4 Beds for the Storage-Challenged

Combining beds and storage is a common technique - and very useful in small spaces. Many beds have built-in drawers, and others just allow you to slide storage boxes underneath. But some beds provide storage with particular style.

1. I love the picture of the Platone Bunk Bed shown above. Not only does this incorporate storage - it always illustrates the small-space principle of "making good use of wall space." [via Babygadget]

2. Crate Designs provides the mix-and-match components to create a whole collection of space-saving beds, with under-bed storage and/or a trundle bed.



3. The VIA bed isn't available quite yet, but looks like it will be another fun option. [via Apartment Therapy: Nursery] Update on September 2, 2009: The bed has now been available for some time.



4. And this built-in daybed from Woodshanti is made from responsibly-harvested lumber.

How Do I Store the Strainer? Flat!

Back in January I wrote about collapsible kitchen products - useful for those with limited kitchen storage space.

Well, add one more to the list - this strainer made from silicone (with a stainless steel handle), designed by designtrip and manufactured by SiliconeZone.

And Crate&Barrel also has a collapsible silicone strainer - without the jazzy colors, though. Update on May 26, 2010: Crate & Barrel no longer has a collapsible strainer - but it does have a collapsible funnel.


[designtrip strainer via Designspotter]

Kitchen Duo: Collapsible Products & Food Storage Alternatives

Feng Shui practitioner extraordinaire Shannon Del Vecchio pointed me to a variety of collapsible kitchen products that can save you space: collapsible food containers, funnels and strainers, and measuring cups. Update on May 26, 2010: The site that had these items no longer shows them - but take a look at this more recent post for some collapsible kitchen products.

Along with the Rubbermaid collapsible food storage containers, some other interesting plastic food storage products are:
- The Trouvé products, which deal with the every-present lid issue
- The SmartSpin system (alert: video with annoying soundtrack starts up when you enter this web site)

However, as Shannon and I agree, there are some possible health issues related to plastic storage, as explained in a newsletter (PDF file) published by the University of Michigan's Housing Sustainability Program.

And Rolf Halden of Johns Hopkins says, "If you are cooking with plastics or using plastic utensils, the best thing to do is to follow the directions and only use plastics that are specifically meant for cooking. Inert containers are best, for example heat-resistant glass, ceramics and good old stainless steel."

So if you want to investigate storage options other than plastics, consider:

- Glass from Pyrex, Anchor Hocking, or Frigoverre, among others

- Stainless steel

- Ceramics/stoneware


[Modified on July 25, 2007 and May 20, 2009 to list different sample products as new ones became available and others disappeared.]

Under Cabinet Cookbook Holder

Real Simple directed me to this under cabinet tool - a new one to my list, which includes:

- Under cabinet bread box. Update on Dec. 30, 2009: This doesn't seem to be available any more.
- Under cabinet cutting board. Update on Dec. 30, 2009: I'm not finding this one any more, either.
- Under cabinet knife block
- Under cabinet spice rack (plastic)
- Under cabinet spice rack (stainless steel)

Update on Dec. 30, 2009: I'm not seeing either of the pull-down spice racks any more, but I am seeing the Magic Spicer, a magnetic under-counter spice rack.