Dept. of Storage. We have been looking for a local installer of RAKKS shelving for awhile, so we were pleased to discover the Shelf Shop via a reader tip.
Founded in 1972, by Allan and Bea Tillis, the Shelf Shop continues to be a family run business (now Bob Lawton and daughter Hilary are in charge) specializing in tension mounted shelving systems. They sell a wide assortment of wall mounted shelving and veneers. You can do it yourself or they will install. (Thanks, Lotswife!) MGR
Lotswife says: Shelf Shop on the upper east side has to be one of my favorite shops. They carry the full line of RAKKS shelves which are basically tension poles that hold up best with lots of weight on them. They're absolutely perfect for rental living as they're portable, easy to put together, and require NO hammering, screwing, or otherwise messing with walls.
Also, the gentleman at the Shelf Shop really made me feel good about my purchase. This is no chain operation, just a simple pop shop.
AT Readers comment and vote:
| Location: |
1295 First Avenue (70th street)
New York,
NY
10021
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| Phone: |
212.988.9800
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| Website: | shelfshop.com/index.html |
| Categories: | bookcases & shelves |
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© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Several years ago I purchased additional pieces from this shop for the Rakks shelving I have in my apartment. Although I didn't have them install it for me they were very helpful. I may be reconfiguring soon and plan to stop by the shop again for additional parts.
Love my shelf-shop shelves. I rent a tiny studio with high celings and all that wasted vertical space drove me nuts. But these shelves filled it -- affordably and portably.
Tension-mounting--the magic words to me lately(though it sounds likes the title of a bodice ripper)! Maybe they can help me and my Cado system. Great thing to know about, anyway, because I'm a fan of wall systems.
a friend just suggested www.issdesigns.com
anyone have comments?
JK--
I looked at the issdesigns Web site and like their products very much. I think their systems are far more likely to go with different decor styles as they don't have that "mid-century" feel.
Question to all--
Does anyone have any suggestions for either very streamlined or very formal shelves?
Maybe it's the absolutely horrendous issdesigns site, but I think the rakks systems look nicer and more likely to go with different decors. Just my opinion, though.
I live near the Shelf Shop & have stopped in several times as I was trying to decide what to do with my space. The great thing you may not realize about Shelf Shop is that they custom-make furniture to be used in the RAKKS system. The upper and lower cabinets you see in the image above, desktops, everything that is not part of the RAKKS standard fittings, is custom-made by Shelf Shop and available in a myriad of finishes. I opened some of the drawers, the quality is very good. It's real cabinetry, not stuff you have to assemble yourself with some weird tool. They'll do anything you dream up, including odd configuration around corners, etc. - just look at the photos they have there of real clients' designs. I asked them if they could make some kind of rolling platform for under the desk and also a tall cabinet (both ideas not in their standard repertoire) and they said, "Sure! Just give us the measurements!" The staff is so helpful & knowledgable, you'll have a great experience working with them.
hi-
i am looking for a colorful shelf for a livign room - its for my apartment which i rent. next to a big-screen tv. i'd like something aesthetically pleasing and also colorful. my furniture is sand-colored plush couches on a beige carpeting. the coffee table is a dark wood with glass top.
i'd like to put books, pictures, ect on the shelf and have it stand out-something not squared off, since it'll be the focal point of the room.
any suggestions?
I *adore* my George Nelson shelves. And the service is fabulous. Even though I'm way up in Boston, they are consistently helpful. When I moved, they helped me figure out what new parts I needed--and I got to reuse my shelves, which had been custom-made for my old house. I would send *anyone* here.
20-some years ago we bought a Shelf Shop system for an apartment in Manhattan. We moved three times after than each time to a house with lower ceilings, each time we shortened the poles to the appropriate height. Now we are moving to a Victorian in Cambridge and we need to get new taller poles. We look forward to ordering some as soon as we get settled in our new home! We love our system and are delighted to find the Shelf Shop via the net.