Contact Sue Tinker at 630-204-5081 or [email protected]
"I knew I found my calling the day I walked into a closet showroom and saw the jewelry drawer. Organization had always appealed to me so helping others get organized would be great. That was almost three decades ago. I've been with Closet Works for 21+ years and take pride in seeing it grow to be the largest, most successful company in the Chicago area. The emphasis on customer service is what brought me here. Continuous improvement, high quality product and good value keeps me enjoying my career everyday.
My design experience includes award winning residential closets the size of a boutique up to large scale projects for nursing homes and university dorms at DePaul and IIT. I've worked on office projects for medical offices, laboratories and store displays. I also love the challenge of maximizing a small space and seeing how even a simple design makes a huge impact. I feel very fortunate to have found a career that has been so enjoyable and rewarding.
In June of 2018 I realized a longtime dream of moving to Spring Hill, TN near Nashville. I'm looking forward to helping people maximize their space "down South" for a few more years with Closet Works".
Contact Sue Tinker at 630-204-5081 or [email protected]
Each year, Top Shelf Closet Design Awards are given to honor designers for their creative closet and home organizational designs. This is the highest award given in the closet design industry. Sue Tinker has been presented with this award numerous times.
Sue is a veteran designer and a leader in the closet design industry. The ACSP has tapped into Sue's expertise on several occasions, inviting her to speak at seminars and events. As Closet and Home Organization Expo Speaker and Ambassador she has covered topics such as How to Increase Sales by Developing Win/Win Professional Partnerships (2012) and Million Dollar Salesperson presentation (2011).
Imagine lofty ideas like a fun chandelier in the closet that suits your style, making it more your own. This closet included many angles, which makes the room unique, but can also be a challenge if not handled properly. Under the guidance of Designer Sue Tinker, this closet/dressing room blossomed into an elegant private sanctuary, where everything is organized and all the clothing is enclosed by custom cabinetry or closet systems, giving the closet organization more of a furniture look.
DetailsElegance and practicality need not be mutually exclusive and this closet proves the point! Built for two, this custom closet design offers a grand space for her, complete with a dressing table under the oval window and plenty of hanging with room to separate winter from summer clothing. is side of the closet features double hanging for shirts and slacks with a telescoping tie organizer. Right in the middle is the 360 Organizer® Shoe Spinner. This model has been customized to specifically fit the owners needs.
DetailsThis closet is a dream manifested into reality. Extravagance is an understatement with adornments of LED lights and glowing translucent stone island countertops. Glass shelves span the wall, offering space for every pair of shoes imaginable. Two center island dressers outfitted with mirrors include specially divided drawers deemed for all folded clothing, accessories, and undergarments. The room is surrounded by wardrobe-style closets with glass doors and LED lights focusing all attention on your prized wardrobe.
DetailsHave you ever thought about cocooning inside your closet? You just might if you had an elaborate custom dressing room/closet with walk-in closet lighting like this one! At approximately 403 square feet with 10 foot tall ceilings, this closet for HIM is bigger than some apartments. This closet is truly a personal sanctuary for HIM, and includes an elaborate closet LED lighting system with both strip lighting in the hanging section for clothing selection, plus puck lights for task lighing in the office area. A wireless remote control switch controls the closet lighting options.
DetailsWhat man wouldn't love a place where he can be surrounded by all of his precious belongings and have his own private and relaxing get away? This custom walk-in closet for him evokes masculinity and serenity with its rich and dark walls and rustic Merapi laminate. Because of the deep color choices, it was imperative to choose closet lighting that make a wardrobe easy to see and stand out. The center island dresser offers 24 drawers with the convenience of dividers making organization of all folded clothing and accessories simple.
DetailsA center two-tiered granite countertop divides this closet into his and her respectful sides. In a rich and warm Corretto Cherry laminate with harmony raised panel drawer and door fronts and Chateau brushed chrome handles, this design is overflowing with lavishness. A pull-out shelf for organizing ties and slanted shoe shelves are examples of top notch personalized features in this custom walk-in.
