
My
Etsy Finds normally fall under the categories of crafty things, textiles (napkins!), or artwork. But it's rare to find a furniture piece that's not just a
reupholstered ottoman. So, I was surprised to come across this
Jean Pelle Vanity Cabinet ($129).

Americans are too attached to their kitchen cupboards. It's as if they'd never considered storage other than upper cabinets. Open shelving can actually make a kitchen feel open, relieving the tight, cramped feeling that many kitchens have, in addition to leaving space to display artwork and other decorative elements.

If you want a
home office as stylish as you are, it's best to start with a smart desk. If you're negotiating tight spaces, there's no need to bring home a big chunky desk; there are plenty of
small ones out there. Crate & Barrel has just come out with its
Convertible Compact Desk ($499), which is a clever home-office solution that converts from a 30-inch cabinet to a 55-inch full-size desk by sliding out its top panel (and desk's legs).

I've written about many common types of
storage and even some that have
stumped you. But, never a spoon cabinet. Only the Aussies (OK, and maybe the Brits) would designate an entire cabinet on the wall just for their spoons.

TeamSugar member
Citygal has been on a roll lately
getting her studio into shape. Her latest project was using a bit of paint to transform a cheap, veneered cabinet left in her digs by a previous tenant into something unique that looks a far cry from its big-box retailer beginnings. The cabinet was the perfect size for her television, and just the right amount of storage for her
DVD collection, but she knew it needed a facelift.

At the
Jekyll & Hyde Pub in Greenwich Village, a spooky, English Gothic themed restaurant, the bathroom door is a trompe l'oeil bookcase, and always scared the be-jesus out of me when I visited as a kid. The
Piero Fornasetti Libri Cabinet ($14,962) scares me too, but only because of its price. The hand-painted beaut features a design by artist Piero Fornasetti on an African mahogany frame.
Lucas Risé, an Argentinean artist who spent most of his childhood painting street signs in Buenos Aires, now makes a living by creating wonderfully colored cabinets inspired by carnival, circus, and park imagery. His experiences on trips to Europe, the U.S., South Africa, and Brazil have influenced the style of these cabinets, known as Sans Parapluie ("without an umbrella"), the edges and borders of which he says, "disappear to become an open space where different cultures come together and which reflection is life itself." The names of the cabinets (painted with enamel on wood) are as whimsical as the bright and busy designs themselves, such as "Carousel," "Circus," "African Breeze," "Violin," and "Flower Park."

The
Inga Sempé Brosse (inquire for price) is a storage unit that proves there truly are benefits to
fringe. Its large, car wash-style brush bristles were adapted to conceal shelves storing your personal items, be it books, tableware, or umm . .

Now, this is a definite
beach house find. What Pottery Barn's
Nautical Cabinet ($899) lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in enthusiasm. Handcrafted from hardwood, the cabinet features a curved shape that sits on slender legs.The entire cabinet is handpainted with seahorses, ship’s wheels, and seashells.

What do you think of this
1940s marquetry cabinet ($9,000)? Made from exotic woods, this Swedish Symbolist 1940s cabinet features exquisitely detailed vernacular imagery in marquetry of various exotic woods. It reminds me of a midcentury fairy tale, told with wood tones instead of pen and paper.