Cooler places for your stuff

WE OFTEN collect things because they’re important markers in our lives, providing fond memories, pools of knowledge and valued symbols from the past – all stories that are waiting to be told. Many of the things we possess carry an emotional value. 
Ikea’s new collection, Sammanhang, is designed to make your possessions look better instead of getting rid of them.
Sammanhang means “context” in Swedish. So what it’s really all about is placing your collection of items in the right setting. 
It’s a collection of open and closed units in a variety of materials to embrace and show off your belongings. Ranging from the smallest of boxes to furniture pieces, the products are created in collaboration with seven designers. 

Display box with lid by Lisa Widen and Anna Wallin

“We are very good at storage at Ikea – enabling you to pack away your things in a very rational way. With Sammanhang, we want to explore how to touch the emotional side of storage,” says Ikea creative leader James Futcher
Design duo Lisa Widen and Anna Wallin are answering their own question by designing what they refer to as “the cake stand”. It’s just big enough for the most common collectibles, and just small enough to fit on your windowsill or table. 
You can pile up lots of sweets and treats, but also other items, like jewellery and beauty products. In the hallway it’s a good spot for your mail, keys and coins. 
They’ve also created a display box that can be used for mini-exhibits. They found inspiration in galleries and museums and how they display collections and valuable objects. Everything gets a little nicer when they have their own designated space.
Henrik Preutz designed a tray stand for use anywhere at home – as a shelf in the kitchen for storing spices, herbs and all kinds of other stuff that clutter your countertop or in the bathroom for nail polish and all of your makeup. 

Joel and Kate Booy’s mesh box with lid

It can be on your bookshelf to display the tiny, nifty things you bought at the flea market; in your hallway for your keys, wallets and other grab-and-go items or on your dining room table filled with treats for your next party.
Joel and Kate Booy, also known as the design studio Truly Truly, have studied the properties of glass – and how to display without using it. Their boxes with lids are made of mesh, a material that partially displays the contents without hiding them. 
Another perk of working with mesh is that it’s very easy to shape. The couple pressed two layers together to create exciting patterns. When you want to display the contents, just lift off the lid. 
They also looked at how to both hide and display with glass, and created a display box where one side of the shelf is ribbed glass and the other is clear, so you have the choice of either keeping your contents hidden or having them stand out.
“We were inspired by glass and its reflective properties – the way light travels through it and bends and warps your perception. We chose to focus on the juxtaposition of hiding and revealing objects at the same time,” Kate says.
Hanna-Kaarina Heikkila created glass boxes with lids in different shapes and materials. Her idea was to create something both functional and emotional. It’s a simple product you can use to nicely organise small things in the bathroom, kitchen and hallway – pretty much anywhere in the home.

HannaKaarina Heikkila’s glass box with lid 

Iina Vuorivirta has three boxes inspired by matchboxes that she used to collect items with in her childhood. She also designed tiny domes, as well as a wall shelf for this collection. It’s perfect if you want to create a personalised exhibit with exciting postcards, small figurines, colourful skateboards, or quirky souvenirs.
Aaron Probyn tells everyone to “Let your creativity flow!” by creating something that allows collectors to display their items in an organised way, but also enhances and gives the entire collection a boost. That’s how his round display shelf in a minimal design came to life, including the multifunction display table that can be adapted as a coffee table.
“It has a simple, round shape and a neutral look which highlights the things you place on top. Display them as you like next to each other, on top of each other, in groups or on their own,” says Probyn.
The second piece Probyn designed for the collection was inspired by a collector – his wife.
“My wife loves to collect things and always comes home with something new. The big challenge is to create space for everything. It gave me the idea for the coffee table. The table’s neutral design allows the things inside to stand out, just as they should,” he adds.
With sliding doors on either side of the table, it’s easy to create new compositions of items to admire during your afternoon coffee or tea. 
Experience a variety of ideas and storage solutions at Ikea’s two outlets at Mega Bangna and Bang Yai, Central Plaza Westgate, or visit www.Ikea.co.th for more details.