DetailsWhite walk-in closet storage system in our thermally fused laminate finish features a place for everything — shelving, hanging space, drawers and laundry hamper. Investing in a custom closet system like this one adds a lot of storage to this downtown condominium, where space can be at a premium.
This custom closet organization solution uses solid wood doors and drawer fronts in Crownpoint style with Cherry Blossom thermally fused laminate (TFL) for the system structural components and shelving. The wood and laminate pieces blend seemlessly, and are a good compromise if you prefer an all wood system, but find it cost prohibitive. This closet space is designed to accomodate two people, with custom built-ins, shelving, drawers, hanging space and shoe storage.
This lucky owner of this closet received an beautiful and elaborate master closet system in white laminate (TFL) with brushed chrome oval rods and Contempo style drawer fronts. The overall effect is clean and modern with abundant closet organization and storage opportunities. Accessories like a pull-out tie rack add the finishing touches that make this closet a room you will never want to leave.
All the doors, drawers and shelves incorporated into this closet system make additional dressers and bedroom furniture unnecessary for storing clothing and belongings. There's a space for everything in this beautifully designed corner closet system. The only thing left is to add a bed.
This closet is a dream come true in terms of beauty and functionality. One of the advantages of having a closet designed specifically to your own requirements are the addition of select closet accessories like the pull-out tie and belt racks, cleats with hooks, valet pole to layout the next day's clothing and a jewelry drawer with lock that add a personal touch, catering to the unique needs of this closet owner.
This custom closet provides not only separate hanging and storage spaces for this couples clothing, but separate dressing areas as well. Each alcove includes hanging and shelving space, with enough room for seating or an island in the middle. The glass doors on the cabinets provide a tidy look, while keeping stored items visible. The rich cocoa laminate blends seemlessly with the rest of this couple's home.
This custom closet system spares no expense in amenities. The high end furniture grade material of this all wood system, combined with its floor mount design and finishing touches like crown and base moulding, organizes all the homeowners belongings into sections of custom cabinetry that look like separate pieces of furniture. The look is that of a bygone era, and fit for a king.
This custom closet system uses frosted glass door panels to subdue the cluttered look of many folded clothing items stored together, while still allowing the owner enough of view to tell what is inside. This fully floor based system employs Contempo crown and base moulding for a furniture type look on all components. Special amenities like the pull-out mirror and valet pole make this closet a fully functional dressing room as well as a clothing storage system.
This custom closet system uses our reeded glass door panels to de-emphasize items stored above the hutch unit. The beautiful dark cocoa finish of the closet system is the perfect foil to the light granite countertop and polished chrome hardware featured in this closet. White walls and a mirror backsplash on the hutch keep the space looking bright.
Some people are just lucky enough to look good in absolutely anything. A person like this usually ends up with a lot of clothing, since they look good in everything they try on. Through the implementation of double hanging areas, judicious use of shelves, pull-outs and custom accessories, Sue was able to help this client with a new closet organization system that provides tons of storage for a large inventory of trousers, shirts, polos, sweaters, ties, shoes, belts, hats — even a collection of baseball caps. The square footage didn't change on this closet, but the maximum capacity certainly increased, without compromizing on the aethetics.
This dressing room with adjoining walk-in closet functions not only as a place to store and put on clothing, but also serves as a private retreat. The elegant monochromatic ivory pallet is both feminine and refined, in keeping with the light and airy feeling throughout the rest of the newly organized space.
DetailsIf the shoe fits, buy it in every color — with a handbag to match!
If you follow this credo, you may need a custom closet and storage solution like this one. This custom shoe closet keeps all the footware and handbags organized and easy to find, with enough extra room to store hats and occasional fashion items. Nothing need be lost in a pile on the floor if you have a dedicated closet system like this one!
The lucky owners of this custom closet may feel like they're on vacation all year round this closet! Designed to pamper, this custom ivory toned closet with Portabella style doors and drawer fronts evokes a country retreat somewhere in the south of France. Plenty of cabinets, drawers, shelves and rods for hanging things ensures that this homeowner will never run out of storage. With stone countertops at various heights, this closet offers a place for almost anything.
