Shopfront: This week Eoin Lyons looks at shelving

Magna shelves €400 at Habitat: grey stained oak veneered unit,- also available in a natural finish or a walnut veneer or as a tall unit.

Castors allow easy movement. Good as a low level bookcase and as an adjunct to a dressing or home office table.

A solid oak Senna desk that costs €550. Both are available through Habitat's new Galway store.

Habitat
St Stephen's Green, D2
01 6707350
Fairgreen Road,
Galway 091 569980

Vitsoe shelving from €100 per shelf at E-Mimo: it's hard to give a price for this shelving - it's a modular system and the cost really depends on what size you need.

It can be bought in all sorts of configurations - E-Mimo will give a quote over the phone. You can add more as finances allow: this is long-term stuff, designed in 1960 and produced continuously ever since. Made from metal, it can be wall mounted and is very sturdy. Visually, it provides a neutral structure for whatever you display. I inherited a freestanding shelving unit bought 20 years ago which I've taken apart and reassembled in various locations. Luckily, it is completely indestructible.

E-Mimo, Sandquay House,
21a Lower John Street,
Cork
021 4344999.
(In London visit the Vitsoe store at 72 Wigmore Street 0044 207 9354968)

Maleren unit €775 at Marks & Spencer: somewhat similar to an old-fashioned medicine cabinet, the sides are white-painted wood, the top is veneered oak and the handles and feet are stainless steel.

The scale is particularly suitable to apartment living. M&S has improved the quality of its furniture over the past year or so and while this piece must be ordered, a selection of similar furniture can be seen at the Mary Street store in Dublin.

Marks & Spencer, head office,
Mary Street, D1
01 8782092

Cupboard €3,375 from Ochre: the doors are made from six panels of tarnished steel and the interior is dark red with adjustable wood shelving.

Ochre is an English company with a big reputation for high quality materials, although not always those you might expect.

The mottled, messy steel on this piece has a roughness that would contrast well with polished or more traditionally luxury furniture.

They recently supplied furniture for an apartment currently that is being decorated by Andre Putman on Dublin's quays.

This cupboard is to order and can be made to whatever specifications you require.

Ochre
0044 870 787 9242;
www.ochre.net