apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It looks cool, but it strikes me as being more of a designer scratching post than anything else. All it is missing is the catnip. You can even hide toys!

Having a planter built into a piece that's meant to hold mail seems like a bad idea to me.

This reminds me of one of those cardboard cat scratchers. I like the idea of it...just not crazy about how the cardboard looks.

I'd tear the corregation up on day one...replace that with mahogany!

Cardboard is a surprisingly strong material. I think this is a wonderful idea.

I like it, reusable green materials are always a plus. The plant looks like hair, it's cute! Want this in my hall--never seen anything like it

Too expensive.

Nice shape, overly expensive, hate the cardboard. Corrugated cardboard looks fine when freshly cut, but it bends and dents and wears not well. So when coupled withi a high end elegant shape, like this, it's flaws will soon make the unit look battered.

I don't understand the application. I pick my mail up, I open it and recycle the rest. If its a bill it goes into my monthly bill or to be filed folder. Why would I want this on my entry way wall to stick my mail back into?

"Why would I want this on my entry way wall to stick my mail back into?"

Roommates mail?
Outgoing bills?

I like the concept - but I wish it were multi-ply veneer plywood rather than cardboard.

I got cat scratch fever!

I'm confused like LoriSF about its use for mail, and in addition, the small size of the mail slots is limiting. What happens to larger envelopes or catalogues etc.? They would have to go someplace else so now you have your mail in two places--bah!

Also the planter is cute but you'd have to remove the whole pot to water the plant, which is a pain. And what if your hallway has no light?

I think this is a nice design but not practical.

@Lori
Just because you can't understand an item's application for you, can you really not conceive of it for anyone else? I don't need one of these either, but I once had five roommates, all of whom were totally inept at putting the mail in the same spot each day until I made a sorter with each of our names on it.

This design, however, looks like a contrived student ID project. The reasonings for materials or form sound like they were invented after the design to suit the design choices that were already made, and those design choices succeeded in making this resemble something more along the lines of coat cubbies for a preschool (just imagine those little doors in primary colors). Awkward and arbitrary choices abound here.

This looks like a great idea for a shared apartment; the two mail slots would be an effective way to sort mail between housemates in a visible area (no more mail lost throughout the kitchen and under the couch). While a large flat package wouldn't fit, the slots seem big and sturdy enough for a magazine to be rolled inside, similar to how they are rolled in a typical mailbox. Lastly, the little door for keys and cell phone would simplify my "going out the door" routine every morning.

The icing on the cake is the orange splash of color and the little plant on top. Great job.

Seriously overpriced.

I can see the container at the top being more useful as cup for holding pens, pencils, scissors etc... I would be concerned about water leaking out of the planter and turning the cardboard in to mush.
Also, I think you should consider doing a chalkboard or dry-erase board as other options in addition to the cork and the mirror for the side panel insert. It's a cute design! If only it had a big hook that I can hang my bag on when I come home.

I truly did not understand the application. Now I get it its a mail box, where the postal person puts the mail in and would be used in an apartment complex or multi unit housing in a entry way.

I think it would of been more clear calling it a mail box and showing a mail person putting the mail in not a regular person putting mail into the slot.

I thought it was something you or I one person would have in the hallway of our house to put mail or junk mail back into.

Now that its clear to me. How would this solve the problem of piles of clutter. These are about the same size as standard mailboxes you see in the entryway of apartment buildings.

cute design, I could certainly see this working in an apartment or any hallway really. I also like the green, eco friendly look. I think it could sell well, especially out west where anything sustainable and earthy looking is a hit.

The idea is indeed intriquing in so much as a place to put mail when you arrive home for those that don't file things immediately or need to keep nearby to do later or simply to stash the outgoing mail that's ready to be dropped off at the mailbox.

My mom has a metal grocery bag thingy hanging by the garage door for bills and other mail that needs to go out and she then drops them off at the post office mailboxes when she does errands, this is a similar concept, but meant to be a landing strip type of thing instead.

I immediately caught that upon first glance.

I really like this! Veneer would have been so predictable, and the cardboard gives it a very green look. Although I could not afford one, I appreciate the work that went into designing and building this piece and feel it is worth every penny. Useful and sleek. I especially like the door to hold the cell phone and keys!

LoriSF- the design is meant to be inside the home obviously, why in the world would a mail-man come INSIDE your house to deliver mail?

