The Storage Book
by Cynthia Inions
The Lyons Press, 2001
Reviewed by Lynda Twardowski
Storage space, for urban dwellers, has long been the Holy Grail: We've heard of it, yearned for it, often embarked on grueling, citywide quests for it, but have managed to seize nary a 2-by-2-foot-square space of it. (Unless, of course, we count the apartment itself.)
Thankfully, our days of banking the weekly recyclables on the same shelf with the next season's sweaters and three packs of spare light bulbs are over. Cynthia Inions' book is an inventive and inspirational guide certain to motivate even the most unorganized pack rat--no matter how small said rat's home sweet hovel.
Rather than basing The Storage Book on any formulaic approach, the former interiors editor for Marie Claire magazine (UK) dumps the text- heavy "organizational concept" crutch and simply presents eye-catching option after option.
Readers can drool over basic clutter cutters such as weathered trunks or ethnic basket displays, or advance to more inventive offerings such as herb holders (plastic bags with sleek, airtight clips hung horizontally along a kitchen wall); television stands (a fork-lift device); or moveable display racks (Shaker-style hanging shelves).
Tastier yet, 250-plus ideas for stylish storage translate to something for all budgets. Rare pieces such as the antique Japanese mizuya, "once a silent witness to formal tea ceremonies," and the many eclectic and customized items are certain to be pricey, but The Storage Book dives to the bargain basement as well, going so far as to suggest brown paper sacks as "cheap and cheerful" homes for underwear, sweaters, and T-shirts. For the wallet that falls somewhere in between, The Storage Book makes room for such affordable options as curtained shelving units, funky shopping carts (a utility room must for storing bathroom and laundry supplies), and sandblasted glass partitions.
More choices than your average home catalog? You've got it. In most respects, this format falls in the reader's favor. The sheer variety of styles--classic farmhouse, African, contemporary, sleek minimalist and period decor--and spaces (kitchen, bath, bedroom, hall, closet, home office and yard) promise a storage option to suit every taste. The photography, courtesy of mood and light master Simon Upton, is engaging. And the small blurbs of text describing the aesthetics of each piece flesh out the featured eye candy.
Unfortunately, the flaunting of these many unique wares builds to a crescendo with which any credit-card wielding reader will find fault: tracking many of these items proves difficult, and at times, impossible. One would expect that with older treasures like the swim-trunk cages cast from a public pool locker room, but for the modern, manufactured storage pieces, readers won't fare far better.
Like a dictionary organized by definition instead of by word, the mire that is the credit page highlights the names of the suppliers, then in between, scatters the out-of-sequence page numbers and limited item descriptions in a dizzying pile of text. Seekers of some items get a break on the accompanying page, where a few thumbnail photos are paired with manufacturer, designer, or supplier information; however, contact information (found in the directory...30 pages back!) isn't available for all those listed. Stranger still, the contact information is available for some suppliers, such as Ikea, whose pieces aren't noted in the book.
Readers residing in the United States also might be disappointed to learn that many of the designers and suppliers behind some of the stunning goods are based in the United Kingdom--no fault of the author's. The book was originally published in Great Britain in 1997; Lyon's Press brought it stateside in 2000.
In any case, banishing The Storage Book to your local used book bin for these small inconveniences would be a major oversight. Where the book falls short for uninspired consumers, it goes above and beyond the call of duty for inspired creators thanks to a 15-page spread of clever and relatively simple do-it-yourself projects. Fabric-covered storage boxes; under-bed rollaway platforms (to hide extra linens, out-of-season clothes, etc.); flatware rolls; and shower curtain pockets (to hold toiletries) are just a few of the functional and fabulous ideas for which there are instructions.
If you're not handy, no problem: Eight pages of planning basics for kitchen and closet design, as well as safety and storage advice await, complete with all you ever wanted to know about the strategies behind mounting brackets, wall anchors, and mirror plates.
Keeping in mind that The Storage Book is intended as a tool for storage option inspiration--not replication--you'll undoubtedly find it a worthy addition to your own urban dwelling...provided you create a clever and stylish place to store it, of course.
