This two-bay Staples Ladderax unit brings shelving, display space and a compact desk together in one flexible piece of mid century furniture. Teak cabinets and shelves sit against three slim black metal ladders, with brass hook-over supports allowing the arrangement to be changed as your needs change.
The pull-down front cabinet opens to provide a useful writing surface, with storage inside for paperwork and stationery. Above it, a sliding-door cabinet has an interior glass shelf for smaller pieces you’d like to keep together. The open shelves leave plenty of room for books, records, ceramics and plants without making the unit feel heavy.
One of the included shelves is particularly versatile: it can be fitted at an angle as a sloped writing surface or used to display books, vinyl, magazines or sheet music. It can also sit flat if you would rather use it as a regular shelf. The two bays can be arranged to put the desk and cabinets where they work best for your room.
Designed by Robert Heal and made by Staples of Cricklewood, Ladderax became a familiar sight in British homes during the 1960s and 1970s. Its clever combination of metal ladders, movable shelves and interchangeable cabinets meant that a unit could change over time, rather than being fixed to one layout. This example retains its original Staples Ladderax maker’s labels.
The unit has been carefully prepared in our workshop and presents in lovely vintage condition, with minor signs of age and use.
Included with this unit:
£1,195.00
In stock
Staples of Cricklewood manufactured the iconic Ladderax modular shelving system during the 1960s-70s. Designed by Robert Heal, it featured ladder-style side panels with shelves, cabinets, and desks that could be configured to fit any space.
The system used teak or afromosia with brass fittings. Highly versatile - you could start with a basic setup and expand it over time by adding more units.
We stock Ladderax shelving units, cabinets, and components, all properly restored and ready to assemble.
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Free delivery on this item
Delivered within 10 days (Mainland England & Wales)
Delivery to Scotland: FreePlease allow approximately 2–3 weeks for delivery.
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We hope you'll love your purchase, but if for any reason you change your mind, you're welcome to return it.
Please contact us within 14 days of receiving your item to arrange a return. Items must be sent back in their original condition within 30 days of delivery. The buyer is responsible for return shipping costs.
Once we've received and checked the item, we'll issue a refund (excluding original delivery costs) via your original payment method.
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Robert Heal was a British furniture designer and a descendant of the Heal family – the family behind Heal’s of London, one of Britain’s most celebrated furniture retailers since 1810. Working in that tradition, Heal brought both a design sensibility and a practical understanding of modern living to his work.
In 1964 he designed the Ladderax storage system for Staples & Co, and it became the piece he is best remembered for. Inspired by the clean lines and functionalism of Scandinavian design, Ladderax offered a modular approach to shelving and storage – produced in teak veneer with steel supports, and sold through leading retailers including Heal’s and Harrods.
The system’s appeal was its flexibility: components could be mixed, matched, and reconfigured without tools, making it genuinely adaptable to different spaces and needs. It was also an affordable alternative to high-end Scandinavian furniture at the time, which helped it reach a broad audience and become a fixture of British modern interiors through the 1960s and 70s.
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