This lavish and upscale design is arranged for utmost organization potential and space conservation. The Emerald Brushed Chrome Handles and Cherry Blossom laminate are a wealthy blend. The unit is integrated into the corner of the room with hanging rods and plenteous shelves. The center system includes a top locking drawer for safekeeping. Additionally, there are hooks to hang purses and jackets.
This artistic Intrigue laminate involved in a simple design brings a pleasant balance to this custom organization system. By wrapping around the walls with a corner hanging rod nook, this unit offers comfort in a compact space. Also included are drawers and shelves for folded clothes and an additional section for a collection of shoes.
This captivating double closet hutch is the perfect component to a rewarding organization system. The unit is beautiful with its glass panel cabinets and portabella ivory laminate, but is also practical by supplying an array of shelves, locking drawers, and a wide open hutch.
Women's Day magazine says that the average woman only needs six pairs of shoes to get by. Who are they kidding? In this closet system, have no shame for accumulating shoes because there will definitely be space for all of them on the elongated shelving section. This design also provides hanging rods and shelves for folded clothing.
The sun glows through the doorway and illuminates this walk-in closet. The shelving sections for shoes, the double closet hutch, the hanging rod, and drawers are essential features for ideal organization. Also included is a pull-out canvas lined hamper that attributes to this space-conserving unit.
For someone who treasures their wardrobe and fashion, this is a happy place. The walk-in is brightly lit by the sunshine and the Diva laminate radiates. The unit offers the basics such as hanging rods, drawers, and cabinets but also includes special commodities. There is a shoe cubbie and bench combination that is perfect for trying on and picking out just the right pair of shoes for the evening. A single closet hutch on one side, and a double on the other can hold favorite trinkets or a jewelry tree.
Have you ever looked at a closet and everything is mishmashed together with no sense of organization? It can't be easy picking out the outfit that fits your mood when you're searching through the mess for the perfect color t-shirt or tank top. This closet system provides a generous amount of hanging rods to sort out clothes and also a set of hooks for jackets or sweatshirts you always throw on. To top it all off, the unit is customized under an angled ceiling proving this to be an extremely well thought-out design.
This wholesome design comes full circle quite literally with its 360 spinner and units folding into each other. There is everything you need and more in this lovely arrangement. The five hooks are artistic and make a bold statement by the way they stand out against the white laminate. They can hold onto scarves, hats, jackets, and hooded sweatshirts. Hanging rods can accommodate a number of different clothes and allow you to categorize them by color, season, casual t-shirts, or fancy garments. Also included is a drawer system in various sizes for specific items such as undergarments, socks, pajamas, or any folded clothing. An advantageous feature is a top locking drawer for the safekeeping of jewelry, watches, money, or keys.
Walking into this closet is like getting a small glimpse of Heaven. The beaming light is reflected all around, and quite literally by the lengthy mirror. The expansive cabinets, bench, and island unit with drawers harmonize in this soft and angelic white room.
In this design, a double closet hutch sits atop a set of drawers in multiple sizes. Accommodating for folded clothing and undergarments, the unit is also purposeful for safekeeping with its top locking drawers. Also included are cabinets that linen can be put away in, shelves for shoes, and hanging rods for less casual items.
This closet organization system with its High Gloss Metallic Silver luster is quite the luxury. A generously sized island dresser offers storage for all folded clothing to be stored nearly and in perfect order. Multiple rods allow you to hang your clothing by type and give complete clear access to your wardrobe.
These elongated cabinets conceal your wardrobe in style as the light of the room is reflected off of the high gloss silver metallic laminate creating an alluring atmosphere.
This custom walk-in closet is overflowing with comfort in the amount of breathing space and leg room it provides. The Aria laminate is warmed up by the strips of bright lights giving off an invigorating feeling when you enter the room. Hanging and folding clothing is made simple by the generous hanging sections, drawers, and cabinets this unit provides. A unique feature of this room is the window with a view to a stairway where hats and various memorabilia can be displayed.
