No, our shelving products don’t pop up out of the earth. They can, however, support things that do. For example, in this innovative and unique blend of Rakks products, this Gloucester, MA garden has been turned into a climbing trellis for bean and cucumber plants.

Rakks PL Support Poles with mitered tops were used with AB-0202 anchor brackets to make the frames.  The bottoms of each pole were cut to make a “V” so that the poles could be pounded into the ground. Nearly Invisible plant support netting was stretched across each frame and fastened to the poles.

Come back soon to see the Rakks climbing trellis in action! Let us know how you use Rakks in both unique and traditional ways. Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. To purchase our shelving and support products, check out the Rakks Store.

At Rakks, we appreciate unique and innovative architecture. For years, our shelving systems and specialty products have played a supporting role in many projects by high-profile designers and architects . Much of our inspiration comes from the world around us, and we don’t have to go far to witness spectacular design! One of our favorite cities is San Francisco – where modern and traditional aspects of architecture are seamlessly intertwined. Come along with us as we visit some of the architectural highlights that San Fran has to offer!

~ Palace of Fine Arts ~

Although originally built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Art Exhibition, the Palace (designed by architect Bernard Maybeck) was rebuilt in 1965 and is now a popular setting for weddings and tourists. Surrounding the rotunda are massive Corinthian columns which, along with the entire collection of structures, reflect off of the European-inspired lagoon.

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At Rakks, our clientele is made up of architects, designers and store planners – to name a few. A major part of the success of these peoples’ businesses relies on networking with other professionals within their industries. Just as the internet became a springboard for such collaboration years ago, the relatively recent emergence of social media has made the sharing of products and ideas easier and more personal than ever.

If a designer wants to stay on top of the market and use products that consumers are into, a quick look at Pinterest or Flickr will inform him or her of current trends and topics. Architects looking for reliable companies to work with on their building plans will read blog posts which feature or review potential companies’ work. We at Rakks believe that if you see our product, you’ll want to buy our product. Social media is making this easier to implement, and it seems like our customers agree!

A simple search for “Rakks” on Pinterest shows the love our customers have for our bracket and shelving systems:

www.pinterest.com

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Rakks is always on the lookout for inventive design, especially if shelving is involved. As a leader in the design, development and production of innovative architectural shelving systems and accessories, Rakks appreciates a company that takes function to a whole new level.  In Creative Home Engineering we have found the perfect combination of creative design and high-quality craftsmanship.

Creative Home Engineering produces secret room and passage systems which involve bookshelves, doors, stairs and fireplaces. Who hasn’t dreamt of having a secret place within their home that hides a family heirloom or provides a place of refuge from intruders? Not only does C.H.E. provide a seamless implementation of its product into the natural décor and structure of the home, it also offers a high level of safety with available stainless steel door and surveillance packages.

When it comes to further description, the finished examples speak for themselves.  Rakks shares some of our favorites:

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The use of angled shelves is a perfect way to improve product visibility and display a wide variety of items. At Rakks, our shelving systems provide many great options for slanted display shelving.  With our make-to-order capabilities, we can supply a bracket for whatever shelf depth and angle you need. With so many different bracket models, sizes, finishes and angles, it sometimes seems like no two brackets are the same.

While our product line is diverse, there are a few things that every slanted shelf project shares:

1   A specified angle down (or up) from the horizontal.
2.  A way to make sure the shelf doesn’t slide off the bracket
3.  A way to make sure items don’t fall off the shelf.

Here are some examples of this versatility:

Slanted Rakks Style Bracket with aluminum shelf and integrated aluminum shelf lip.

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Interior Designer Jonathan Taylor Raves About Rakks Shelving at the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization in Manhattan and in His Own Home

Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization

At Rakks, we are fortunate to work with many talented interior designers. As part of our blog, we interview many of them and share their insights about design and projects they have worked on. One such interior designer is Jonathan Taylor who works on both coasts with offices in New York and Oakland, California. We hope you enjoy his interview!

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London Olympics and Sustainability

For the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, plans and preparation began years ago to create an impressive array of athletic venues and housing that not only fit the functional needs of the games but are also visually stunning and sustainably sound. Our own focus here at Rakks is on creating products that meet the design needs of clients but we also share in the goal of sustainability. Most Rakks products are manufactured from, and packaged in, materials containing significant percentages of recycled content. Read our complete LEED Statement here.

Focusing on five key themes, the London Olympics’ Sustainability Plan includes:
1. Climate change: minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring legacy facilities are able to cope with the impacts of climate change.
2. Waste: minimizing waste at every stage of the project, ensuring no waste is sent to landfill during Games-time, and encouraging the development of new waste processing infrastructure in East London.
3. Biodiversity: minimizing the impact of the Games on wildlife and their habitats in and around Games venues, leaving a legacy of enhanced habitats where we can, eg the Olympic Park.
4. Inclusion: Promoting access for all and celebrating the diversity of London and the UK, creating new employment, training and business opportunities.
5. Healthy living: Inspiring people across the country to take up sport and develop active, healthy and sustainable lifestyles.
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We recently received a few photos sent in by Rakks customer Mike Waddell and loved Mike’s unique use for our brackets in his urban garden designs so much, we had to feature him as a guest blogger this week! Taking Rakks’ counter and bench support brackets into the great outdoors, read about Mike and his unusual path into the world of design.

From Mike Waddell, Owner of mw design group llc

Although I was a hairstylist for years, I’ve always loved doing my own, and often my friends’, garden designs. One day in 2006 during a client’s highlight process, she asked me “who does your garden?” and then and there, I made the decision to pursue urban garden design seriously. My first big break came when I was able to design a garden for Dwell in the ten part web series “Building Green in Harlem” where I created a garden in a day using discarded building materials from the same site. Today, I design personal sanctuary in the city for clients ranging from Academy Award-winning writer/directors to soccer mom’s looking for a bit of serenity.
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From Sway Chic Owner Jason Knight

Sway Chic is a chain of stylish, fashion-forward yet affordable women’s clothing and accessories that first opened in 2003 in Berkeley, CA. Sway Chic features apparel and products from brands such as Peppermint, Lush Clothing, Many Belles Down, Audrey 3+1, Final Touch, Sole Mio, Mono B and Cotton + Candy.

In September of 2008 I wanted to remodel one of our three women’s apparel stores. We needed a system to display clothing that wasn’t cookie cutter, and wouldn’t break the bank of our small operation. I happened to be reading design magazine and saw one of the small ads in the back describing an affordable modular and yet modern racking system called Rakks.

I went to their website and I studied it. Then I called.

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From impressive skyscrapers to stunning eco-friendly architectural designs, the Rakks Style Spy has featured the most eye-catching buildings in the world of architecture. This week, we spotlight a beautiful residential design.
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