by Fan Winston - April 26, 2021

Archive Dive: 11 Times When Exposed Wall Studs Became Built-In Storage

Earlier this year, I wrote about the appeal of shelving built into exposed wall studs; see Aha! Design: The Unexpected Storage Opportunity Hidden Inside a Wall. Since then, I’ve found more examples in which the framing of a room, instead of being concealed behind sheetrock, is cleverly used for built-in storage and allowed to shine. I find these studs-as-storage moments—sometimes casually ad-hoc, other times intentional and fully designed—to be wholly charming. Have a look.

StudioErrante shed Italy — Above: Behind a house in a village in northwestern Italy, a tiny, ramshackle outbuilding was transformed into a potting shed, complete with shelves shimmied between studs. Photograph courtesy of StudioErrante Architetture, from Outbuilding of the Week: A Woodshed Transformed, by StudioErrante in Italy.

The structural skeleton of the dining room provides just enough storage for this corner bar. Photograph by Elizabeth Watsky, from Before & After: A Summer Cottage Reborn on the Connecticut Coast. — Above: The structural skeleton of the dining room provides just enough storage for this corner bar. Photograph by Elizabeth Watsky, from Before & After: A Summer Cottage Reborn on the Connecticut Coast.

Glassware Hutch at The Lost Kitchen in Maine, Photo by Greta Rybus for Remodelista — Above: The Lost Kitchen is housed in an old mill that has a rustic and raw feel, much of it due to the fact that the framing was left exposed. Here, a vintage hutch and planks of wood between studs provide the perfect spot for the restaurant’s stemware. Photograph by Greta Rybus for Remodelista, from The Lost Kitchen: A Glimpse Inside Maine’s Most Wildly In-Demand Restaurant.

Saline Bar at Hotel Joaquin in Laguna, CA — Above: At Hotel Joaquin’s restaurant, Saline, bar shelving is built to look like framing. Photograph via Hotel Joaquin, from The Trendsetter: 9 Of-the-Moment Ideas to Steal from Hotel Joaquin in Laguna, California.

A bed tucked under rafters and a makeshift bookshelf. Photograph by Marc Krause for Lappalainen, from Living Above the Studio: At Home and Work with Lappalainen. — Above: A bed tucked under rafters and a makeshift bookshelf. Photograph by Marc Krause for Lappalainen, from Living Above the Studio: At Home and Work with Lappalainen.

In architect Malcolm Davis’ weekend home, some of the framing in the bath was left exposed, creating incidental storage cubbies. Photograph by Joe Fletcher, courtesy of Malcolm Davis Architecture, from Aha! Design: The Unexpected Storage Opportunity Hidden Inside a Wall. — Above: In architect Malcolm Davis’ weekend home, some of the framing in the bath was left exposed, creating incidental storage cubbies. Photograph by Joe Fletcher, courtesy of Malcolm Davis Architecture, from Aha! Design: The Unexpected Storage Opportunity Hidden Inside a Wall.

This exposed structural wall, which extends the entire length of the home, with studs (vertical supports) and blocking (horizontal beams) exposed, offers plentiful storage. Photograph by Earl Carter, from Slow House: A Serene Cabin in the Woods in Australia. — Above: This exposed structural wall, which extends the entire length of the home, with studs (vertical supports) and blocking (horizontal beams) exposed, offers plentiful storage. Photograph by Earl Carter, from Slow House: A Serene Cabin in the Woods in Australia.

Just off the living room of a budget build is this greenroom, which is composed of just the wood framing and and an exterior cover of translucent corrugated polycarbonate sheets. Photograph by Markus Linderoth, courtesy of Förstberg Ling, from A Cost-Conscious House in Sweden That’s a Pinterest Sensation. — Above: Just off the living room of a budget build is this greenroom, which is composed of just the wood framing and and an exterior cover of translucent corrugated polycarbonate sheets. Photograph by Markus Linderoth, courtesy of Förstberg Ling, from A Cost-Conscious House in Sweden That’s a Pinterest Sensation.

Shelves, storage, and waist-high work stations are built into the walls of this multi-use studio. Photograph via Cassion Castle Architects, from Outbuilding of the Week: Designer Tim Lloyd’s Timber Work Studio in Hampshire. — Above: Shelves, storage, and waist-high work stations are built into the walls of this multi-use studio. Photograph via Cassion Castle Architects, from Outbuilding of the Week: Designer Tim Lloyd’s Timber Work Studio in Hampshire.

The winner of this year’s Best Outdoor Living Space, this high-style backyard clubhouse for kids features exposed studs and improvised shelving. See Best Outdoor Living Space 2018: Kristin Barlowe-Clauer’s Garden Birdhouse for Kids Big & Small. — Above: The winner of this year’s Best Outdoor Living Space, this high-style backyard clubhouse for kids features exposed studs and improvised shelving. See Best Outdoor Living Space 2018: Kristin Barlowe-Clauer’s Garden Birdhouse for Kids Big & Small.

We love the artful look of the accidental shelving created by exposed framing (at right) in this tiny beach shack. Photograph by Kate Sears, from A Chic Fixer-Upper on Fire Island, Budget Edition. — Above: We love the artful look of the accidental shelving created by exposed framing (at right) in this tiny beach shack. Photograph by Kate Sears, from A Chic Fixer-Upper on Fire Island, Budget Edition.

For more on built-in storage, see:

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