Meet the fun people behind the scenes at Closets by Design in Birmingham
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Do you get the same thrill from HGTV that other people get from ESPN? Do you love organizing things, and making your space just so? If so, you’ll want to get to know the folks at Closets by Design in Birmingham. They have a dedicated creative team that can help bring your organizational fantasies to life.
When you spend a little time at Closets by Design, it doesn’t take long before you can feel the energy. While it looks like a showroom for well-organized closets or garages, there’s a feeling—of friendship, of camaraderie, maybe even of family—that quickly becomes clear.
People are hugging and laughing. There’s a busy buzz of creativity and collaboration in the air. You can hear the sounds of saws in the background. Everybody here is working together to make something.
While the finished product looks like a closet, or a mudroom, or a craft area, Office Manager Aly Harris put her finger on it when she said “I’m here to make people’s dreams come true.”
In this story, you’ll meet Aly, along with three of Closets by Design’s designers: Karen Oosterveen, Dustin Frisbee, and Naomi Morrison.
What is Closets by Design in Birmingham?
They’re the Birmingham office of a national franchise that designs, custom-builds, and installs organizational systems that can dramatically change the way a person feels in their home. They do home offices, play rooms, spaces for yoga, media centers, bonus rooms, basements, garages, pantries, laundry rooms, Murphy beds, closets and general storage. Most of their clients come from North-Central Alabama.
What makes them different is the way they sit down with the clients to design the project together. According to designer Naomi Morrison, “the clients can actually feel that they’re listened to and that their needs are being met. We design manually, and share the whole experience from zero to the end product.”
Aly Harris, Closets by Design Office Manager
With a big smile and a cheerful demeanor, Aly’s the first person people talk to when they first call Closets by Design, and the last person they speak with once the job is done. “It’s my responsibility to get each person from ‘thank you for calling Closets by Design’” said Aly, “to ‘THANK YOU Aly! We love our closet / We love our project!’”
She’s been with the company since August 2016, before they moved into an office. For her, it’s the most fun job she’s had.
Aly loves Closets by Design’s customers: “Some customers are like family. Some customers want the whole home, but they don’t want to do it all at once, or they might just want to see what the product looks like and then come back. We have a lot of repeat customers – they call and say ‘Hey Aly’—I don’t even get to finish my spiel. We get them taken care of and give them an opportunity to say ‘I know they’re gonna make me happy.’”
Finally, Aly said “It’s really fun to see the projects come together from the beginning when the designers submit their designs. I get to see the whole thing happening.”
Karen Oosterveen, Closets by Design Design Consultant
Karen Oosterveen has been with Closets by Design since July 2016, and was the first designer hired when they opened in Birmingham.
“I love getting into a closet and taking on the challenge to see how much more space I can create out of the client’s existing closet,” Karen said. “Clients are always amazed with just a little customization how much more space they can have.”
Dustin Frisbee, Closets by Design Design Consultant
Dustin is another one of Closets by Design’s designers. “What I love most about Closets by Design is the value it allows me to bring to people’s everyday life. In almost every case customers gain free time. Then for some, dreams become reality. We give them a place of inspiration.”
He went on to share a sweet story: “Miss Alabama was one of my clients. She literally lays down in her closet each day and gets a sense of renewal. The depth of her closet mirrors the depth of her feelings. It’s very rewarding to be able to contribute to people in this way.”
Naomi Morrison, Closets by Design Design Consultant
Naomi’s been with the team for more than two years, and says “I’m really happy to be a designer here with Closets by Design.”
She brings marketing, real estate, and sales experience, “but really this is my passion and I spend more time with designing closets ’cause I can help people reach their goals and make their dreams come true.”
“When I go to people’s homes, sometimes they’re outside waiting for me: the mom, the dad, the kids, the dog. It’s a great experience because everyone cooperates and wants to be part of the designing process. When they see it come true, it’s life changing.”
When asked about the client whose story stood out the most, she shared about a woman whose kids were grown, her husband had died, she’d remarried, and she “just wanted a dream closet.”
She had a tiny closet that she shared with her husband, and a big living room that didn’t get much use. Together, they decided to transform the living room into the dream closet, and the woman was “really really happy.”
The most unusual space she’s designed, besides that living room closet, was a pantry that became a craft and hobby space plus a pantry.
If you’re looking for someone to help you design the perfect organizational space, check out Closets by Design. You can find them at www.closetsbydesign.com or give Aly a call at (205) 777-4000. Karen, Dustin, and Naomi would love to help you get started on turning your dream space into reality.
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