Roundup: Five Light and Fun Bookshelves

The invisible floating bookshelf and a few of it's cousins have been around for a while now, and whether or not you like the trend, the minimalist quality of this book storage is often appealing. Here are some of our other favorite bookshelves in a similar vein...

• 1 The Lili Lite features a space for books in your reading queue, the book you're currently in the middle of and a built in reading light.

• 2 The Bookshelf-annotation by Lau Design is a simple homage to a quote lifted from the page.

• 3 The Equation Bookshelf from Estudio Breder allows you to prioritize your reading (or tchotchkes) in a mathematical way.

• 4 The Bookrest has room for your current read and even a place to hang your reading glasses.

• 5 The Piniwini Bookshelf gives the appearance of your stack of reading balancing precariously on a peg.

Comments (8)

test

posted by Allicat on October 28th 2009 at 5:14pm
view Allicat's profile

This shelf is awesome I love it.

posted by Lightingboy on October 28th 2009 at 5:43pm
view Lightingboy's profile

its cousins

posted by mirandabee on October 28th 2009 at 6:13pm
view mirandabee's profile

Sorry, but these are all quite terrible!

The "annotation" and the "equation" shelves are hokey designs where the lame visual gag supersedes function.

The "Lili Lite" is an eyesore-- a visually-jarring bunch of diagonals randomly tacked to a wall. Ask yourself WHERE this thing would be useful? (I'm waiting...)

Which spot in the home cries out for a 10" metal shiv (the "bookrest") protruding from a wall? Thanks for the convenient stenciled lettering, too-- in case the user forgets the purpose.

Lastly, please explain why anybody would want to create the illusion of multiple stacks of books precariously balanced upon pegs (the "Piniwini") when they can instead purchase a useful, traditional bookshelf?

I can't believe that those with design degrees actually devote time and energy on this sort of frippery.

posted by shirley-temple-of-doom on October 28th 2009 at 11:58pm
view shirley-temple-of-doom's profile

I on the other hand love them all. A little make believe for an adult world...

posted by TaniaTingel on October 29th 2009 at 6:19am
view TaniaTingel's profile

I love them too! So refreshing to look at! All of them lend an air-like and whimsical ambiance. Great for people who love displaying their books in unconventional ways!

posted by magstermash on October 29th 2009 at 7:11am
view magstermash's profile

Lighten up 'got any blacker' shirley-temple-of-doom. Apt.

They're fun.

And to answer your qn, the Lili-lite would be pretty cool on the wall next to my bed. Sure the built in light probably isn't necessary - but at least it's an interesting idea.

posted by liftytim on October 29th 2009 at 9:18pm
view liftytim's profile

Okay, let's say you put this on the wall next to your bed. Are we to assume you'll be hanging it low, so that you can reach the books from bed? If so, the light is useless-- the diagonal shelves block light from both sides-- is that the "interesting" feature you allude to? It's being mounted at a reachable level would also mean there's no appropriate place for a bedside reading lamp.

Considering that the design's ostensible use is a bookshelf with reading light, it fails rather terribly.

posted by shirley-temple-of-doom on October 30th 2009 at 4:42pm
view shirley-temple-of-doom's profile