Some of sex and the city’s most memorable moments for its lead character, Carrie Bradshaw, often occurred in—or were in close proximity to—her closet. As Bradshaw evolved throughout the HBO hit series, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, so too did her closet.
When last seen, Bradshaw’s enormous walk-in was much like the stunning, quality custom-made closets that are manufactured in the Atlanta environs at Creative Closets and More, which aims to provide experiences and home improvements that exceed customers’ expectations.
Now a privately owned, family-operated business, Creative Closets and More is headed up by Julie Doll-Summers, the company’s current president. Her enthusiasm for the business and respect for its team are palpable. To her, the employees are the most important part of the business.
“I was able to buy from one of the original owners, who was retiring. The beauty of the product was very appealing, and the organization component was also. It was clearly a well-run organization, with an incredible team,” says Doll-Summers. “The secret sauce are the employees at Creative Closets—the managers, designers and rest of the team, who had been here for such a long time, are absolutely terrific.”
Founded in 1992, the business is a well-oiled machine that employs numerous talented individuals with decades of experience. The company designs, manufactures and installs built-in custom organizational systems, including closets, pantries, laundry rooms and garages, in both the residential and commercial markets.
“From the initial consultation to on-site installation, we specialize in providing a luxurious turnkey experience for our clients,” says Doll-Summers. “For more than 30 years, the company has provided outstanding custom closets and cabinets made from the highest-quality materials that last for as long as you own your building.”
Creative Closets and More uses high-quality materials, including wood, MDF and melamine, that come in 22 colors. “We also offer custom painting and staining, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to colors. With both wood and MDF, we can paint or stain whatever color clients want. We carry a vast amount of choices,” says Doll-Summers. Installations can be as short as a few hours for smaller projects or several days to a week for the larger projects.
In addition to custom closets to suit every lifestyle, Creative Closets and More creates mudrooms, garages, home offices, pantries, wall beds, kids rooms, home improvements, wet bars and built-ins. With a veteran team of 45 employees, including installers, CAD engineers, manufacturers and more than 10 designers, Creative Closets and More is capable of servicing the entire state of Georgia from its headquarters in Marietta.
The initial consultation usually takes place at the client’s home or business and can last from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the job size. The second meeting typically takes place in the Marietta showroom and includes a tour.
“Obviously, it’s important for our clients to have the legal authority or ownership to make improvements,” says Doll-Summers. “It is required for the company to be able to install its product. Usually, our work involves new construction or preexisting homes and businesses. Our prices start at about $1,500. We’ve found that is the ideal jumping-off point. We also have projects that are very involved, where we do the majority of the cabinets, closets and workspaces in single-family homes. Right now, we are involved in a high-rise project in Downtown Atlanta. We stay very busy and in demand.”
Doll-Summers says her company is a trusted Atlanta business because of its enviable track record and high approval ratings from clients. In fact, about 85% of its business is either repeat clients or from referrals. The company focuses on customizing a client’s space to fit their needs and wants. “We provide a lifetime warranty on the workmanship of our products for as long as the customer owns the home, under normal usage and as long as the system remains where our installation team installed it,” she adds.
For Doll-Summers and her employees, the business is rewarding for a number of reasons, but mostly it’s the satisfaction that comes from happy and satisfied customers. “Our clients are usually surprised what a difference our systems can make,” notes Andrea Summers, the company’s marketing manager. “Often, they’ll do one space and will come back later and do another. For the most part, they love our work because it changes their space, and it makes their lives easier.”
“It’s wonderful that we can do something functional but beautiful that has the client’s stamp on it too,” adds Doll-Summers. “The partnership creates a special bond, especially when it makes the client’s wishes come true. There’s a real positive feeling all around, a sense of excitement and anticipation.”
Clearly, the recent population growth has helped the Atlanta Metro area increase the number of potential customers, but as Doll-Summers points out: “The population boom also brought a lot more competition, but most of those businesses are franchised. We are an independent, locally owned business, and that’s very important to a lot of people.”
Key to the company’s success and ability to stay ahead of the competition is its attention to detail and ensuring the client’s wishes are always top of mind. “We specialize in delivering an unmatched customer experience for closet design and home improvement installations. Our designers meticulously gather every detail from our clients about their dream closet or project, ensuring that while still remaining functional, every attribute aligns with their vision and needs,” says Doll-Summers.
To stay ahead of the trends, the team at Creative Closets and More works with interior designers, builders and architects in addition to attending trade shows, such as the Closets Conference & Expo and the Closet Summit conference. In addition to the business, working with or being members of various trade organizations, such as the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, is key to staying on top of trends.
Doll-Summers indicates the current trends are multiuse spaces, like home offices that also function as guest bedrooms or hobby rooms. “The colors are moving toward the lighter woods and earth tones, like greens and browns. We are also seeing clients continue with matte black and brushed nickel hardware. People are not afraid to get creative and will mix their metals now,” she notes.
The company’s experienced designers are the perfect partners for clients to begin exploring all the possibilities for their businesses.
“We want our customers to feel like it’s Christmas morning or their birthday, where you can feel the excitement. It’s wonderful to see their smiles and share in their happiness,” says Doll-Summers. “We love it when they rave, ‘I wish I had done this sooner!’” *
Ellen Uribe is an award-winning journalist and a communications expert. She is a sought-after speaker, participating as a moderator and panelist at numerous industry events, conferences and broadcast outlets. She has contributed to Vanity Fair, Palm Beach Life, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Women’s Wear Daily and Time Magazine.
