Closets for Life offers Quality
Home & Yard Blvd. Section
Last night, like every woman and gay man in America, I was watching Bravo’s A-List awards. Something about Kathy Griffin makes anything she does “Must-See TV” for anyone light in the loafers. It had been one of those days where there didn’t seem to be enough caffeine in the world to keep me from nodding off. I drifted in and out, as she ushered on each guest with her usual brand of self-deprecating, campy humor. I tried to pay attention, but my mind was in that space where dreams and reality mesh to become a surreal narrative not quite fact and not quite fiction. It was at this point in the evening that she invited the casts of two shows to the stage: The Real Housewives of New York City and The Real Housewives of Orange County.
In all actuality, these women are probably not the people the film editors had made them out to be. As I recall, a fight broke out when two of the women discovered they were wearing the same low-cut Carolina Herrera over-the-shoulder number, a faux pas to be sure. Hair extensions flew through the air, with thousand-dollar Versace gowns torn and shredded by whitened porcelain veneers and manicured acrylic nails. Their blood-thirst seemed reminiscent of the Brady/DiMera Feud. It was, as I imagined, the catfight to end them all. With the two decoiffed, defrocked, and defeated, the battle ended in a knockout blow, delivered by the business end of a left Jimmy Choo. There, in front of America, the winner was decided. The awards show would continue, and Griffin would use the night’s events as fodder for next year’s tour.
A label war at its heart, it began in the closets of these women. It was fought via wardrobe. Weapon of choice: the LBD. I imagined Lauri of Orange County standing in a closet the size of Pasadena, plotting. She would choose from her arsenal carefully, from the rows of neatly arranged pumps and steamed cocktail dresses.
I wanted it. It was time to build my armory.
In an effort to raise my army, I enlisted the aid of a specialist, first-class Rick Lyrek, owner of the Minnesota-based Closets for Life. He was ready and willing to take on the challenge. His handcrafted, custom-built cabinetry is just what I’d need to ensure victory. Walnut, cherry, mahogany—anything I could think of, he could produce.
“Whether [you] have a lot of shoes or a lot to hang, we can custom-design a solution that will suit you,” Lyrek says, “I do all the designing. If something changes, I can fix it.”
Looking at his work, it became apparent that this was the man for the job. Smaller than most retailers, Closets for Life allows the customer more flexibility than ever thought possible. All Lyrek’s cabinets are built for each specific job. No cookie-cutter, dimension-specific preforms here.
The company’s size allows it to reduce cost by keeping all building and construction local. It works with each client to ensure the highest level of satisfaction, with the personal touch of a family-owned and -operated business.
“I have a couple of installers. My father and even my sons help out. My brother has a commercial cabinet shop,” Lyrek explains.
Closets for Life has gone high-tech, important for staying ahead of the enemy. Lyrek uses 3D software to create a lifelike model of each job before a single nail is driven. Plans are given to the homeowner for consideration, and all changes are made. Operation Closet Construction then gets under way.
Services don’t stop at the bedroom door. Some of the more interesting applications of the company’s work are custom-built entertainment centers, as well as other cabinetry used in home offices, laundry rooms, and even wine cellars. A number of clients use Closets for Life for multiple projects, which allows Lyrek to pass further savings on by consolidating shipping and installation costs.
“When the customer is happy, I’m happy. All my business is by referral,” Lyrek remarks.
I look forward to allying with Lyrek in the future. His work can be found all over the Cities. It can be seen on this year’s Parade of Homes and Loft Living Tours. I plan to scope them out, evaluating my enemy and plotting my attack, mindful of the war at hand.
Closets For Life
(952) 484-0416
www.closetsforlife.com
