The Crooked Oak Blog

6 Spring Closet Cleaning Tips

It's almost spring cleaning time. Tackling a cluttered closet can be difficult, but with an organized approach you can reclaim your closet and be well organized for the next year. Below are some spring closet cleaning tips that can help make the process a little easier.

Clean out your closet in sections

Before you get started, come up with a game plan. Start with shoes or shirts or accessories, then move on to another area. Cleaning out your closet in sections allows you to gauge where you are at in the process. It also provides some immediate gratification when you've completed each section.

Be prepared to donate/throw away

A cluttered closet is often the result of too many unused items taking up space. Go through the clothes and accessories in your closet. If you haven't worn something in over a year, it might be time to get rid of it.

Stagger your shoes

You can save some room on your shoe shelf by pointing one shoe out and one shoe toward the back of your closet.

Sort and color-code

Once you've cleaned out your closet, sort and color-code your clothes. Doing so will make finding the items you want to wear much easier.

Prepare for next year's spring cleaning

There are a few different tricks that can make next year's spring cleaning easier. Some people like to hang all of their clothes with the hanger pointed out, then when they've worn something they'll hang it back up with the hanger pointed in. When it comes time to clean our your closet again, you'll know that all of the items whose hangers are pointed out haven't been worn since the last cleaning. Other people prefer to small pieces of paper inside each item in their closet. When you wear the item, throw away the piece of paper. When you are looking to get rid of some clothes, you'll know that the items that still have the paper in them haven't been worn in a while.

Decide if it's time for a new closet set up

If you've outgrown your current closet, it may be time for a closet designer's help. Crooked Oak offers free in-home estimates. Contact us to schedule a consultation. One of our designers will help you determine the best closet set up for your space given your storage and organization needs.

The Advantages of Using Custom Storage for your Business

In previous blog posts we have talked about the benefits of using a custom storage designer for your home closet and storage needs, the advantages of using custom kitchen cabinets, the reasons to choose a custom closet over a do-it-yourself system and other topics related to custom closets and cabinets in your home. Aside from designing and building custom storage solutions from home, we also provide commercial clients with an array of storage and display services. We have worked with all types of commercial clients, including spas, theaters, clothing stores and medical offices, to help them fulfill a variety of storage and display needs. If your company is moving into a new office space or looking to enhance your current space, Crooked Oak can help to ensure that you're making the most of the space you have while attaining the highest level of style. Below are some of the advantages to using custom storage solutions for your business.

Make the Most of Your Space

Many downtown Chicago businesses located in high rises have space restraints they need to work around. Crooked Oak can help you design and build closets, cabinets and desks that maximize your storage and work areas. Whether it's the creation of a uniquely-shaped desk that provides as much work room as possible or custom cabinets that help you utilize wall space, we'll work with you to determine the best options for your space and business.

Style

For many visitors and potential clients, your office is the first impression they get of your company. A beautiful, custom front desk can make a great first impression. If you own a storefront, Crooked Oak can work with you to design and build a great looking custom retail display system that matches your stores aesthetic and colors.

Boost Productivity

It's hard to be productive in a cluttered office. If your space has become unorganized due to a lack of space or company growth, a custom closet or cabinet can help you get back on track. Crooked Oak's experienced designers will work with you to design a storage solution that works best for your space and your needs.

Unique Storage for your Unique Needs

Architects, photographers, and other creative professionals often need a way to store documents and materials that don't fit well into conventional shelves and cabinets. Crooked Oak can help you design a built-in or cabinet that fits oversized items, unusually heavy items and other materials. If you're in need of a new desk or storage for your office, store or other business, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Get organized for the New Year!

One of the most popular resolutions people make for the new year is to get organized. Organizing your home can be a challenge. If you've neglected drawers or cabinets for a while, it's a time-consuming process going through them. If your new year's resolution is to organize your home, below are some tips to help you keep it.

Go Room by Room

Don't expect to clean out and organize your whole home in one Saturday afternoon. Start with one room, then go from there. Your pantry or home office may be a good place to start, as they can become more unorganized than other parts of your home but aren't as much of an undertaking as a garage or basement.

Make Some Rules

Nostalgia can kick in once you start going through old boxes and drawers. Make some rules ahead of time so you can really get organized and don't simply shuffle things around. For your closet, a good rule might be to donate or throw away clothes you haven't worn in three years.

Have Fun!

Try to enjoy the process of organizing your home. Turn on some music and pour yourself a glass of wine. If you can make home organization enjoyable, you will be much more likely to finish the job.

Hire a Closet Organizer

If you're really serious about organizing your home schedule a consultation with Crooked Oak. Our closet and cabinet designers are experts at helping clients organize their bedrooms, garages, basements, pantries and other areas of their homes. We will offer suggestions for storage solutions and accessories that will allow you to keep your home organized longterm.

Photos of a Custom Wall Bed in Chicago

Crooked Oak recently completed the design and installation of a custom wall bed (also known as a Murphy bed) for a client in downtown Chicago. Photos of the completed project are below. Click here to learn more about Crooked Oak's wall bed capabilities or contact us today for a free in-home consultation.

