Joe Average O.B.C. M.C.G. is a beloved Vancouver-based artist who has earned recognition across the globe for both his art and his activism. Many Canadians would recall his artwork which appeared on the 2019 Equality coin, a special edition “loonie” marking the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada.
“Everyone has heard of California Closets,” said Average. “I was in need of a new wardrobe for my home office, and in conversation with a good friend, California Closets and the incredible custom work they do got brought up. We spent a bit of time together going through the website and then called them to explain what I was looking for. It quickly snowballed into more than just a single wardrobe! They helped me revamp seven spaces in my home and created bespoke housing solutions to organize a lot of my artwork.”
“It was an honour when Joe reached out to us and a privilege to work with him,” said Matthew Jolly, California Closets Designer. “He is an incredibly talented artist and a very kind person, who has given much to the LQBTQ+ community. It was a special project because Joe had a sense of what he was looking for, and through a visit to our South Granville showroom, the direction became clear. Joe wanted two custom closets in his office, but he also wanted a linen closet, a number of storage solutions, a place to house his artwork and two new pantries. Most people don’t know that we do more than closets - we offer custom solutions for almost every space, and this project really showcased all of our expertise.”
Average gave Designer Matthew Jolly seven words of inspiration to guide the process: opulent, over the top, grand, masculine, dark, elegant and sophisticated. “He delivered on every single one,” said Average. “Working with Matthew and the team at California Closets was a wonderful experience. They asked a lot of questions in the beginning so that they could get a grasp for exactly what I wanted. They were also patient, polite, and most importantly, they were really good listeners. I felt comfortable with them straight off the bat and trusted that they would deliver.”
One of the custom closets designed for Average’s office included a special compartment for his 20-pair John Fluevog shoe collection, complete with integrated lighting. “Joe and I bonded over his shoe collection - the shoes themselves are a work of art, and I knew we needed to make them stand out, while at the same time making sure they were easily accessible for him. Form and function,” said Jolly. Another element to Joe’s office was a hidden ironing board. “The ironing board is my favourite part of the whole project, but I could not be happier with the entire project as a whole,” said Average. “My penthouse actually looks like a fancy penthouse now, and that’s all thanks to California Closets.”
The majority of manufacturing and production at California Closets BC happens right in the province, which speeds up production and delivery times for clients. In addition to custom closets, California Closets BC designs entertainment centres, garage storage systems, murphy beds, mudrooms and entryways, libraries, bookshelves, and more.
If you are looking for a custom design to fit your space, personal style and budget, contact California Closets at www.californiaclosets.ca. Delivery, installation and limited lifetime warranty are available for Metro Vancouver (between Whistler to Chilliwack) and throughout the Okanagan (from Vernon to Penticton).