* Well, OK, actually I still have to put the track covers on, install the toe kicks, dust the entire thing down and do some paint touchup. But the hard parts—including breaking down 27 boxes’ worth of cardboard and filler for recycling—are done!
And look how gorgeous it is:
Stan, aka my closet saint, came over and helped me hang the final track. Oh, and he rehung the short one that we hung earlier in the week, since I discovered that one of the toggle bolts was actually blocking the pocket door to the linen closet from opening all the way. OOPS! Thank goodness the door was closed (and not in the pocket) at the time—otherwise I’d have to patch the hole in the door! We had to go to Home Depot (every DIY job requires at least one trip there—luckily this time only one) to get a metal bracket that we could attach to the side wall (where there was not a pocket door to work around) to support that end of the track.
The other thing he helped with today was to straighten out the hutch verticals. After I installed the drawers on Thursday, I was having trouble lining up the drawer fronts. Took the level to the sides and realized they were really skewed, making alignment impossible. A hammer and a block of wood solved that problem.
After I put all the tools away and tore down and cleared out the cardboard to be recycled, I re-vacuumed the floor again, getting ready for Tuesday’s carpet installation.
It was déjà vu:
So all in all, the easy closets were a little less than easy. Would it have been worth it to pay one of the local companies another $1000-$1500 to deliver, install and haul away the garbage? Maybe. But not nearly as fun nor satisfying. And I got to reduce the cost-per-use of many of my tools, including the black oxide drill bits purchased earlier this year! (First-time use, but I think the set only cost $5)
And look how happy (if bedraggled) I looked as I hung the final shelf!