Maximize your Garage Space with Custom Storage

Chicago winters can be rough. The cold and snow make your garage is a valuable resource in the winter. Aside from the obvious ability to park your vehicles in your garage, your garage can be a great place for a workbench or small play area for kids. Garages can easily become cluttered though, as they are often the go to place for extra storage, holiday decorations, lawn care tools and other items. A custom garage storage unit is a great option for those who need to store items in their garage, but also want to maximize its usable space. When you work with Crooked Oak to design and build your garage storage, you will work with one of our designers to create the perfect solution for your space, style and budget. We will assess the items you need to store and your other planned uses for your garage, then design a storage unit that suits your needs. Below are samples of some of Crooked Oak's custom garage storage solutions: No images could be found with that tag. Accessories like bike hangers, shovel and broom hooks, slatwalls and pegboards can also maximize your garage floor space. Crooked Oak's garage storage designer can provide you with recommendations for these and other accessories that will compliment your new custom garage storage unit. Ready to make the most of your garage? Contact us today to set up a free in-garage consultation.

Enhance Your Home with a Custom Entertainment Center

A home's entertainment center no longer consists of a simple stand for a TV. Components like video game systems, DVD players, DVRs and streaming devices can take up a lot of space. For those looking to retain the highest level of style while still being able to enjoy a variety of entertainment options, a custom entertainment center is the right option. Below are three advantages to creating a custom entertainment center for your home.

A Perfect Fit

When looking for an entertainment center, it's important to consider the amount of devices, games and DVDs/Blue-rays you'll need to store and use. An entertainment center should look great, but also make it easy for you to access the items you use frequently. Working with Crooked Oak will allow you to create a custom entertainment center that provides the space necessary for your components without it being too big or distracting in your room.

The Right Location

Where's the best place for your TV and components in your room? Even if you have a dedicated room for entertainment, the placement of your TV and components is important. Crooked Oak will help you determine the best location for your entertainment center. From the height of the TV to the location of components in relation to the TV, we'll make sure your entertainment center will work well for you and your family.

Design Options

The most obvious advantage of creating a custom entertainment center is the ability to design exactly what you want. Crooked Oak will work with you to ensure that your new entertainment center enhances the beauty of your room. Whether we are matching the details of a vintage home or building a contemporary piece for a downtown Chicago condo, the result will be an entertainment center that will be an attractive addition to your home. Need some inspiration? Click here to view photos of Crooked Oak's custom entertainment center work. Ready to create a custom entertainment center for your home? Contact Crooked Oak today to schedule a free in-home consultation.

Support our Neighborhood Friends!

We love Living and working in the Chicago area. It gives us the opportunity to work with many great residential and commercial clients. Below are some of our favorite places to eat, shop and relax.

Buckledown Brewery

A longtime client of Crooked Oak started Buckledown Brewery a couple of years ago. It's one of our favorite places for a great beer after a hard day's work. Stop by the next time you're in Lyons, IL. They're located at 8700 W 47th St., Lyons, IL. Learn more about Buckledown Brewery at buckledownbrewing.com.

Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits

This Berwyn restaurants is one of our favorites. Enjoy great Mediterranean food, wine and company in a relaxing and contemporary atmosphere. Click here to check out their appearance on WTTW's Check Please. Autre Monde is located at 6727 W Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, IL. Learn more about them and view their menu at autremondecafe.net.

Cigars & Stripes BBQ

If you're a fan of smoked meats, Cigars & Stripes is the place to go. The fun, relaxed atmosphere mixed with awesome food and a great selection of beer on tap make it a great hang out spot. Cigars & Stripes BBQ is located at 6715 Ogden Avenue, Berwyn, IL. Check out their full food and beer menu at stripesbbq.com. Check out Cigars & Stripes' appearance on WGN's Chicago's Best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75iMxxt8Gh4

Morning Bird Studio

A close friend of Crooked Oak started Morning Bird Studio a few years ago. If you're looking for a personal trainer in Chicago, it's the place to go. Morning Bird Studio is located at 3708 N Halsted, Chicago. Learn more about what they do at morningbirdchicago.com.

Trigger Chicago

Another good friend of our started Trigger Chicago recently. The art space includes a recording studio, photography and casting space and event space. Learn more about Trigger Chicago at www.triggerchicago.com.

Green Home Experts

If you're looking for eco-friendly home and garden supplies, you'll love Green Home Experts. They have everything from paint to countertops to toilets and cleaning supplies. Green Home Experts is located at 811 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL. Learn more about the store and the products they sell at www.ghexperts.com.

Old School Records, Vals Halla Records, Oak Park Records

We couldn't do a list of our favorite places without including these three record stores in Oak Park and Forest Park. We stop by these stores frequently to pick up new music for our collection. Old School Records is located at 7446 W Madison, Forest Park, IL. Visit their web site at www.theoldschoolrecords.com. Vals Halla Records is located at 239 Harrison St., Oak Park, IL. Their web site is at www.valshallarecords.com. Oak Park Records is located at 179 S Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL. Visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Oak-Park-Records-114445471596/.

