Julianne Moore Built Her Own $130 IKEA Shelf — and It Looks Like It Cost Thousands

Stars, they really are just like us! At least, Julianne Moore is. In a clip from the venerated actor’s house tour for Architectural Digest, she takes special care to call out one seemingly unassuming piece in her glamorous kitchen: a simple metal shelving unit full of dishes. “This I’m really proud of, ‘cause this is IKEA,” Moore shared. The best part? She proudly proclaimed that she actually built it herself. Be still my beating heart! 

Moore is proving that not every piece in your home has to be so expensive; even IKEA can look luxurious in the right context. An organizing staple as simple as this one screams quiet luxury in her gorgeous kitchen. So I set out in search of Moore’s mystery shelving system, and before long, I found it. Introducing the IKEA KOLBJÖRN Shelf, the unlikely style superstar that is perfect for anyone looking to find a home for essentials without eating up too much floor space.

Though Moore’s West Village apartment is indeed quite spacious, like many New Yorkers do, she found herself lacking dedicated storage space in the kitchen. Though she had considered hiring someone to install built-in shelving, according to AD, after spotting this IKEA unit, it was love at first sight. “I needed a piece where I could have my dishes,” Moore said. “I put [this piece] together, and I was like, oh my gosh, the color is perfect. I like the industrial quality it has.” 

The KOLBJÖRN does indeed have an ethereal modern industrial vibe, but its soft rounded edges and light beige color give it an edge of sophistication. It looks right at home in Moore’s gorgeous, designer kitchen. IKEA actually designed this KOLBJÖRN unit as both an indoor and outdoor shelving system, meaning it’s durable and easy to clean, too. At $130, the price is a bit steeper than some of the Swedish retailer’s other shelving units, like the classic HYLLIS at $23. But if you ask me (or Moore!), it’s almost always worth it to spend a little extra for something you truly like looking at. And those rounded edges are indeed one of a kind.

Apparently, Moore isn’t the only IKEA superfan loving their KOLBJÖRN. The product boasts a 4.7-star rating after 122 reviews on the IKEA site — and of all the shoppers singing its praises, it seems no two have the same use for it. From a TV stand, to a potting bench, to the kitchen of Academy Award-winning superstar Julianne Moore, the KOLBJÖRN can do just about anything. “They are sturdy, can store a lot for how much space they take up, and simple to put together,” writes one happy customer. Another adds: “I am using them in my sun porch, but they would be great in lots of rooms and with various design sensibilities. Is warm industrial a thing?” 

I’m not sure whether “warm industrialism” is a thing, in fact; but if not, it’s certainly about to be! So the next time you find yourself on the hunt for some extra sleek storage that works wonders, consider the KOLBJÖRN shelves. And thank you, Julianne Moore, for the recommendation!