This custom walk-in closet is high in fashion and high in functionality. The silken white laminate is illuminated by the modish light fixture making this design a statement piece. The unit provides elemental storage features including elongated shelving section for shoes, wide shelves for folded clothing, drawers, and various hanging sections of custom heights.
Many older homes have bedrooms with tiny built-in closets — or no closets at all. They were constructed in an era before off-the-rack clothing was prevalent and people, especially children, owned fewer outfits. In order to update this type of bedroom to today's needs, Sue designed a wardrobe style closet system that stands against one wall of the bedroom. Ample hanging space suitable for a young fashionista was provided in the wardrobe units, in addition to enough drawers that a traditional dresser is no longer needed.
DetailsThis standard reach-in closet is far from run-of-the-mill when it comes to available storage and functionality. The center tower of shelving makes storing sweaters and folded items simple and easy — it might even replace the need for a dresser of drawers elseware in the room.
The "back door" closet is an important storage space. Heavily used by most families, there are more entrances and exists via the back door than the formal front entrance. This custom closet solution provides plenty of storage for jackets and car length coats, along with shelves that can be used for shoes, gloves, or any gear that needs to be easily accessible when entering or leaving the house, ensuring everything remains in its place and doesn't end up in piles around the door.
Sometimes those bulky closet doors just get in the way — have you ever thought of swaping out your standard closet for a custom built-in wardrobe style unit like this one? Upper cabinets conceal ample hanging space. The lower cabinets conceal shelving that is perfect for folded items like sweaters. A bank of four dawers offers storage for lingerie and smaller items, virtually eliminating any need for additional furniture pieces to store clothing.
This bedroom is adorned with a luxurious and larger-than-life wardrobe that contains the keys to perfect organization. Numerous compartments offer appreciable storage space. The design is a treasure chest that opens up to reveal beautifully arranged personal belongings. There are separate hanging sections accommodating for categorizing clothing by season or color, drawers for folded items, and overhead cabinets convenient for linen, towels, or out of season clothing.
This custom armoire is top notch when it comes to protecting your valuables. With six locking drawers, your items are certain to be kept safe and sound.
DetailsA great way to maximize your space and keep complete accessibility to your closet is including pull down rods. As some closets may extend further to the ceiling, the pull down rods allow you to reach your wardrobe with ease.
DetailsIf you're a winner, why not flaunt it? An open shelving wall unit is a great place to store all kinds of personal trophies and memorabilia, customizing the space and making it truly your own with a constant reminder of past achivements. Additional hooks along the neighboring wall are the perfect spot for more ribbons and awards. An integrated student style desk next to the bed provides a place for learning and creating future achievements — suspended custom cabinets above the desk offer storage not often seen in a traditional child's bedroom. The desk, cabinets and wall unit shelving are all tied together with crown moulding, giving a polished appearance and sense of coherence to the system.
Matching the existing decor proposed a challenge to create a piece that would blend effortlessly in the room as if the units were never separate to begin with. As the brilliant and resourceful solution, River Rock was the perfect color choice to accompany the soft grey credenza. The harmonious pairing makes a decorative and transitional style footprint for the ambience of the entire living room.
DetailsThis wall unit design is unmistakably precious — glass shelves, custom lighting, and a premium laminate choice amount to the opulence. A unique construction feature of this entertainment center is a custom L-shaped rail covering. Separate pieces of laminate were used to disguise the rail, creating a unified and uninterrupted design.
DetailsThis wall unit was created in an MDF and was painted to match the client's existing trim in the room. The unit fits perfectly alongside the fireplace and has been integrated into the home seamlessly.
This long, narrow pantry with a partially sloped ceiling and raised floor was transformed from an awkward space into a beautifully functional pantry that suits the needs of a busy family. This pantry system keeps the homeowner/chef thoroughly organized through the inclusion of several specialized pantry organizers. A vertical tray organizer with a scalloped edge protects large flat items like broiler pans, trays, serving platters and cutting boards, while keeping them easily accessible. The pull-out pantry shelves should be on the "must-have" list for every cook. They keep all the small cans, bags, jars and "ones" easy to see so that the family knows what's on hand and can find items easily.
