I love seeing your closets!! We have his and hers closets in the master, and I'm not satisfied with them (and we haven't even moved in yet). Our trim carpenter suggested a simple layout for rods and shelves, which looks great. Then I asked for shoe storage like rows of cubbies (meaning get more shoes in less space). He put in a slanted shelf along the baseboard. He was so proud of it, I didn't have the heart to tell him that it wouldn't meet my needs. Now, I'm kicking myself because I'm too wimpy to insist that he rip it out and redo it. Also, the floors have been finished now. I'm to the point where I have to pick my battles. Anyway, our best storage plans for our master are to de-clutter before moving in and to keep as much as possible in our huge cedar closet (for out of season clothing and shoes).

Height and depth should be no problem. However if the return air duct is going to be run down vertically to the side of the unit, assuming a 10" width, give or take, and room for a radius elbow transition into the return box, I'd want it at least 36" wide. However the return air setup may be different and width may not end up being as important. I would discuss with your HVAC contractor first.

I agree with both Annz and Patty Cakes' suggestions. I don't have a dedicated linen closet, but instead have built-in linen cabinets in our two main bathrooms. Neither have drawers, just shelves. But, I do have a similar set up to the one you've pictured, on one side of our guest room's walk-in closet that I'm using to store extra sheets, blankets and comforters. In there, my upper doors are double ones, making access to the shelves easy. But the drawers, deep as they are, are not working very well at all for storing my comforters in. I'm going to try Patty's roll & tie idea with them. instead. The drawers do hold sheet sets, neatly folded inside one pillow case fairly well, though. I can set them on end ( like books) in the drawers for easy access. The problem, up until Patty's idea, is that the comforters folded on the shelves are so puffy that my cabinet doors won't stay closed. Anyhoo, just more food for thought. But, how wonderful to be getting ANY type of extra storage, so I'm happy for you! Don't forget to post After pics of us. Lynn

"Just throwing out a totally contrarian idea - is this closet on an inside wall? If so, could you go in from the other side to create a second closet or built in shelves?" Not contrary at all, IMO. That was the first idea I considered - just go ahead and make the closet into a small reach-in closet. But... the other side would open into the hallway instead of the bedroom, so I'd completely lose the space as "master closet." It could make for a deep broom/cleaning closet, which would be an asset. But I'd also have to move the doorbell and thermostat, which would make it into a much bigger and more expensive project than I feel like undertaking 5 days before I move in. There is a spacious coat closet in the hall nearby and some built-in 14" deep cabinetry for linens which isn't big enough for comforters but is more than I need for sheets and towels. Plus it's just me in a 3 bedroom house (plus finished basement) and I don't keep much stuff around. I'm not shy for storage space anywhere else, but I do want a functional closet in the master bedroom. Stumbling all over the house trying to get dressed at 4:30am is not my idea of efficient. I am NOT a morning person and I have to make it easy on myself. :) Okay, here's a radical idea. What if instead of shelves behind, I had another clothing rod? I do primarily need hanging space, and I can rotate winter/summer that can't be hung up into one of the other closets. Then the back rod would be for the funeral suit, long dresses, off-season, etc. that I planned to put in the hall closet or on the shelves. Also a pain to get to, but still very infrequently used. I'm not sure it's progress. Maybe what I really need is 4 closet rods on a thing that rotates vertically... so you push the rod(s) in front down and they rotate to the back and up, and the rod(s) at the top and back move to the front. I could build it if I could just find heavy duty 4' lazy susans I could mount vertically and bolt swiveling closet poles to...