A new generation of storage strikes the perfect balance between beauty and functionality and puts personality center stage.

Since BoConcept first opened in 1952, traditional bookcases have been in the product portfolio. “The designs have been adjusted from time to time”, says Collections and Visuals Director Claus Ditlev Jensen, “but we are now at a point where we welcome a new storage direction. Calgary is so much more than storage.”  

With the growing trend towards consumers showcasing their individual style and identity through interiors, Calgary – new for AW23 - is a versatile system that fuses aesthetics with functionality. 

The Calgary system is customizable without being overwhelming - it comes in seven fixed models (with high and low, and wide or narrow versions) that can be used in all areas of the home.  

There are options for drop-down covered storage, shelves at customizable depths, and drawers. “Or you can select a multifunctional set-up with integrated home office or bar, depending on your priorities!”, says Ditlev Jensen. 

Trend forecasting agency WGSN has been tracking the rise of personal expression since 2021, when consumers began to playfully embrace individual style to showcase their identity through interiors. Today the emphasis is on celebrating the individuality of your space by accessorizing with eye-catching accessories and objets d’art. The ‘shelfie’ Instagram craze proved a universal truth - that we all love arranging our favorite items in a visually appealing way. And, even better, being voyeuristic and admiring other people’s books and curios, too.

This was front of mind for Morten Georgsen who designed BoConcept’s Calgary system, new for AW23. “Closed wall systems with large cabinets are not in vogue anymore”, he says. “The Calgary is a contemporary storage and display system for how we live now. It brings together versatile functionality with a lightness of expression and beautiful proportions.” 

Georgsen recalls the years that storage systems were mainly focused on electronics and the storage of LPs, followed by CDs. Items that were often hidden from view. With Calgary, he was keen to combine open shelving with the option to customize with drawers for those items not to be displayed.  

Simple yet sophisticated, Calgary’s design allows you to curate belongings with open storage that elevates its contents. 

“Some people still like to display books but what we see now is a trend towards people displaying keepsakes and special pieces that hold personal value.”  

Interior stylist Kate Imogen Wood agrees: "It's always important to have your personality imprinted in your home. To do this I would always start with a neutral base that you can then add to, personalize and adapt.” 

Arranging personal items in this way is an easy way to refresh your space, too, says Wood. “That's the nice thing about BoConcept, the timeless furniture provides the minimalistic, neutral base ready for you to layer on your personal touches”, she says. “A piece like Calgary is ideal for this because it can evolve with you.” 

So what to display? From arranging plants with books and earthy ceramics next to treasured photographs and letters, there are many ways to style your shelving system. Kate Imogen Wood, stylist on BoConcept’s AW23 shoot, shares her top tips to master the art of display. 

Kate Imogen Wood’s styling tips:

1. A simple styling idea for books is to have a book open on your favourite page with inspiring content. This serves to break up the display and also adds visual interest that you can keep updating. Another tip with books is to combine them at different height levels, too, which looks visually more interesting. 
2. Style your favorite keepsakes or treasured items to be on display rather than hidden away in a cupboard or drawer. You could arrange jewelry in a decorative bowl or pepper mementos from your travels between or in front of books.  
3. As well as photographs, try framing treasured letters, cards or even your child’s artwork. It adds a different visual pace by showcasing text in a frame rather than solely displaying pictures, plus you’ll be reminded of how much the moment meant to you. 
4. Use your shelving as a functional space as well as for display to keep it from looking too contrived. If you opted for the pull-down bar in the Calgary system, for instance, you might style glasses and cocktail recipe books around it. Or if the shelves are in your bedroom, the jewelry you display would be on hand to use as well as being a decorative touch. 
5. Play around with a mixture of shapes and textures, so you may have organic pieces like decorative shells or plants next to more linear objects to add depth and texture to your display. 
   
   

BoConcept was founded in 1952 in Denmark and is today the world’s most global furniture retailer, with over 328 stores spanning 67 countries. The brand works with award-winning designers to create collections of furniture, accessories and lighting for private homes and business spaces. Under the heading ‘Live ‘Ekstraordinær,’  BoConcept is committed to bringing its flexible Interior Desi­gn Service and industry-leading customisation to spaces both private and public – without compromising on design vision or aesthetics.