They may harken back to grammar school days, but there's a reason cubes (also known as cubbies) are invading our homes: open modular storage is highly functional.
Cubby systems for home use come at all price points and many now include doors, so if you like your belongings outta sight, you've still got options.
Here's a starter list of six; as always, please add to it if you know of other good sources and systems.
• Hoot Judkins' Pine Cubes, $59.88 apiece (3 cube-unit)
• Stumasa's LP Cubes
• Brookstones' Kids Stackable Cubbies, $79.95 - $149.95
• Cubits, $178 for a basic kit
I love this look. I also like the bookcases sort of in this style, like West Elm's rolling storage
http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf075&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1FRNSTO&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1FRNSTO
view Shannon in SF's profile
I recently redid the tutoring center at the university where I work, and we used Ikea's small Expedit shelves mounted on casters as room dividers/storage. Because they're on casters we can easily move them around when we want to reconfigure the room for an event. They're not modular cubes, but if you like arrangement they come in they're very inexpensive and sturdy. Since they're finished on all sides you can orient them in any way you want, and they're LOTS cheaper than West Elm's.
view JennyinATL's profile
I have an big Expedit and love it, but I had so much trouble putting it together (by myself) I might just leave it in my apartment when I move next summer. There's no way it'll survive the move!
view Eve in Hochelaga's profile
Some more options:
Cubo modular storage at Topdeq:
http://www.topdeq.com/topdeq/product.do?catid=us_75&prodid=pp_CUBIC
Modular Steel Cubes from The Container Store:
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/index.jhtml;?CATID=13373
The Infinity Storage System at M2L:
http://www.m2lcollection.com/flexform/infinity.html
Reclaimed Railroad Tie Cubes at VivaTerra
http://www.vivaterra.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main?complex_id_in=482007.484184.919994.1344765.page
view Jeri Dansky's profile