thehistoricdistrict.org is also another great resource/ forum - where we restorationists can really get into the minutiae of how to do something. BTW drywallers and most contractors push drywall only because that is how they make their living and that is what they know how to do in a cost-effective way. So, they will tend to advise yanking it all out - even for some minor cracking and bowing - simply because FOR THEM to do it, it would indeed be cheaper to drywall vs. them learning/getting up to speed on how to do plastering. I certainly do NOT begrudge them a living wage and a healthy profit - but they certainly can be the source of much misinformation about plastering, the extent of repair that is possible using old methods, and the necessity of removing it to install plumbing and electrical (not necessary - just get the right plumber and electrician who knows how to do it). What ev else said about it being a beautiful house - its the right mix of being original and untouched (not remuddled) and yet not TOO far gone.

Wow. Never expected this to be such a popular topic. After reading the Young House Love blog, I WAS motivated to do some reorganizing of my linen closet. I keep towels, bathroom cleaning supplies, a hamper, and cosmetics/health & beauty stuff in ours. Sheets are in another, smaller hall closet. First, I checked the expiration dates on cold medicines, etc., and found a lot of stuff expired. That was easy to pitch. THEN, I looked at old make up, etc. (Much harder to part with, even though I haven't used some of it in ages...) Also pitched half-used bottles of shampoo I tried but didn't like, etc. It felt VERY wasteful. I went to the Christmas Tree Shop and bought 8 square baskets - 2 of 4 different sizes. (They actually nested inside each other.) Nearly $80. (A-Hem? For a BATHROOM CLOSET? Hmmm.) Took them home and was thankful they didn't really work to hold the stuff the way I had hoped. Returned them. Since I used to be a Longaberger Basket consultant, I have an attic full of baskets. I decided that, in the meantime, I would just grab some of those baskets and use them to corral my cosmetics, etc. It works, but isn't as neat as I'd like. I also have two plastic 'drawers' that I use. One small one has 3 little drawers - I use it for eye makeup and lipsticks. The other is bigger (about 8x10x16 deep) that I have cold medicines and anything else I don't know where to put. I guess the mix of plastic and baskets, to me, make the whole effect a little sloppy. While at the Christmas Tree Shop, I noticed photo boxes for $1.99. They stack neatly on top of each other and have a little metal label spot on the side. I may go back for those. Would especially work for stuff like first aid items and other things not used daily. So...if I ever get the closet looking 'photo' ready, I'll post a picture... Parsuzi. PS I also was taught the 'right' way to fold fitted sheets so they fold flat, but mine never look that nice. I don't generally put them on a table to fold, though. That might be the key.

How about option 3 - move the doorway into the bedroom all the way to the left where your closet door is, and then run one long closet on the entire wall from the corner the room to that doorway, so the closet is directly across from the sliders.

How much do you have to hang? I had two similarly-shaped closets once. One closet was uner a slope in the roof, but it was 4’ or 5’ wide, so there was room for hanging on one side. I added 1’-deep shelves on the other side. At the back, I put a couple of elfa drawer stacks. The other closet was under the stairs and served as the guest closet, it was about 3’ wide. The rod stayed at the front, and at the back i again added elfa drawer stacks. Oh, I had another closet under stairs. Probably 2.5’ wide like yours, but the door was on the side, not at the end. It was pretty hard to use. I think we just stashed stuff in there. So, I wonder whether you can put wheeled drawer stacks and wall racks and hooks in your closet, and get a freestanding closet like from ikea for the bedroom itself? Kind of flipping the norm of a dresser/chest of drawers in the bedroom and hangers in the closet.