Recently we were at the new Firefly store in Venice when our friend commented on how much she liked the solid, simple shelves they were using for a display. She was surprised to hear where they were from and even more surprised to hear the price:
Great, Simple, Affordable Shelves
Giving the Expedit Systema run for its money is the Norrebo Shelf System from Ikea. The one pictured is $250 (only $50 more than the Expedit of the same size) and the smaller one below is $170.
Not only is the design simple but the natural wood looks modern and somehow, expensive. The shelves are solid enough to stand on their own and don't wiggle around even with heavy books on them. Use them to divide a space or to create a private nook. The lower version could make an excellent under-a-window storage system or extra counter top in the kitchen.
Comments (12)
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i think it looks great in the store, but not so much for my home.
The corners is what makes it look good. The contrasting jointing on the corners.
Are the solid wood?
view jmorey's profile
They are solid wood and can easily be painted.
view Monica's profile
I like!
If only there was an Ikea store in Kansas City!!!
Shipping an item here is just too expensive. Maybe when gas gets cheaper, I'll drive to Chicago for the weekend and pass by an Ikea store...
(It'll be more like going to the store and pass by chicago for the weekend.)
view cojaclynsy's profile
We have these in our home and use them for media storage and photo/pottery displays - they're great, super sturdy and provide a lot of storage without a heavy appearance.
view renee c.f.'s profile
I agree with renee c.f.- we have them in our house and love them. We fill them with books and they're super sturdy.
view JetKatDesign's profile
These shelves rock! We use ours for my boyfriends gigantic record collection. And they look great and are very easy to break down and reassemble for a move.
view NathalieW's profile
As they're lacquered, they can't be all THAT easily painted.
As a room divider, I'd be a little wary, living in earthquake land. The Ikea site suggests that the safety strap be used.
view Palmetto's profile
haha. I have a friend who has a set of these in his bedroom. He has all of his clothes neatly folded and laid out on them. He has no dresser or closet, so *all* of his clothes are on them, underwear and all.
When his girlfriend moved in he had to make space somewhere that wasn't exposed for her clothes because she refused to "display" them as in a store.
view C-U CoopLiving's profile
C-U-
That's incredible and awesome. I knew a girl in college that made a display (almost like a store window) of all of her clothes in her loft. It was incredible. It made you want to make origami out of your underwear....it also made you want to buy prettier underwear...
view laure's profile
The unit pictured is $349 in Canada, according to the Ikea website. That seems like a big gap!
view luna's profile
Oops, my mistake - that particular unit is actually $399 here. Ouch. Yawning gap, more like it.
view luna's profile
I have the lower version of this shelf which a bought a few years ago. I love it ESP with the book display boxes and large baskets which have come in handy now that I have a little one! It surrvived the uhaul ride up from Miami and still looks brand new!
Ps the norrebo benches are great and provide tons of hidden storage. Bravo Ikea!
view rbartimmo's profile