Making a Monroe Wall Rack Fit Anywhere
I recently had a customer reach out through my website looking for a custom version of the Monroe Wall Rack. She wanted a unit to hang clothes and store items above the hang bar, but the challenge was space—there was only a narrow area between her bed and the side wall in her NYC apartment. She needed something functional that wouldn’t overcrowd the room.
The crowded before shot.
The Design Process
We talked through the design, and I explained how the vertical support bars (which go all the way to the floor) carry most of the weight. That means she could hang a lot of clothes and store heavier items on the shelf without worrying about damaging her wall. She mentioned she had a lot to store, so I offered to add a second shelf above the hang bar to maximize vertical space.
Initial rough sketch.
She sent me detailed measurements of the space, including the location of her nightstand—which she wanted to fit between the two vertical bars. I sketched up a version of the Monroe Wall Rack with the second shelf added and adjusted the dimensions so everything would fit perfectly. I also made the hang bar tall enough so she could hang long coats without them hitting the nightstand.
We double-checked that the unit wouldn’t block her closet door on the adjacent wall, and once she approved the sketch and measurements, I got to work in the shop.
Build & Install
I built the unit to fit her space exactly, sent her progress photos, and then carefully packed it with all the hardware and step-by-step instructions for mounting the top to the wall for extra stability.
The Finished Product
The finished product.
Not long after, she sent me a photo of the assembled rack in her space—clothing hanging neatly, shelves stacked with storage bins, and everything fitting just right. She was thrilled with the result.
Final Thoughts
What I love most about this kind of project is that I can create a custom piece that fits someone’s life—without ever setting foot in their home. It doesn’t matter if they’re across the country or down the street. With a few measurements and some communication, I can design and build something that solves a real space problem while still looking great.
This client was awesome to work with. She knew what she wanted, communicated the challenges of her space clearly, and trusted the process. That’s what makes this work fun—taking one of my core designs and tailoring it to fit the unique needs of a home, a store, an office—any space, really.
Before and after.
Have a Tricky Space?
Let’s figure it out. I build racks that fit where big-box solutions won’t.