Heels Are A Girl's Best Friend

My spring cleaning efforts to organize my shoes (and avoid doing my taxes, ugh) have spread from the bedroom to the foyer where the two or three pairs that usually end up there seem to have spawned a colossal mountain.

My entry space is fairly small so I’m looking for an organizer that doesn’t take up too much space and also something that doesn’t scream “storage unit.”

Check out some of the funky options I’ve found so far to help keep your footloose footwear in its place.

Skorder  (sko is shoe in Swedish) is a conceptual piece of furniture designed by Johanna at the Stockholm furniture fair 2008.  It’s is a decorative shoe rack with inspiration from display cases, stacked shoeboxes and the mess in Johanna’s own wardrobe. It features “tetris” like display cases (the insides are covered in gold leaf), stacked on top of each other to maximize storage, yet minimize floor space.  It even includes a small bench to sit on while putting your shoes on or even more storage space.

I absolutely LOVE this piece.  It’s architectural yet functional and funky.  It’s also versatile in that you could use it as a kind of “catch all” for all those bits of clutter that you carry around with you every day, like keys and spare change.  And you could even use some of the cubbies to hold mail, magazines, a purse or briefcase and even your hat and scarf.  Even Kanye West likes it!  The rapper and budding designer/style star featured on his official blog.  Now that’s major syle cred!

Unfortunately, I have scourged the web and haven’t been able to find purchase information (which probably means that it’s way out of my price range). Wah.  But Johanna’s website includes her contact information if you’re interested in details.  My fingers are crossed that a version of this storage piece will find it’s way to IKEA.

The Hotel Box from Danish designer Lilian Adler offers a stylish, collapsible solution to storing shoes (or other accessories).

According to the website:

“Initially created as, yes a shoebox, to display your favorite flats, sandals or high-heel stilettos, it’s morphed into a stylish accessory to help organize and energize your home. Whether used as modular organizers, shelving systems, small storage towers or room dividers, the “Hotel Box” is a fashionable way to footprint your living space. Some stack them up against a wall in the living room others use them as nightstands or bookcases. Available in a multitude of solid colors and artwork designs they are perfect for mixing and matching. Each Hotel Box arrives in collapsed form, just unfold to assemble. Because they fold flat, they’re the perfect way to constantly revamp your space.”

Each box retails for $17.  I really like the concept behind this and imagine they’d be perfect in a New York loft kind of space.  They’re too bulky for my entryway but I think they would be a great way to dress up your closet or even create a stunning display tower for your fabulous shoes in your bedroom or vanity area.  My only concern is about how sturdy the boxes are when stacked and fully loaded with shoes.

The Footprint by UK based designer Charlotte Tangye brings a touch of whimsy to the monotonous task of keeping your shoes organized.  Available in versions for horizontal or vertical storage, the Shoe Print is a wall mounted, modular shoe rack in the form of pairs of feet. Mounted away from the wall, shoes hang over and behind the feet for efficient storage and display.

Designed in response to the huge growth in city living where space is at a premium, the Footprint system was inspired by hanging kitchen storage. Just as coat hangers are shaped like shoulders as the most effective way to hang clothes, it seems only natural for effective shoe storage to be shaped like feet.  This piece just makes me smile!  The decor in my apartment is rather eclectic (think Asian meets Bauhaus with touches of college dorm room; weird I know but it works!) and this is fitting with my sense of humour.  Available at UK store Heal’s for 11.74 (pounds) and Inhabitshop.com for $41.30.

What do you think?  Which organizer strikes your foot fancy?  If you have any suggestions or recommendations leave ‘em in the comments!

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