So, I purchased this Closet Evolution system as part of a much larger overall order from Closet Evolution. I combined a few systems and components to build my walk-in closet using their easy-to-use design website. I'm going to list my overall experience here.
First, the design website is easy-to-use, www.closetevolution.com, and when you're finished click on checkout it takes you to the Home Depot website and pre-populates your shopping cart with everything you need. That's a piece of cake. However, it took nearly 6 weeks to receive from the manufacturer, and yes I know there's a lot going on with a pandemic and what-not. Once I received the order I was amazed that it came on a pallet, with approx. 16 boxes on it (that's because of my custom order). These pieces are boxes very well with a lot of extra cardboard cushion, so even damaged edges wouldn't hurt the boards, kudos to the shipping department.
The system components are rugged and sturdy, it is particle board but it's thick and durable. The laminate coating on mine was hit and miss on the edges, some of the edge trim was defective when it was applied or it was chipped off before it shipped. The instructions are extremely lacking. If you're buying just a single purchase item you're fine, but if you're combining items to make a much larger system you're pretty much on your own to figure it out. If you're pretty good at DIY stuff you'll figure it out fairly quickly, but it can be overwhelming at first glance.
The track mounts on the wall, no items are supported on the floor. This is good in that you have room underneath all of the system components to possibly put a shoe rack or lay things on the floor, who wouldn't want the extra space. The downside is that, if you're like me, you have a home that has walls that are not perfectly straight. Don't get me wrong, the system works fine if you have some sway or wave to your walls, however, if you have some severely bowed walls you'll probably have to find a way to shim the track and components off the wall a little so everything lines up right. My walls are not the fault of the Closet Evolution, but it was a bit of a hurdle in a couple locations. You are required to have the track mounted to studs within 3" of every hanging panel, and if you don't have that, you need to use they're toggle bolt anchors. I actually liked these drywall anchors, they seem very sturdy and I was more comfortable using those than any standard drywall anchor. I did have a couple that had some messed up threads on them and wouldn't allow the bolts to screw in all the way, and it caused them to break off in the wall, but they provide you several to use just in case.
The drawers are one of the neatest factors of the system. They are one long set of boards that have been cut to fold perfectly into a drawer with dowels already inserted. Each drawer takes less than 5 minutes to assemble. The one thing that I really didn't like is that the holes are not predrilled for the drawer slides, they provide you a template that you tape in place and then make screw marks through the template onto the wood so you can screw the slides on in the right place. I think this is an overlooked con of the whole thing. I guess there are different sized slides that you can get from them and that's why they aren't predrilled, but if that's the case they should've just predrilled the holes for both sizes and the customer could whichever set works for them. And let's not forget how much oil from the slides you get on your hand while performing this step. I also had 2 of the 6 drawer faces not line up with the other drawers, and it seems that it was the predrilled holes on the drawer faces that were misaligned. That's an easy fix, but still. Another thing I didn't like to do, but knew that I had to do, was cut the clothes hanging rods to the size I needed. Other systems I've used and seen give you an adjustable rod which would also just make the whole installation go faster.
Altogether the system is beautiful and very functional. This turned my old terrible looking and unorganized closet into just what I was looking for and needed. It took more time to assemble than I really thought it would, however, I installed a competitor's system in my wife's closet and I can't say that went too much faster even though it was easier to install because it was floor supported. Knowing what I know now, yes I would buy this system again, because once I got the hang of it, it really wasn't that bad. I do think it's over-priced, but it is in the same ball park as all of the other systems, so I guess all closet organization systems are over-priced.
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Recommended
6 found this review helpful
Nov 12, 2019
It was easy to install and it looks beautiful!
It was easy to install and it looks beautiful!
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Verified Purchase
Recommended
Jun 25, 2019
They are not real substantial, but amazingly flexible and easy to fit most applications and very ...
They are not real substantial, but amazingly flexible and easy to fit most applications and very easy to install. I wonder if they will hold up long term as they are not the most well built. That said they are very useful, hold a lot of stuff and very nice looking once installed.
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Verified Purchase
Recommended
Jan 17, 2016
solid product
I chose this product for it's quality, price, and color. None of these disappointed me. I'd by another one if needed someday.
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Verified Purchase
Recommended
Jan 13, 2015
works great!
easy to install, just gotta be careful in small spaces as walls are not always square. directions could be a bit better.
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Recommended
2 found this review helpful
Jan 4, 2015
Great quality for the price
I bought this system to complete our Master bedroom and Master closet remodel. I wasn't too sure of the quality to expect for this price point, especially after looking at many similar systems that were a lot more expensive. I bought the 4 ft. - 8 ft. Espresso Deluxe Starter Closet Kit, 72 inch Espresso Hanging Starter Closet Kit, 48 in. Espresso Vertical Panels (2-Pack), 4 of the 24 inch Espresso Shelves (2-Pack), 4 of the 35 inch Espresso Shelves (2-Pack) and an additional 32 inch closet System Rail. This allowed me to have 1 wall of that included 96 inches of double hanging, and 24 inches of long hanging for my wife’s dresses. It also gave me two 72 inch towers, one tower with 24 inch shelves and one tower with 35 inch shelves. My decision in what to buy was based on using the Martha Stewart closet design website. After I entered my room dimensions and edited the recommendation to suit our needs, the website gave me the list of things I needed to buy through Home Depot’s website. I was able to install the entire closet system by myself in under 2.5 hours (My pregnant wife watch silently in amazement from our bed). I think the most difficult part for most people will be cutting the metal rails to the correct size. The instructions suggest using a hacksaw. Fortunately for me I just bought a Dremel 4200 on Black Friday that came with a metal cutting wheel that made short work of cutting the rails for me. I think the photos do not do justice to the completed project. But my toughest critics (the lovely wife) absolutely loves who new closet. She even shares part of it with me.
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Recommended
7 found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2024
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Verified Purchase
Sep 11, 2024
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Verified Purchase
Jul 24, 2024
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Verified Purchase
Jan 24, 2024
Would like to see a 12 inch option on the panels
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Verified Purchase
Jan 24, 2024
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Verified Purchase
Dec 14, 2023
Perfect for our closet system
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Verified Purchase
Dec 7, 2023
The purchase worked out great for making shelves in a bedroom closet.
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Verified Purchase
Nov 9, 2023
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Verified Purchase
Nov 1, 2023
Bottom edge should be edge banded. Alternately should have a radius front edge at the bottom. It is sharp and at that height you can catch your hand and/or clothing on it!