorrow to see how far he can pare down the extras.

I'd sell tomorrow if the price were right!

Neighbouring spec builder just listed at an optimistic C$12.98 m. I note only one of the 50 listing pics shows a closet--the primary. arch. Richard Wengle.

Primary Suite Closet

I think if you went with the tact that the only door in the closets were the ones you walk through to enter the closet, would save you a lot of money. Seeing things on shelve through glass doors are better seen through no glass or doors at all. Maybe that is my Mid-West upbringing. The next owner can add doors later at their own expense.

At that price point the new owners may tear out whatever you put in there and build in their own 'better'.

I’m happy with white melamine from a box store- it’s behind a door. I just did a couple closets for a client from a California closets type firm. Small guest room closet $1200. Primary closet roughly 10’ square 7k. I have another client where her cabinets are all cerused oak, led tape lights hidden in the face frames and hanging bars come on when you walk in the room. No idea the cost but it’s pretty. They have the clothes to match.

$62,000 on closets? Holy Moly.

I am currently pricing out built-ins for my primary closet (18.5 x 8.5). I knew it wouldn't be inexpensive - but it's a bit more than I want to spend. A friend had an IKEA Pax system added - they did put the basic pieces together against the walls - said it was pretty simple. they hired someone to come in and add trim/finishing pieces + make drawer fronts out of pine boards + easy shaker doors. She said that the closet is nicer than the ones she had priced out + cost quite a bit less.

This was a DIY one that also added pine boards for drawer fronts + trim + crown in order to make it "built-in":

The next two photos are of another Pax system used to make a built-in closet. They also used pine boards for drawer fronts.

Here is a Pax system that only used IKEA doors/drawers +added some crown + trim on the left side of one of the Pax carcasses. They only painted trim pieces (BM Simply White matched the IKEA white):

The next two photos are DIYs - they added trim and painted the units + added pine board drawer faces:

Next three photos - another DIY that used Pax system. She added pine boards for drawer fronts + ordered door fronts instead of spending time making them herself. It was a lot of built-ins - four walls (I only have photos of part of what was added to the closet) - total cost was under $6,000.

Last one - less expensive than above (smaller closet + no doors ordered):

Like the creativity shown!

But considering C$ prices, (see below) I'm thinking there may not be that much savings

considering the size of some of the secondary bedroom closets: 11'8"x11'9", 9'x10.85' etc.

(Once living on the poor side of the creek from the likes of Prince, Drake, Celine Dion, Gordon Lightfoot and Conrad Black, we sometimes get carried away!)

But it seems a Pax consult couldn't hurt.

That second pic, all fitted up is about $150/linear foot with a fully fitted closet system. A lot of drawers, pull out shoe racks, etc. At half your $40K - that's 133 linear feet of fully fitted IKEA. I mean I know your house is BIG, but is it that big?

And really, a lot of my closet is hanging and shelves, with shoes. I added drawers this time, and some glass shelf dividers, but remains to be seen how helpful it all is. (oh and I kept my dressers in the bedroom....)

"Ikea OK?"

if you don't mind Particle- and fiberboard with honeycomb paper filling (100% recycled paper), Paper foil it should be fine.

I honestly don't know what honeycomb paper filing is and don't want it in anything, but my walk-in closet was custom built by me I call a IKEA hybrid. All the shelving and vertical panels are 3/4" birch veneered plywood on both sides with IKEA birch drawer units built into the system matching my veneered plywood perfectly.

I noticed IKEA doesn't carry much in birch anymore but if you're going with white there are many combinations available. I won't use particle or fiberboard for any vertical panels or shelving so I build my own using a circular saw, best plywood blade I could find, and straight edges and clamps. Using a couple of Kreg jigs and 250' of birch edge banding it looks professional and twice the quality of California closets but a quarter the price. I do not have a problem using IKEA's drawer systems slid in or stacked and screwed into the vertical panels and worked perfect for a walk in.

You got to be handy but hiring someone to build the verticals and shelving are easy if built to accept IKEA drawer systems and won't cost $42K. The big bucks comes with building drawer systems and IKEA will fit the need just fine and you won't be able to tell the difference, as long as it's white. if you have access to a panel saw making a built-in is a walk in the park.

If only I were a carpenter....

Maybe the trim carpenter, who also has his own shop, would be interested.

I often find it helpful in evaluating the extent of design and dollars that go into an element of a house by asking the question, "How many people will see it?" combined with, "Can the money go to something of greater importance?"

Yeah those Eames Lounge Chairs ain’t cheap!!!

I assume the stolen stacked milk crates option has been eliminated already?

Hey, how'd you get a picture of my first apartment?

What are you storing? Clothing? Precious gems? First editions of Shakespeare's folios? I would think that if the cost of a closet exceeds the value of what you're putting in it, then it would be a hard NO for me.

Me too. I enjoy the pictures shared on this thread, but I just can't see the point in spending that much on ... a closet.

Real Elfa Container Store closet

I think Elfa can be the meeting place of "I want a highly functional closet" and "I don't want to go overboard with the cost."

In the end, mrs. worthy haggled down the secondary closets to C$32K plus tx.

So a total on closets of C$50,900 (US$36,740 plus tx.)

Still seems somewhat insane to these Silent Generation eyes.

But since we are selling when the price is right, best not to skimp.

The closets won't be the reason someone buys or doesn't buy the house! As long as the closet space is there, a future buyer can do whatever they need/want.

I'm over here happy as a clam with my $200 big box ClosetMaid "system" of shelves, racks, and hanging space. Guarantee my clothes look just as nice on me as they would have if they'd been hanging in a closet that cost as much as my first house did..

Everyone has their priorities. I don't have enough clothes to warrant a walk-in closet, and even if I did, I wouldn't prioritize spending that kind of money on it. But "a chacun son gout."

I could get you some really really really nice milk crates for C$49,900

Thanks for rubbing it in!

But happy wife....

We all know that means Happy Life.

(I was even going to throw in a few vintage Stroh's Beer crates)

I just love Mark's Vintage Early Married decor idea.

It was old coke cases in my dorms where we had to return glass bottles from the coke machines. We were honest and bought cinder blocks and boards. Now we snag storage pieces that hubby's office discards.

Yes sticker shock is painful when the quote for a SMALL metal barn is almost as much as our first house. So maybe a shipping container pottery studio won't be so bad.

I am even suggesting we cut a couple feet from our closets to keep foot print small to spare oak trees. BUT I want those feet added to my kitchen. Hopefully a workable floorplan will emerge from the stacks of his tracing paper sketches, my graph paper sketches ( and Houzz and Pinterest files.)

Seriously you can get basic wood cabinets and rods at a big box store and have carpenter install and finish them into a custom closet.