Pantry Design Ideas

Your pantry is an important part of your kitchen. A well-designed pantry enhances the aesthetic of your kitchen area and provides storage that works well for your family and lifestyle. An organized pantry can also make cooking and cleaning much easier. What's the best way to approach designing a new pantry or redesigning an existing one? If you work with Crooked Oak, our experienced designers will make the process much easier. They can help you design the plan for your pantry and determine the right materials, colors and accessories to use. Below are some things to consider when designing your new pantry.

How much stuff do you have?

Evaluate the items you're planning on storing in the pantry. If you have a lot of things you need to store, choose a shelving system that maximizes the space in the pantry. If your pantry is large and you don't have too many things to store in it, you can look into more spacious shelving systems, more accessories or the integration of a wine rack.

What type of cooking do you do?

Think about who does the majority of cooking and baking in your home, then decide what small appliances and ingredients you use the most often. Thinking about your cooking habits will allow you to prioritize items in your pantry, so cooking is easier. If you make a lot of pasta, you'll want to make sure it's easily accessible. If you do a lot of baking, you'll want to make sure your blender and baking sheets are easy to get to.

How visible is the pantry?

Is your pantry tucked away in the corner of your kitchen or is it an open space in the middle of the room? The visibility of your pantry will determine the aesthetic of it. Exposed barn door-style doors are popular right now and could work well for a variety of homes. If your pantry has a wide opening and is more a part of your kitchen then a separate closet-like space, ensure that the colors you pick, shelving and accessories compliment the rest of the kitchen.

Don't forget lighting.

Lighting is an important part of your pantry. Think about lighting fixtures that will compliment the rest of your kitchen and provide the necessary amount of light for the amount of space you have. Surface-mounted LED shelf lights can be used to provide extra lighting if needed or desired as well. If you're looking to design a new pantry, Contact us today to schedule a free in-home consultation. Our designers can help to ensure that your new pantry will be a beautiful and functional part of your home.

Keep Your Home Office Organized with These Accessories

Like any work space, a home office can easily become cluttered. Your desk space can quickly diminish as papers, gadgets and other items make their home on it. A cluttered office can make it hard to focus and be productive. Fortunately, Crooked Oak’s custom home office design team can offer many different accessories to help with organization. Below are some add-ons you can incorporate into your custom home office to help the space stay organized and looking great.

Ellipta Computer Monitor Arm

These computer monitor arms keep your monitor off your desk, saving valuable space. Their also great for ergonomics, as you can adjust the height of the monitor and its distance from you easily and without tools. The monitor arms include four usb ports, so you can connect other devices to them. Multiple arms can be used with one desk for those who work with dual monitors.

Omni Track Storage Track

The Omni Track can be installed on any wall in your office. With the track installed, you can add trays and hangers to keep paper, pens and other office items off your desk.

Laptop Security Drawer

Whether you have kids and want to make sure they don’t spill juice on your work computer, or you just need to keep your sensitive work information private, the laptop security drawer is a great option for your custom-made home desk. Simply pull out the drawer, open your laptop and start working. When you’re finished, it can slide back into the desk and be locked. The drawer has a cable organizer to power and data cables neatly in place when you remove the computer from the drawer.

Radius Organizer

Keep pens and other supplies off your desktop with this simple organizer. It is mounted under your desk. Simply slide it out to get to items you need.

Docking Station 500

Power and connector cables can really cause a mess. You often have to plug items into outlets in less-than-ideal places of your home office as well. This discrete docking station allows you to plug in your phone, iPod, camera and other items in one place. It is mounted to the top of a desk or shelf, giving you one place to plug in your essentials.

Pop-Up Power Station

Need easy access to power? The pop-up power station works similarly to the docking station above, but is set up more for regular power outlets. Two options are available, one with three outlets and one with two outlets and two usb charging ports. Your options are limitless when it comes to home office design. Let Crooked Oak help you create the perfect functional work space for your home. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home consultation.

Highlights from Recent Projects

We have been busy designing and building custom closets and cabinets for Chicago area homes and businesses. Below are photos from a few of our recent projects.

Walk-In and Reach-In Closets

These closets were designed and built for a client in Wilmette, IL. The master closet drawers are solid wood with a shaker ogee style face. The other closet has Euro Slab doors with a solid wood face.

Walk-In Closet

Melamine panels were used for the construction. The color of these panels is called "Latitude East".

Custom Built-In

This custom built-in provides a lot of extra storage.

Custom Built-In

This custom built-in was designed and built for the client's living room.

Office Desk, Mailroom and Reception Area

Crooked Oak designed and built the desk and custom storage for this office in Des Plaines, IL. The reception area file drawers have blue high gloss fronts. The reception desk has a custom glass top. The mailroom was done in slate melamine with a HPL top.

Custom Built-In

This custom was designed and built for a client's living room.

Custom Cabinets

These custom cabinets were designed and built for a client in the Chicago Loop. Ready to create your custom closet or storage solution? Schedule a free consultation today »