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Good Questions: Chromed Steel Shelving?

goodq6-7.jpgDear AT,

Eeek! We planned to fill our brand-new pantry with Williams-Sonoma's chromed steel shelving using wedding registry gift certificates. Now it turns out that Williams-Sonoma has stopped selling those shelves. Any tips on where to get less-than-restaurant-quality shelving, now that we have to use our own hard-earned dollars to buy it?

Liz

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Liz,

We think that the Williams-Sonoma shelving was similar to Metro Shelving, which goes on sale periodically at The Container Store.

InterMetro shelving, which is also similar, is sold online at organize.com and Stacks and Stacks.

The least expensive way, however, is to check out auctions like these on eBay and Craigslist posts like this one and this one.

Other suggestions, readers?

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Comments (20)

I bought shelving like that from Costco some time ago. Very good quality, and far less expensive than at specialty shops.

posted by Pat on 2006-06-07 11:27:08

I used similar shelving to redo my closet.

If your configuration is more complex than a set of straight-fwd shelves, take time to study all of the avail parts and components to make sure you have everything you need.

Even after doing my comprehensive plan, I had to run to the http://www.storables.com/main.htm a few times to get some bits and pieces.

Storables and Container Store often have special sales on these product lines - I saved $75 by waiting for the Storables sale...

posted by JenPDX on 2006-06-07 11:36:18

maybe i don't have very discriminating tastes, but this set from ikea looks similar:

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?cattype=sub&topcategoryId=16198&categoryId=15987&parentCats=16198*16201&storeId=12&catalogId=10103&langId=-1

posted by kate on 2006-06-07 11:41:39

damn, that didn't work too well. try clicking here

posted by kate on 2006-06-07 11:44:40

You should try Home Depot. I think that's where I bought mine.

posted by pdx brooke on 2006-06-07 12:22:19

Once you start going to storage stores, go to several if you can -- they don't all carry the same elements!

Don't be put off by different product names. We had black InterMetro from the Container Store combined with whatever now-defunct Organized Living was calling their equivalent, and it was all interchangeable. I think OL had the one shelf length that CS didn't, as well as some cool accessories that we still have attached to our last remaining bit of industrial-style shelving... which came from Lowe's.

posted by wende in san francisco on 2006-06-07 12:33:56

we bought our pair of shelves at lowes about four years ago and they've held up just fine. they were much cheaper than comparable units at container store, organized living, etc.

posted by a-m on 2006-06-07 12:40:40

I bought Metro Shelving from bigtray.com restaurant supply out of San Francisco. It was pretty affordable-I think I paid about $140 for a 42" set of shelves.

posted by Arin on 2006-06-07 13:06:26

Metro shelving came out of patent a few years ago, which is why you can find it almost everywhere now. The parts and accessories all seem to fit from different places, but the weight that the shelves will hold, and their finishes vary. You should keep the weight limits in mind when deciding where and what to purchase. The Container Store sells both the Commercial Metro line (withstands moisture, holds a lot of weight) and Intermetro, which includes some things like butcher block tops. The Storables and Costco versions are knock-offs. I have stuff from the Container Store, Storables, Costco and a restaurant supply store. Coscto only sells one size and it's huge but a great deal. The accessories at Storables are pretty cool (hooks, bars, hanging baskets, etc), but for the weights I wanted my shelves to hold, the best selection of sizes for the best price were at at restaurant supply store...and I think they were even cheaper then the flimsier shelves at Storables. Um, not that I compulsively compare and contrast before every purchase or anything...

regards,
trillium

posted by trillium on 2006-06-07 14:49:14

I have a basement full of it I would gladly give away....too bad I am in Atlanta.

posted by hdtex on 2006-06-07 19:52:12

I got metal shelves like that at Ikea. They are pretty decent quality, but will rust a bit after a long time in a damp bathroom. They are worth the money I spent.

posted by P on 2006-06-07 21:09:52

The Container Store is way over-priced, by the way.

posted by P on 2006-06-07 21:10:50

trillium, you are a godsend. Thanks for sharing your legwork with us!

posted by Kevin R on 2006-06-08 00:23:58

Oh, one last thing I forgot to mention... the Metro shelves I bought at the restaurant supply store (Boxer NW for pdx people) are actual Metro shelving, and made to withstand damp conditions (like walk-ins). No rust, and you can store a ton of weighty stuff on them. I opted for the cheaper finish, I think it is called Ultrabrite, but you can get chrome too.

regards,
trillium

posted by trillium on 2006-06-08 10:28:39

After trillium's comment about Costco, I remember that's where I bought mine for my basement storage. I have a simple tip that maybe is stupid to bring up, but I used some of the metro shelves to span the space between the two shelving units I bought and that made it seem like I bought 3 separate units.

posted by pdx brooke on 2006-06-08 16:03:33

Best price I found was online at 125west -- you can pick and choose from all the open stock items, including all the little s-hangers and keyboard trays and jibjabs. You can also email a description of what you want, and they'll email you back a quote (prepared by a human being!).

posted by Angela on 2006-06-08 17:58:23

target

posted by samara on 2006-06-09 10:20:21

To hdtex I'm in Atlanta and would be glad to take you up on that offer. Let me know.

posted by Joan on 2006-06-20 09:59:39

Me too, hdtex

posted by kenn on 2007-03-05 06:51:30

When it comes to this shelving, I've tried it all. Metro is the most known and original. Metro specializes in commercial grade shelving for businesses but you can get their domestic line (InterMetro) at The Container Store and stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond & Linens & Things carried the InterMetro boxed kits a few years back. Costco, Lowes, Target, Orchard and some Home Depot stores also have similar boxed kits. None of which maintain the same weight capacity of InterMetro or the Storables brand. Although Organized Living is gone, their version (the OL shelving) can sometimes be found posted on craigslist and is compatable with both Storables Industrial Post & Shelves as well as InterMetro.

Your choices at The Container Store are limited in comparison to what you will find at Storables and just to note on one of the above postings, the weight capacity between the Storables system and InterMetro is identical, nothing flimsy about either. One negetive point about the Metro system is that if you want the chrome finish you have to go one grade up with the more costly Metro system (commercial grade) and the cost pretty much doubles. InterMetro is available in a brushed metallic finish, white, & black but not chrome. The Storables system has more choices in shelf styles & sizes & is available in chrome, black & white. It is also more competitively priced.

I shop both stores frequently and have found Storables choices a cut above The Container Store and their staff to be incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and genuine.

posted by Krehm on 2007-03-24 03:21:33