Over the past few years, we've moved three times, a process that's helped to clarify which pieces of furniture are flexible enough to find their niche no matter where we land. The Componibili is one of those easy adapters and, although we've featured it on Apartment Therapy before, we've never actually shown how it adapts.
Designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri in 1968, it's a modular stacking system made from ABS plastic. In addition to being durable and easy to clean, it just looks cool. It's got a mod, Kubrick-esque 2001 kind of vibe. Prices start around $100 for one module.
SHOWN ABOVE
- 1 In our old home, we used a white, 3-comparment Componibili as a bedside table.
- 2 Before that, it was a freestanding sock drawer in our closet.
- 3 Now we use it for cord and gadget storage next to our record player.
- 4 Jack uses his under the kitchen sink. It's also useful in the bathroom.
- 5 In an entryway or hall, a stacked Componibili provides extra storage.
WHERE TO FIND IT
• Smart Furniture
• Kartell
• Unica Home
• Highbrow Furniture
• Hive Modern
Images: Sarah Coffey, Jill Slater, Kartell
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
love it. my only concern: does the plastic stay white or does it yellow or grey with age?
I have one, for a year, and love it. It's so easy, to move or store things. MIne is still white, dont know long term what happens. I would definitely get another, some day.....
We move around a lot too and have had 2 of these in silver. As you've demonstrated, it is a versatile piece to have around. We love ours. Currently we use ours as bedside tables to store the stack of books we're trying to get through. They've also been used in the entryway as a place to drop off keys, mails and coins; in the living room as a home phone holder and next to our sofa as a drink stand.
Polish Chick,
I have had one for about three years now, and the plastic, which is beige, hasn't changed color.
$100 for a piece of plastic. Yes, it looks awesome, but.....
The white ones yellow with age eventually. My MIL has one she bought in the early 70s, and it's parchment color now. But it's sure held up to a lot of use -- almost 40 years.
This looks like a great upgrade from the 3 drawer tupperware bin I currently use for socks and such. It looks like they have doors that slide open. Would all of my socks come tumbling out? Could someone who has one tell me?
Can we say new cat heaven! They would love these!!!
Have the three doors one. White. And I love it.
Kartell produces it also in black, red and silver.
Massi
We have one in our son's room and it's come in really handy for things like stroller rain covers, extra toys, and swaddle blankets. It started life as a bathroom caddy, migrated to our bedroom, then moved over to Fionn's nursery. I love Ikea and Container Store, but this has lasted much longer than anything from either of those places. http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/oh-daleynursery/item/69517
The white ones will start to turn color much faster than the 40 years implied. I can't tell you how fast, but I know that I've seen ones about 15 years old and there's been discoloration. The problem for me was that it was not uniform -- some parts were deeply disolored (to a light yellow-gold), some less so, and some still "white" (if not bright white). Still, they are so versatile, easy to move, and classic, it's hard to argue against them. So what if twenty years from now you'll want to move them to a softly lit spot!
it's made out of ABS so over time regardless of environment, the plastic will yellow. it's unfortunate because they can control that with a simple additive in the plastic during production ... still a beautiful piece and want to purchase one asap.