Any possibility of building the new closet in the same space, just making it larger? This would hide all the problems - mismatched paint, etc.

I'm confused. Is it the staircase to the attic? I'd put a mirrored door on the attic and convert the step to a storage chest.
A nice pillow and it's a bench. Match the molding to the rest of the room (which I'm "assuming" you will do with the new closet).

Oldtimecarpenter has a good idea.
build new bigger closet in same space.
paint walls same colors.
saves the worry of what to do.

unless you have other reasons for
relocating the closet??

I think the staircase is pretty cool.
if you do relocate the closet, I'd make
the staircase a feature rather than hiding/
disguising it. jaysmom has a good idea, the mirror
would be usable & so would the chest/step.

I wish I had just one redeeming architecural
feature in my house! the yard is the reason
I bought the place...not the house!

best of luck, I'm enjoying following your progress.

The steps really do lead nowhere. They provide overhead for the basement stairs. So the bottom step can't be converted to a bench if we want to be able to access the basement without squatting. There's a floorplan on the front page of the web site I've linked below; it might help a bit.

Here's a shot into the closet straight on.

I like the idea of a door. It's a short/narrow door, but there's actually a door the right size leading from the kitchen to the basement, but alas this closet door frame is horribly out of square. I'm not sure how to hang a door in a parallelogram doorway. Any ideas?

As for closet location, that wall is really the best one for bed placement. Anywhere else and it's in the way (see floorplan link). Plus now I've got a built-in cabinet in the bathroom planned to jut into the (new) closet space.

So I can paint it out to match the white trim (glad no one suggested I strip all the other woodwork), put a cushion/pillow on it to make it a bench. What about the inside? If I can put a door of some kind there, would you leave the space as storage, or do something else? A secret reading nook?

Here is a link that might be useful: Progress photos

I'd put a door on that space and build out the inside with shelves. It could be great storage. I don't think it would be all that difficult to fit the opening with a door...it would just take a little shimming/scribing of the door frame, right?

wow! this is one of the more wacky / interesting things i've seen on here.

i'd simply repair the plaster, paint the woodwork to match and add a couple of shelves in the empty space. i'd recommend using an oil based paint on the shelves.

i'd spot repair, prime, and repaint the whole room to get everything to match. but that is probably optional. but if you're repairing plaster, you'll find plenty of spots to spot repair around the room.

I'd add shelves and use it as storage. Then I'd try to figure out how to make a bookcase door to cover it. Who doesn't love a secret door?!

Ooooh, geokid, I think you've nailed it! I'm LOVING the swinging bookcase idea. I could make it smaller than the doorway itself so that it could actually be square,and put trim over it that would cover the out-of-square gaps. A little roller on the bottom, hinges on the right, and I think I'll have me a "what a cool idea" result.

Genius!!

I think it will look great! And if you plan it right, you could integrate that bottom step into your design and make it look like one whole piece when the door is closed.

Glad I could offer a suggestion!

Edited to add: You could also figure out a way to make a sliding bookcase door if there's not enough room for a swinging one.

This post was edited by geokid on Wed, May 29, 13 at 0:25

So, Are you saying the bed will go on the same wall as the steps? If so, won't the steps, potential door, etc. get in the way of a bedside table? It might be possible to devise a built-in bedside table to fit over the steps and put open shelves in the nook. Or, perhaps you don't need a table on that side of the bed.

I've been fascinated by your work on this house. Thanks for sharing.

How about covering it with a larger mirrored door to make a pier glass for the bedroom. Paint or trim up the lower step to fit with the theme of the mirror.

Inside, use the steps and install shelves (I can't see what it's like in there) for a bit of extra storage.

I forgot the bed was going on that wall. That rules out the sliding bookcase idea. A swing door might still work.

I also thought of something similar to what lazygardens suggested. It looks like a great spot for a built-in vanity or something like that.

I'm curious, what have you decided to do? Did the bookcase door work out?!

Still planning on the bookcase door, but it's down the road on the project list. Hoping to refinish the floors over labor day, though a hangup with the drywall guy we hired (who is way behind his promised schedule, and who we need to have finished before we do the floors) may throw a wrench in those plans.

I'd like to see what you decided on, too. My first thought was that the bumped-out closet actually dealt with the issues pretty well and offered storage -- maybe you could just recreate it. But if you don't mind spending some money on it . . .

Hire a finish carpenter and create a built-in that protrudes into the room to the extent of the existing bottom "step". Tear out the existing door frame to allow use of the entire width of the steps. Use drawers on the lower portion where the fronts are flush with the front of the step (not the wall). Then the upper section is used for hanging clothes like before. Since the whole thing is built in front of the existing opening, you'll be able to have a nice square opening -- maybe with double doors that open to the hanging area.

The end result would be something like the linked picture, but narrower, and with the existing first "step" as the base.

Here is a link that might be useful: [built-in armoire[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/belmont-ma-built-ins-traditional-bedroom-boston-phvw-vp~3673050)

All I can say is that the adrenalin started running, and wheels turning when I went to your progress website. That 'I can bring this back to life' bug bites pretty hard, doesn't it? It's going to be a very attractive little home when you finish, and it's never a dull moment when you look at previous DIY revisions to an older home.

Have done my share of them over the years and don't plan on doing any more, since there will always be more work to do on our present old home, but it was a neat read and you'll be glad you kept such a good diary of it. Best of luck and imagine you'll turn that funky little closet into something interesting.