OK, so there I was musing on the subject of shelving and storage – it was a slow day Рand my thoughts turned to how boring the majority of options available are. Sure, there are many finishes to choose from, but the basic principles remain the same.

Shelves are lengths of wood, metal or whatever, held up by brackets attached to the wall by several screws. Invisible fixings and racking systems add a touch of excitement to the deal but that is about it. Books, in particular remain destined to be shunted along endless boring rows of variations on the standard bookshelf, many never to be read again.

Garages, garden stores and workshops are festooned with the legacy of, admittedly highly satisfactory, sessions whacking 6 inch nails into any available wall space at varying heights. From these, everything from spanners to saws, spades and screwdrivers hang limply like some still life piece eulogising the pleasure & pain of DIY.

Add to that the ever present collection of mowers, bicycles and golf clubs littering the floor space and you can see why the thought of totally new and massively stylish approach to an age old problem held such appeal.

How about bookshelves that are made from the books themselves? Simple racking systems, purpose built for the job in hand? Magazine racks that are actually quite nice to look at and coat hooks that are in themselves both visually stunning and brilliantly efficient too?

Now examples of these can be found, like the Flip espresso wooden coat hook – coat hooks concealed in luxurious dark wooden frames that simply flip our when needed. The superbly named Black and Blum ringring magazine rack and the ingenious Umbra Flybrary Bookshelf, a shelf that uses books themselves to make additional shelf space! These products from Umbra, feature work from many of the most innovative designers. They have taken the business of storing stacking and displaying to a totally new level where the storage units themselves are visually exciting in their own right.

Taking this theme on, even in garage storage, innovative design means the days of multiple fixings are over. Scott Brothers wall mounted hanging brackets ensure that whether it is for a spade or bike, their ingenious hangers usually require just a couple of screws for a safe and lasting solution. Even wheelbarrows can be hung on the wall thanks to their Barrow Boy

The common theme with all of these products is simplicity, meaning that anyone capable of handling a drill and screwdriver can achieve excellent results. Throw in truly eye catching design and you have a fabulous range of innovative products that not only solve everyday storage problems but also add a touch of style to any home or office. Say goodbye to boring shelves, this is now a sexy subject – honestly! Oh, and just think of all those nails you will be saving – shame about the hammering though, it really is very therapeutic.

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