Page 94 - Homes & Antiques (February 2020)

CLEAN LIVING
Bring classic design into your
bedroom with the compact String
Pocket system. Punctuate collections
of books with small ornaments and
those clean, uncluttered lines will
keep even the smallest chamber
feeling spacious.

3

Ways to

BREATHING Style
SPACE
The living room is a
tricky cove when it
comes to storage –
you never want it to
dominate, yet there are
so many things you’d
like to have to hand.
This combination of ORDERED THINKING
shelving and cabinets If a cluttered desk is the sign of a
can swallow your cluttered mind, find a little clarity by
choicest selections introducing String to your workspace.
of books, vinyl and No matter the number of tools in
sculpture, all the while your particular trade, the modular
not compromising that system can keep them within reach
sense of space. and neat and orderly.

Buying advice Vintage String systems

hanks to its simplicity of design and Weight is another consideration. ‘The Peter recommends Swedish second-
the plethora of imitations, identifying shelves were extremely light,’ says Peter, hand retail website Blocket (blocket.
T authentically vintage String systems ‘because they’d construct them with layers se) as a good place to look for vintage
isn’t always straightforward. Still, there of veneer over honeycomb paper. It systems, and there are also fine selections
are some strong pointers. Original String was extremely stiff – even though they at Pamono (pamono.co.uk) and Vinterior
panels were almost exclusively black or were very light, you could load them (vinterior.co). What should you expect
white, with the latter prone to yellowing. up heavily.’ to pay? Well, how big is your piece of
They were also dipped in a plastic Other indicators are rather more String? Modularity means prices vary but,
liable to peel – for that reason, modern prosaic. ‘On some old shelves you’ll see as a guide, £400 will get you a good-
examples are powder-coated instead. a sticker that says ‘patent pending’ and a condition 1950s combination of ladders,
The shelves can also be revealing, says list of countries: Belgian Congo, Canada, two shelves and a cabinet, while £100
Peter Erlandsson. ‘Today, we use MDF; on for example. Regarding the earliest should be enough for a couple of 1970s
older String shelves, the wood is mostly examples, for the first year or so it was not shelves and ladders. If you’re looking for
mahogany or teak. We’ve produced some called the String shelf, but BFB – Bonnier something more substantial, six ladders
teak shelving in a small Pocket version, but Folkbibliotek, or Bonnier Public Library. and around 20 shelves from the 1960s
that size didn’t exist in the old days.’ A really old shelf will have a BFB sticker.’ will be close to £2,500.

94 Homes & Antiques February 2020