Storage, Squared

The drawers and shelf on the side of this wall-hung sink offer convenient access to storage for those who may be standing [or sitting—it is a bathroom, after all] somewhere other than in front of the unit. Clever! boffi.com

Straighten Up

It's good to be back after a needed winter break. Looking ahead to Eurocucina, we'll be seeing more highly organized open storage in the kitchen. Item-specific shelving, racks, and cubbies—often fitted with accessories like canisters and other containers—continue to sideline enclosed wall cabinets [with the exception of big, double-door pantry units]. varennacucine.com

Calm [Kitchen] Before the Storm

This refined kitchen storage reassures me that in this week of culinary chaos, there are still beautiful details in the room deserving of appreciation. In this pantry alcove, the transparent woven-brass sliding screen is a lovely counterpoint to the dusky blue chevron-patterned parquet wall. The design is enlightened; the craftsmanship extraordinary. Something to be thankful for, indeed. lanserring.com

Tall, Dark, and Handsome [Storage]

In the dual-purpose category of kitchen design, this freestanding, functional partition wall supplies both spatial definition and storage. With a back panel of white opaque glass, it conducts soft, diffused light into adjacent areas. A slim five inches deep, it's well suited for keeping flat or shallow items close at hand. henrybuilt.com

The New Orange

Of course it's the color scheme that triggered this post. But the design merits are worthy of attention; these straightforward storage modules copped a Red Dot award. Fabricated of recycled polystyrene, the individual panels click endlessly together, thanks to the double-mitred edge. They can be fitted with casters and doors, and are offered in 16 brilliant colors. qubing.com

Transitional Kitchen

Exactly what 'transition' does this kitchen represent, you may ask. Well, while the time of year would signal a seasonal change, I see this design also showing a shift in outlook—the vintage back-bars finding a new purpose as kitchen storage.

Speaking Volume

Such a well-considered variation on the backsplash! By intentionally echoing the 3D geometry—a wedge of shelf space is carved out of the marble wedge—what might have been an anonymous detail is turned into a dynamic design element. jacktrench.co.uk

Under the Counter and On the Side

Whether your kitchen towels are designer or dingy, this inset hanging rod is a neat way to keep them  convenient without having them flop in front of those spiffy appliances. It also livens up the always-abrupt end to a run of base cabinets. johnlewis.com

At Hand

This in-sink holder keeps cloths handy without draping drippy towels over the faucet. Designed by Miika Mansikkamaa, it's ingeniously easy to install: an undercounter magnet anchors the holder to the inside of any stainless steel basin. Have a round sink? No worries—there's a curved model available, too. magisso.com

Neat and Tidy

Simplicity itself, this collection of bathroom storage accessories. The graphic appearance of the wood and aluminum pieces forms the literal basis for its name: the Dot Line [Not to complicate matters, but S-hooks are also offered.] Designed by García Cumini. agapedesign.it

Wine-ding Down

Sure, those seven-bottle wine fridges are cute. But there are times—like a day [ahem] when a deadline, a prodigious traffic jam, and monsoon-scale rains coincide—when a more accommodating arrangement is called for. Voila: these custom towers hold a cellar's worth of vino, and spin 360º so that each bottle is within easy reach. revelcellars.com

Lateral Thinking

The Monolith console ingeniously restores much of the bathroom  storage space that's often lost with pedestal or wall-hung sinks. Slide-out shelves are concealed in a cabinet that's a space-conscious four inches deep. The unit sports an opaque glass front. geberit.com

Cheers [Not Exactly]

Tomorrow in the US, there will be a sudden and completely explicable spike in the consumption of wine. For some, it will be a celebratory experience, while approximately three million more citizens [myself among them] will be imbibing for a far different reason. Personally, I'd find it rather healing to be partaking in this serene New Zealand spot, with its perforated concrete wall holding several cases of the good stuff. maparchitects.dk

The Right Light

Not everything shown at iSalone is flamboyant, striving design. Case in point: Shine, the understated yet elegant towel bar/light/grab bar by Monica Graffeo. The light can be focused in different directions without compromising the gripability or strength of the installation. This accessory is universal design in the truest sense of the word. everlifedesign.it

Behind Closed Door

Such a simple idea, so well executed! What makes it a standout—in my opinion—is the vertical divider on the exposed side of the cabinet. The easy way to treat it would have been to slap a piece of wood of the same thickness as the other interior shelves into the opening. Instead, care was taken, and a thinner panel was used, and set back from the outer perimeter of the unit. copatlife.it

Progressive Palette

When—or if—we tire of our lovely all-grey kitchens, this design offers a low-commitment exit strategy. Not only does the parquet-inspired pattern comprise a chromatic jumping-off point for just about any color scheme imaginable, it does so in a fun and focused way. [And it would be simple to revert to the original scheme, should you choose.] camillearchitectures.com

Hidden in Plain Sight

Touch-latches open and close the storage compartments of the b3 backsplash, which is a handsome combination of creative design and practical space planning. Organizing everything from spice jars to carving knives to cleaning supplies, the modular unit can be expanded as needed. The doors are fronted in glass, sleek and easy to clean. bulthaup.de

Together and Apart

This clever storage concept addresses a pet peeve of mine: the uninspired end of a run of cabinets. Not only is this design functionally versatile, but the wine rack, drawer module, and shelving are rendered in wood, setting it all off nicely from the adjoining unassuming kitchen. warendorf.com

Going Undercover

The convenience of shelves in the shower is undeniable; the visual clutter they often collect is another thing altogether. So, for the fastideous among us, I present this built-in, quasi-cabinet design. A soft-close door, finished to match the surrounding wall, flips down to keep toiletries out of sight. LEDs can light up the cavity, if you desire. jacobdelafon.fr

Prep, Schooled

When brothers [and chefs] Johannes and Joseph Schreiter applied German standards of efficiency to the French practice of mise en place, the result is the Frankfurter Brett. Both elevated and flush with the heavy duty cutting board, ingredient bins abound; they can be detached or repositioned as desired. Offered in three sizes, the Brett ["board"] is so substantial and serviceable that I'm inclined to consider it an appliance, rather than a mere culinary accessory. [Fun fact: The Schreiters named this invention after the seminal kitchen design of the early twentieth century.] frankfurter-brett.de