Wow factor. We were getting ready to do our Top 10 adjustable shelving list and thinking that Vitsoe would be at the top, when we got a call from a friend who just joined Atlas Industries. He directed us to pics of their AS4 shelving system and we were floored. How come we haven't seen this before?
Combining the strength and thin lines of steel with the warmth and texture of wood, the AS4 shelving is the perfect solution to a modern apartment without going all hi-tech and industrial. Like the Vitsoe, it is totally adjustable and expandable from bookshelves to workspace to storage.
Featured in Dwell Magazine this month (we missed it), Karen Rinaldi agrees:
These are perfect bookshelves. They're beautiful. They have that old library feel but look modern. They don't scream "look at me". They look like they're there to hold the books. These are the ones I'd be buying. I love that you can integrate them with a desk and drawers-it's an ingenious system.
Prices? Not cheap. The office wall above is $4465 and the bookcase is $3360. This is what you call "aspirational."
FYI: they also make a number of other beautiful things pictured below.
(Thanks, Ron!) MGR
I LOVE the fact that this system rests the weight on the floor supports, and does not rely on stud-mounting, which makes it much more flexible and portable.
I love the first picture. These mounted shelves incorporate *wood* where most are metal or plastic veneer. The wood looks warm and beautiful. Also, notice the pullout filing system on the bottom shelf. That is such a perfect use of that space since books that low are typically out of view, a positive for files, where you need to be overhead anyway.
Practical, minimal, warm, perfect.
The shelving is amazing. I'd love them, although what I'd love even more is an apartment with a wall large enough to put them on.
The bed is pretty fantastic as well.
Plus, the people at Atlas are extremely nice. I talked with them after the Dwell article came out and got a tour of their workshop....good group of guys.
Everyone my uncle here will hook you up with the coolest modern gorgeous furniture. Oh and if your wondering who (uncle) is he is the manager of this woodworking company...My uncle also is a great musician. I think it sooths his mind and helps him make such cool stuff. His dog thor loves helping him that goes for speedy the cat too. So call him he will show you more of is awsome work
Love Simone
Nice.
But where can we get nice affordable shelving?
If you like a more industrial aesthetic look at EZ Shelving for HEAVY DUTY metal shelving. Comes in painted, galvanized, stainless and aluminum. Used it in our office www.lamidesign.com/images/workimages/9977/9977_02.JPG
E-Z SHELVING SYSTEMS, INC.
5538 Merriam Drive
Merriam, Kansas 66203-2548
Toll Free (800) 353-1331
TEL (913) 384-1331
FAX (913) 384-3399
E-mail ezshelving@everestkc.net
It's going to look like I own stock in the company (I don't), but really do check out www.rakks.com. Almost like a Vitsoe substitute, at a very much lower price point.
I believe Atlas is slightly more expensive than Vitsoe (thier poles/mounting things are cheaper, but their components were quite a bit higher when I looked at them, plus they have less of a selection) I've tried looking into Rakks, but I am not in New York (so I can't visit them), plus their site is awful, and has nearly no useful information.
patrick, Vitsoe also has wall and floor mounting, as well as floor ceiling mounting.
I found a great option in Dwell Magazine called www.issdesigns.com from Infinite Storage Solutions. They helped me design a pole mounted system with cherry cabinets and shelves that fit my budget. The designers will work with your measurements and come up with a customized design. My wall unit looks this one posted on their site at www.issdesigns.com/images/Wall%20unit/base%20cabinets%20front.JPG
I too have worked with John at ISS. Precisely because
the Vitsoe shelves were so expensive and I longed for a cheaper alternative, I went trolling around and found
ISS at Dwell. John helped us design walls of bookshelves that put no weight on the walls at all, (important if you live in NYC pre-war apartment),hanging instead from beautiful metal pressure poles. I can recommed someone to put up the shelves to anyone needs it. The ISS system is really elegant , beautiful and relatively affordable.
I absolutely love Dieter Rams' 606 Universal Shelving System for Vitsoe, and can't help but feel that all these other "similar" options are nothing but cheaper knock-off's. It is worth remembering that Vitsoe will always keep in touch with their customers and help even 10 years after you bought it if you need advice on moving the system or want to have your bits re-designed into another composition. Or just the fact that you can buy additional shelves for an existing system at any stage, and it will fit perfectly (colour/size), I doubt many other manufacturers offer that continuity...
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