DetailsIf a wall bed can fold up to convert a bedroom into a more spacious office or den, why can't desks do the same thing? For this Chicago area home, Closet Works did just that! The two desks fold into the credenza along the wall to create an open space for the bed. The Murphy style wall bed is hidden behind the television when not in use.
DetailsMost of the time, this room is a home office that accommodates two workers. However, when the homeowners need an extra sleeping area in a pinch, the bed folds down while both desks fold into the credenza, creating an extra bedroom for guests. The television remains anchored to the front of the wall bed cabinet when the bed is lowered, ready to be raised into position when the bed is closed away and the room used as a den/office once more.
DetailsThis home office utilizes frosted glass panel inserts in the doors on the upper cabinets. The glass panels keep clutter hidden, but offer a light and airy feeling thast is especially important for this room with no windows.
DetailsWhat do you do when you live in a lofty high rise condominium like this one and you need to add another bedroom to your home? Unless you feel comfortable approaching the condo board with a plan to cantilever a twelve foot addition outside your window, your best bet is to consult Closet Works for a plan to make your existing space do double duty. This homeowner opted for a beautiful wall system in Sienna Apple from Closet Works Chicago that includes a Murphy style wall bed big enough to sleep two, plus enough cabinets and drawers for any storage needs. A desk system on the opposite wall increases the efficiency of the space even more for home office use without adding a lot of clutter or additional furniture to the room.
DetailsThe drop down desk is just one of the special features of this home office/guest room combo space. Most of the time, this area is used as a home office and den. However, the desk folds completely away into the cabinet on the side of the Murphy style wall bed when company comes to stay the night.
DetailsThe queen size Murphy style wall bed is always ready in the event company pays a visit. The bed lowers quickly and easily, requiring no special strength or skill to set up. Pull-out bedside tables add bedroom functionality for guests, making the room even more comfortable. The desk folds up into the wall cabinet on the side of the bed when not in use.
DetailsWorking in a dark and cramped atmosphere can make work almost feel like punishment. In a well-lit and spacious area, a mood can change drastically for the better and improve productivity. This design includes more than enough room to feel relaxed with its cabinetry, drawers, and expansive desktop space. The desk wraps around the corner and facilitates the organization of a computer, papers, office supplies and even personal touches such as pictures, a calendar, a lamp, and more!
The style of this office borders on the industriousness of a garage and studious atmosphere of an office, creating a nice marriage of the two. The Omni Track wall mount has been added to facilitate the workflow where accessories such as paper and pen trays, scissors, sticky notes, and more can be displayed. The Aztec brushed chrome knobs in accordance with the rich Queenston Oak laminate is an exquisite and modern design unlike any other.
Imagine being surrounded by all of your favorite possessions while you work. This expansive walk-in closet/dressing room/office/den with custom LED closet lighting functions as both a home office and closet. The desk area in the far corner of the closet was outfitted with three upper cabinets for storage. An LED puck light was mounted under each of these cabinets to provide good task lighting when working from home. A shelf in the matching Merapi laminate was installed to hold the countertop that functions as a desk in this man cave/personal sanctuary.
DetailsThis custom home office design is created in a premium Sunday Brunch Viva laminate. Custom lighting and wire management doors ensure total workplace satisfaction — and efficiency. Oil rubbed bronze Square hardware and Bella five-piece door and drawer faces give this masterpiece a transitional aesthetic.
One would think that a car should be parked in the garage, but sometimes there is so much junk that the family van cannot even fit in its rightful place. For people with this problem, an organization system is a must-have. This design is an example of how all of those tools, toys, sports equiptment, auto parts, and more can be stored properly and eliminate dreadful clutter. With a colossal cabinet section as well as smaller cabinets, a set of drawers, and counterspace that can be used as a workshop desk, this unit is a solution to the chaos a garage may possibly ensue.
