This is an easy project we did for my mom last fall. She has a kitchen pantry that is approximately 2ft. by 4ft., with the door opening on the 4ft. wide side. The shelves that were originally installed went the full 4ft. across the pantry, but they were also very deep. Since the door was only about 2ft. wide, this left each side, the rear, and especially the back corners of each shelf very difficult to access. Light was also kept from reaching the back of the pantry, adding to the visibility problems.

The deep shelf at the top of the doorway also provided an extra obstacle when trying to make use of any space in the upper level of the pantry. Large items would not fit between the top of the doorway and the shelf.

Bi-fold Door Shelves

We ran across a low budget living room makeover article on HGTV.com the other day, and found this idea for great looking, inexpensive bookshelves.

The homeowners used several sets of salvaged bi-fold closet doors, to work as the back and the sides of the bookcase. They added lumber to form the top, bottom, and shelves. Then they added crown molding to the front and sides for accents, and placed them on both sides of the picture window.

Elastic Bookshelf

Just when you think, "What will they come up with next?"...you get something like this. Here is an elastic bookshelf. Made by stretching band of elastic material across two pegs on a wall. Items can be stuck between the top and bottom section. Boxes are also shown in the band, then items placed inside the box.

We don't know the most practical use for something like this, but Arianna Vivenzioit has definitely provided a brand new take on an age old storage dilemma.

Hook and Mail Panels

UtiliTILE by Thout Design is a solid wood storage system that mounts to the wall, allowing various modular plates to attach to it, each providing a unique purpose.

Some panels provide flip out shelves for mail on pocket items, small hooks for coats or bags, and smaller shelves for spices or fruits. When not in use, the hooks and shelves can be flipped up flush with the tile. One tile is can be removed from the system to provide a small TV try to fit on your lap when eating. It attaches to the wall by magnets. Other panels provide storage for kitchen silverware, mirrors, or lighting for the surrounding area.

The Piola Wall Bookcase by nobody & co presents an artistic take on conventional book shelves.

Piola Bookcase

Large square pegs poke out perendicularly from the back, each level offset from the one above and below it, provides an interesting display for large illustrated books, such as coffee table and cookbooks.

Here is a hanging shelf setup that was on display at the 2005 Abitare il Tempo floor show.

Flying V Shelves

We don't know much about the actual shelves, but they look like a modern, metal design, suspended by 4 small cables. They could be used by themselves, or several in a row to create a room divider. They could even be hung near the celing to produce some convenient overhead storage.

These wouldn't fit everyone's decor, but there are a lot of ways this concept might work in differnet situations.

Here is another entry that we found while looking through TreeHugger.com recently. The product was submitted to an exhibition by Lola Sheppard and Mason White of Lateral Architecture.

Lateral Felt Shelves

The product is a lateral shelf, made by sewing strips of industrial grade felt together at different intervals. Then the entire piece can be hung in a closet, or from a ceiling to make a room divider. Each pocket in the divider expands as things are put in, or contract as it's taken out. Multiple units can be connected together at the ends by convenient velcro.

Book Shelf

Here is an interesting concept. The resident artist of ThisIntoThat.com has taken old, outdated books and turned them into something artistic and useful. After receiving good reviews from the original bookcase he constructed this way, he felt he might be onto something. He has continued to collect books and build shelves for his own use, for sale, and custom creations for particular individuals.

Strip Shelf

Popular Architecture has developed this shelving system to be not only strong and easy to install, but also friendly to the environment, by using 75% sawdust in it's construction. The truss design adds considerable strength to the shelf and provides a unique modern look to a nomrally mundane shelf. The final result is a light and versatile product that is sure to get attention, and still provide a useful service.

Modular Interlocking Shelves

Once again we were surfing TreeHugger.com and ran across another new shelving system. This one contains many pieces that interlock to form shelves of a variety of shapes and sizes. These shelves are available from Hutingen and De Hoop, and can be placed next to a wall, or used as a partial room divider.

We haven't seen these shelves in the flesh, so it's hard to determine how practical they actually are. But in the world of storage, any shelf is a good shelf.