For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space - and, in particular, walls - in new and innovative ways.

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson and Finn Juhl. In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” - any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component - to blend into the background of any interior. Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.

Wooden flat file