Bike rides are fun, freeing, and great exercise. When each member of the family has their own bike, putting them away can be a pain and nearly impossible for them to not take up valuable room in the garage. This bike rack design is the perfect solution to safely and securely hanging multiple bikes and hangs them vertically in order to conserve a great deal of space. Many other bike racks hang from the ceiling, which makes it very inconvenient to grab your bike and go. This system proves otherwise.
Wouldn't it be great if laundry could seem less like a chore? This custom laundry room makes great strides in that direction by combining elegant textures and finishes into a room that's enjoyable to be in. Spacious, with a traditional style yet modern aesthetic, this laundry incorporates custom storage with plenty of hanging and folding space. The unit fits tightly against the wall joining at the corner of the room allowing maximum organization.
In this laundry room one can see that this is not your ordinary laundry room. It is a magnificent combination of deluxe features that make the experience more than tolerable. The double hanging rods, commodious cabinets, and counterspace offer valuable organizational space not commonly provided by standard units. The convenience of the rods enable a head start for putting clothes on hangers before bringing them upstairs. Moreover, the counterspace is perfect for placing laundry baskets and folding clothes. Lastly, the cabinets are homes for detergent and other hazardous chemicals.
This design is simple and straight to the point when it comes to providing just the right amount of space to make doing laundry comfortable. The compact unit merges with the tops of the washer and dryer and creates ideal space to place baskets, set down detergent, and organize and fold clothing. The overhead cabinets can be used to keep chemicals out of harms way and keep the room uncrowded and squeaky clean.
In this extension of the laundry room, extra belongings can be stored. Clothes and shoes that are worn less offten or old meaningful garments that take up valuable closet space can be organized here. Laundry rooms are frequently in cold, dark basements and this design is light and brightens the area.
This beautiful and considerate design is very helpful for a reluctant chore. The washer fits into a compartment which leaves plenty of counterspace for folding clothes or placing laundry baskets. There is also a sink for hand washing and cabinets to store hazardous cleaning products. There is enough space for cute decorations on the counter or on the walls.
Who could not love this design? It is fun, fresh, modern, artistic, and expressive. At first glance, the holes seem simply like contemporary treatment, but you can look deeper and envision them as bubbles. Behind these closed doors are a washing machine and dryer after all. How creative!
This custom laundry room cabinetry brings the spaciousness of a Laundromat, but steers clear of a noisy and industrious feel, and rather elegant aesthetic for a comforting environment. The white organization system with brushed chrome Emerald handles is an bright and classic look to truly add sophistication and charm into this area of the home.
Closets Magazine interviewed three award winning designers, including Sue Tinker of Closet Works. The designers were asked to share their perspectives on how to balance the art of design versus the business of design. All three were participants on the "Designer Dialogue" panel during the 2018 Cabinets & Closets Conference. Read Article >
Lakeshore Living Magazine interviewed Sue Tinker for her expert advice and pointers on the best closet design strategies, especially how to "Maximize Your Space". In their words, this article is about Nine essential tips for handling closet chaos, bringing in organization and keeping the clutter at bay. In your home, do closets tend to be afterthought areas? Perhaps they're the spaces that don't receive a lot of aesthetic attention and are simply places to hang clothes or store rarely-used items. Remedy that through these nine tips in which experts weigh in, giving your closets some much needed attention.
Read Article >
National Top Shelf Award judge, closet design trainer, author and industry veteran Denise Butchko interviewed ten of the world's premier closet designers who are designing at the top of the game — including Closet Works' own Sue Tinker. In Denise's words, Seeing what others in your field are doing is always interesting. You find common ground. Or you find inspiration. Or maybe you see a solution to a problem you've had for years. And then there's just the fact that, when it comes to the field of closet design, it's just plain fun to gain insight into a colleagues design process.
Check out the insights into this industry with this fun, perceptive article featured in the December 27, 2017 issue of Woodworking Network Magazine. Read Article >