I love the form, and how small it is. This would be a perfect piece for an entry-way hallway where there is no room for furniture. I don't think the cardboard would wear out as much as people think. It's not something I would be constantly touching or moving.

As for the price, how much do you think a hand made piece is going to run? Honestly it seemed to be in the lower price range considering material & time costs. This isn't something being mass produced at Ikea & you shouldn't expect those prices.

I upon first seeing liked the looks of the item in it's modern simplicity. I'd like to see a dry erase option too and other optionis for the door color such as blue, yellow or perhaps a green or red besides the orange for a lot of people may not like orange at all.

That said, it's a great idea for those who don't have much room for anything but a wall based landing strip and this looks like a nice option.

The plant on top BTW, is a philedendron and I think if it's of a solid piece of aluminum with no seams, should not be an issue of leakage at all and allows for a little bit of greenery but I can also see it being a great spot for pens, pencils etc too. A philedendron can grow where there is little natural light, just as long as it gets watered and and SOME light, even if just artificial from a nearby lamp, it should do fine and they also do well in damp locations such as the bath as well.

This seems very practical and unique. It fills a need for apartments, dorms, small offices. Nice work, Nicole.

I don't understand the point or the benefit of the form or the materials used. The "echo the fragmented convergence of space" explanation sounds like design school speak, not valid rationale to me. This is not one of the strongest entries, in my opinion.

1 for concept
-1 for price
-1 for bs "echo the fragmented space" description
----------
-1 score

Too much form, not enough function.

Not totally impressed: 2 stars. I'd need more space for my stuff.

I think cardboard is the new bamboo. I'm going to have to hit up my local liquor store and stock up on empty boxes before everyone starts selling their leftovers.

Design & utility: nice.

Price: you're outta your mind.

I sense a few useability issues.

I knew that looked familiar! Does anyone remember this post?
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/roundup-american-craft-council-showbaltimore-078296

Kimber - ATDC

$215 for a cardboard mailbox? Puh-lease. I got some rubber bands, popsicle sticks, school glue and a paperclip. I can make you a mailbox for only $214.99.

@sauceykat what in the world do you imagine this to be made out of??? it certainly not entirely cardboard! maybe you should actually give it a look!

Thanks for the link, KimberM, and reminder about this cabinet being in the American Craft Council show in February. I thought it was familiar. I particularly like the combination of the wood and corrugated cardboard. Would make a great statement in an entryway or by a door. I also would find it useful for putting items that I need as I go in and out of the apartment - keys, phone, garage opener, etc. Right now they just get put in a bowl on the counter. So very functional -especially if I could post a reminder to catch my eye on the corkboard version to do an errand, pick up something at store, or an appointment as I head out the door! I agree that it is a unique design - not something mass-produced and assembled from a box at an Ikea!

very practical design,and good looking

I REALLY LIKE THE DESIGN, IT COULD BE MOUNTED ANYWHERE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND ONE SIMILAR TO THIS IN THE MARKETPLACE

I love the design of this piece! Seriously well done!!!

"Its unique geometry, pieced layering, and inherent refraction of light though the cardboard corrugations echo the fragmented convergence of space in a hall or entry..."

Ha....what a stretch. Not particularly attractive either.

The whole thing seems odd - it makes me wonder about the thought process behind the object. I realize it's mounted on the wall correctly, but it looks like it's been turned on it's side. Awkward.

I also find it odd that the mail is sticking out almost horizontally. The proportion is off, to my eye. It seems too thick, or wide, and the planter is almost swallowed up. Fitting something that needs to be watered inside cardboard... not the best idea. (And how many of you need a pen cup at your front door? Presumably your outgoing mail would be addressed and stamped before putting it in the 'outgoing' slot.) I do like the cubby with the door - good spot for keys. (Although if I put my cell phone in there I would never remember to recharge it.)

It looks better as seen in the last photo, with a mirror and hung in a group of four. Great if you want to spend $900.

All that's left is the 'green' angle. I must point out that if being eco-friendly is your goal, there are a million objects you can re/up-cycle to hold incoming and outgoing mail.

three stars obviously!! amazing work as always nicole

Go Nicole!! Woo!

Hi everyone thanks for your feedback!

The rest of my work can be viewed at
www.coroflot.com/nicolerunde

~ Nicole

Very unique