Let's talk Storage!
By: Anne Greenway.

Clever, simple and innovative storage. From built solutions, space planning, even furniture and the basic BOX!

The under utilised room:
Think of the many opportunities a hallway creates - vertical storage, a lineal library or create your own art gallery!
Have you high ceilings? Consider a mezzanine as a solution to store under and provide a new room or space above.
Stairwells offer a large expanse of wall on which to display - and store - some favourite and treasured objects. Can you enclose the area under your stair?
Up-storage: Hooks and racks are best for things on show like pots and pans or even hats, and bags of library books.
Take again the hallway or the rear wall of the kitchen and incorporate a system of hooks that are decorative or elegant. The aim is to get things off the floor.

Consider:
- Generally our wall and ceiling spaces are under used as storage.
- Your possessions will look more appealing on a rack or hooks than they do in a heap on the floor or kitchen bench.
- Wall mounted swivel arms for the TV, video, DVD or the computer.
- And of course the choice of racks for storing videos and CD's is enormous - and some are fantastic pieces of sculpture in themselves.

Shelves - the mainstay of storage solutions
· Shelves as room dividers
· As wall coverings
· As functional art
· Display shelving within the studwork of your walls

Down Storage: Best for things that you'd like to hide like toys, linen and blankets. This is the art of stowing things away.

Consider:
It picks up on the circulation within the house and takes it to the outdoors. It can be used independently from the indoor rooms or opened up to become a large entertaining area. A well thought out entertaining area will add great value to your home.

· Building in window seats
· Clever coffee tables
· Stair treads as drawers
· Ottomans as storage boxes

Boxes Boxes Boxes:
The humble box! More than a simple storage solution boxes can be made from a huge variety of materials: plastic, cardboard, paper covered or fabric covered, wood, wicker, leather, ceramic or Perspex or even stainless steel, and can feature prominently in a room - if that's your taste. Remember to choose the right material to compliment the theme or feel of your chosen room.

Conceived on the belief that great design transforms people's lives, URBAN LOGISTICS believes that architectural design services should be made available to all. Anne Greenway can be contacted on (02) 9401 2080 or you can visit her website at www.urbanlogistics.com.au