Closet Makeover Winner Cindy A. Says Results are “Outstanding”

When the phone rang, Cindy A. had no idea that her closet was about to change. The person on the other end of the call was Jill Reilly, co-owner of Closet Storage Organizers. She was calling to inform Cindy she’d won the Closet Makeover Contest.

“I saw the contest on social media. I didn’t think I would win, but my closet was a disaster and I really needed to redo it, so I went ahead and applied,” said Cindy. “I was so surprised that I won!”

Earlier that spring Jill and her husband, CSO co-owner Dave Reilly , ran a “I Hate My Closet” Makeover Contest valued at $5,000. The contest was simple: snap a picture of the messy closet or pantry, fill out an easy form, and submit! The winner would receive a professionally designed closet makeover tailored to their needs and style.

We Wanted to Show People that You Can Love Your Closet Again

“One of the main things we hear over and over again is, ‘I hate my closet,’” said Jill Reilly. “It’s a constant phrase we encounter. That’s where the inspiration for this closet makeover contest came from. We wanted to show people that we can make you love your closet.”

Jill kicked off the process by visiting Cindy’s home to survey the closet and take some measurements. Cindy noted that Jill offered great, supportive advice while leaving Cindy and her husband to make the final calls. Ultimately, they decided together that the best course of action was to close one of the two closet entrances to maximize the space. “My husband is very handy, so he ended up doing that himself,” said Cindy.

“There were a couple of unique challenges with her specific closet,” said Jill. “Her closet was L-shaped and had two doors that were side-by-side. Two full walls were being used by doors in their closet which used up a tremendous amount of potential storage space.”

Unique Challenges Require Custom Solutions

Unlike DIY closet organization systems, Jill dives deep. There are no cookie-cutter solutions at Closet Storage Organizers. Instead, you have an expert thinking critically about every angle.

Jill measured the couple’s clothes to find the perfect hanging height and also catalogued the type of clothing to determine how much space to allot for double hanging and long hanging items. Finally, she assessed accessories, hand bags, and shoes to maximize the space—all while taking into consideration ceiling access panels and light fixtures.

“Shoes are one of the major problems for 95% of my clients. They just don’t have a place to put their shoes. They’re in a big pile on the floor or they are in a box. Either way you forget what you have,” said Jill. “We have a solution for that.”

Jill also noted that the duo was sharing a space so taking their different needs and organizational styles into account would be paramount to having a functional closet. This influenced the layout as Jill planned designated sections that were customized to each person’s clothing collection.

CSO Makes Achieving a Dream Closet a Seamless Experience

Cindy and her husband are business owners and parents of three kids. To say they are busy is an understatement. “What stood out to me about the process was how easy Jill made it,” said Cindy, “She really worked around our schedule. She came over and offered additional solutions but I never felt pressured to go with options that weren’t for me. From beginning to end she was really trustworthy and easy to work with.”

“Cindy was a great collaborator,” said Jill. “She was receptive to my ideas and willing to change their habits to accommodate a new closet design that would be better for them in the long run. It’s odd for me to come in and tell a client they need to take out a door but they ran with it.”

“I Can Walk Into My Closet and Actually Find Things”

Jill was able to give Cindy so much more usable space than she had previously. Her closet now features proper hanging heights, shelving, and dedicated space for hampers. Jill also had slatwall installed on the 14” sides of the shelves to provide an extra place to hang belts, scarves, handbags, and necklaces without sacrificing precious shelving space.

“DIY prefab organizational systems are customizable but they aren’t custom,” said Jill. “There’s always that 4 inches of closet space that isn’t used. Not with us. If your closet is 36.5 inches, there’s not half an inch left over. We’ll use every bit of space.”

Cindy couldn’t be more pleased. “The results are outstanding,” she said. “It’s like night and day! I can walk into my closet and actually find things. My husband is happy because my shoes are off the floor and I have reasonable storage for things that sit on shelves. Nothing is in his way when he walks in. It has definitely made me feel more organized.”

Reflecting on her experience, Cindy said, “I would highly recommend Jill and CSO. Their professionalism, their ability to accommodate our needs, and the straightforward guidance and suggestions were so valuable and much appreciated. She did a great job.”

Want to fall in love with your closet? It’s possible with Closet Storage Organizers. They have helped people simplify their lives and get organized since 1988. Under the new ownership of Dave and Jilly Reilly since 2024, they proudly serve the entire region including Salem, Roanoke, the New River Valley, Smith Mountain Lake, and Lynchburg. Book a consultation today and learn how you can get a custom closet you love.

Here is What Their Closet Looked Like Before…

And This is What it Looks Like After!