I am loving seeing all the different kinds of midcentury Scandinavian Modern style wall units. Eric responded to my stories about the String System and the Royal Cado and Cado Systems by sending me photos of his Barzilay Multi-Span wall system – along with scans of the brochure for it. Oh — and yowza — look at his gorgeous living room. All that rich, warm wood is so stylish and comfortable. Eric’s story, more photos of his living room, and the brochure follow…
Eric writes:
I was just looking your post about vintage wall units and I thought I would share these pics of one I recently purchased. It was made by a Gardena, California company called Barzilay and it’s called the Multispan: Vertical Storage System. They appear to focus on a lot of entertainment wall units with stereos and speakers in them. What little info I could find was on stereo forums. They have other wall units I have seen, however, I have yet to see a unit like mine.
… A little drawer unit slides into the far left cabinet slot. I don’t really have a use for it so I pulled it out and stuck a speaker in there for the time being. I’d like to make a screen to cover the speaker opening so it looks built in and not a speaker just sitting there. There use to be a record player where my tuner is but it is long gone. Luckily my tuner fits into that slot perfectly so not all is lost. Oh and yes the Invisible Boy poster is original. I use to collect vintage movie posters, but now I just buy screen prints like the Jabba the Hut sitting to the left of it.The wall unit I got is sadly not complete. The guy I bought it from still has three cabinets — two big one like the bottom two and a narrow one. He is saving these for himself, but I told to let me know if he ever wants to get rid of them. If there had been brackets for those it would have been super awesome to have the whole unit go from the living room into the kitchen. I think with all of those pieces it would have been over 20 feet long. Right now it’s a little over 8 feet long. Maybe one day if I can find some more parts, and afford them, I’ll add on to the unit.My set also has some brackets for shelves but no shelves. I’ll eventually get around to making some shelves and additional brackets. I do have some additional floor to ceiling braces that I hope to use one day.Eric
Yeah. Some people aren’t fans of those kinds of doors but I really like them. The unit does look great the way it is now but I think it will look even better once I get a couple of shelves made. I want to put a magazine shelf on the left side and a flat shelf or two on the right. However, I am in no rush since it looks fine the way it is.Eric
- cado
- barzilay
- danish modern shelf
- danish modern shelving
- danish modern wall unit
- modern wall unit
- modern shelf
- modern shelving
- modern wall unit
- teak shelf
- teak shelving
- teak wall unit
Ugh. What other terms should I search?… so I can get my wall unit fast… before all these stories I’m writing drive prices up even higher. This is going to be a hard search, I think, because sellers know they have something. I may have to revert to standing in line to get into estate sales early so that I can look to the walls. Ugh.
Brini says
Hi Pam, I suggest broadening your search. I’ve found that posters on Craigslist frequently just list things as “shelves” and leave it at that. Search for really simple terms like “shelves” and “wall unit” and slog through all the drek and you’ll find your gem. Also, try using a site like Search Tempest, which will search the all the Craigslists in a radius you determine – 300 miles is usually my parameter, but sometimes I broaden it to the whole country if it’s a particularly rare item – and present them to you all at once. Good luck finding your unit! I can’t wait to see what you get.
TappanTrailerTami says
+ 1 on Search Tempest – it is great for searching CL outside your local area.
Also, don’t forget to search plural vs. singular “shelf vs. shelves”, “wall unit” vs. “wall units” as it does make a difference in the search results on CL.
pam kueber says
yes, i already use Search Tempest… but these other tips are useful. thanks!
Susan (of the wall unit) says
Pam- Thank you so much for this write up of our wall unit! It is always so exciting to be welcome onto your blog. You MUST come visit us in Atlanta some day! Many of our neighbors read your blog as well so we could give you quite a neighborhood tour!
pam kueber says
🙂
Mad for Midcentury says
If you replace “modern” with “mid-century” and “midcentury” on all of those terms I think you’d have 6 more keywords to search for. Mid-century and midcentury are different words according to craigslist.
And maybe some things that people who don’t know what they have would call them: vintage shelves, 1950s book case, etc.
pam kueber says
Thanks!
Crystal in Texas says
Such a great piece…hope you can add to it like you plan. I love your room, it looks so comfortable and inviting!
Jeanne says
Eric’s shelving unit is my favorite so far. Although, I would take any of them. 🙂 I did the cheap-o version in my dining room and put some shelves up above a Danish modern walnut buffet – using KV (Knape & Vogt) brown standards, brown brackets and walnut shelves.
pam kueber says
Yes, I think that KV could well be in my future….
denise says
Pam — add words to your list that people NOT in the know would use…like, bookcase, vintage, old, tv stand, or use one word at a time, I’ve found that gets me more places.
This is a nice piece, it has something to it that many other similar ones lack.
pam kueber says
thank you denise! haha, will you keep an eye out for me, too?
denise says
I think I’m looking more often for you these days than I do for myself!
I take into consideration what might fit into my Rav…and The Man’s truck. Yup, there’s a wonderfully awesome red and white 1990 F250, extended cab, truck to use. Makes you feel a little brighter now doesn’t it? Oh, maybe that’s just me. I love that truck!
Atomic Amanda says
Yes! The unit compliments that space beautifully. Eric’s ceilings are gorgeous! Pam have you or will you do a post on wood ceilings like Eric has? I am purchasing a modest atomic ranch with similar wood ceilings (and Terrazo floors!) and wood love to know how care for them and finish them.
pam kueber says
I’ll add it to the list A2. Congrats! Isn’t it amazing how even Modest homes had these kinds of features? And conversely, how FANCY MODERNS had modest features, such as Mamie pink bathrooms!
Susan (of the wall unit) says
Amanda- Those ceilings are what really sold me on this house. We have them in every room (even the closets!) except for those on the lowest level of the house.
Atomic Amanda says
Susan, mine are throughout the whole house as well… even the carport! Although the are covered in the bathrooms by a lower ceiling (for the A/C ductwork). I’m in Florida, so my house is all one level. And yes, Pam, I have a pink bathroom and a baby blue bathroom, too! I feel like I hit the mid-century mod jackpot with this house!
lady brett says
how lovely!
we’re looking for shelving solutions for our office/tv space (strange use of space, but it should work well for us). though the current criteria are along the lines of “fits in the room, fits the stuff,” i would adore something truly wonderful!
June Cahill says
Love it, love it, love it!!! And ESPECIALLY the TAMBOR doors! Everything is just so ‘neat and tidy’ that way. And what a wonderful space you have for it – perfect!
Annie B. says
Oh, Eric, this unit is SO beautiful. Lucky you. I also love your “Genie” bottles. Geat living room!!