Behind the scenes of Charlotte’s most beautiful closets

By Alivia McAtee | December 16, 2021

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This content was produced in partnership with California Closets.

California Closets has been transforming closets (and more) in Charlotte homes since 1996.

Over the years, they’ve done it all, from tiny reach-ins to closets the size of most people’s bedrooms. But no matter the size, they have every detail down to a science from the initial consult to the final installation.

We went behind the scenes to see just how it’s done.

Step 1: Designing

California Closets designers (who often come from interior design backgrounds) go through months of training to become familiar with the California Closets process and offerings.

Whether you’re looking to revamp a closet, home office, pantry or garage, they can basically make magic happen in almost any storage space in your home.

The designers get to know their client’s needs and their individual space so they can create a truly customized design that fits the room and the client’s lifestyle.

An example: They take inventory of every item that the closet will hold to make sure everything has its place.

3D model of a project.

Using proprietary CAD software, designers will map out the project so clients can make adjustments and visualize the final product.

Step 2: Production review

Clients mainly just work with designers as their front-facing contact, but there is also an entire engineering team behind the scenes for every California Closets system to ensure all details are covered on every project. The production review is where they all get together to ensure the finished space will be perfect.

They meticulously look over the design to make sure everything will fit together seamlessly and that they can deliver on the project exactly as promised.

Step 3: Production

Once the project has cleared the production review and gotten final approval from the client, it’s time to start custom-producing every piece.

California Closets has a warehouse in South Charlotte where they produce supplies using specialty machines.

The California Closets warehouse.

Here’s how: Every piece is measured and cut down to the millimeter. Then, every part is loaded onto a project cart that the installer can then load into the van to deliver to the site.

Even the drawers are assembled on site in a special area of the workshop. California Closet’s standard drawer box offering is birch wood dovetail construction with soft-close under-mount slides.

The drawer construction corner of the warehouse.

Step 4: Installation

California Closets prides itself on being the most reliable construction partner you’ll ever work with. So when they give you an install date, you know they’re going to pull through on time.

Timing: Installations can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on the scope of the project.

Just like designers, their installers go through extensive training. To ensure consistent top quality, the installers work directly with the company as full-time employees.

Because everything has already been measured, cut and triple-checked, the installation process looks more like puzzle-solving than a construction project.