Key: Photos and Pricing

With the preproduction pieces only being finished a couple days before the CO-DESIGN show, I haven't been able to properly photograph them, but I did take a few shots tonight at the show. Shown are all three sizes (short, medium, and tall), and three of the available door colors. Announced retail prices are as follows (without doors):

Short: $499
Medium: $549
Tall: $599
Set of sliding doors: $149

Key uses sustainably harvested Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified maple veneer plywood with low formaldehyde content (exceeds European E1 standard) and a low VOC finish. The doors are powdercoated, which is a VOC-free process. And of course, Key is made right here in Denver, CO.

A full order and configuration page will be coming in the next several days is available here. And if you're in Denver, orders can be taken by P Design Gallery, until at least August 25th.

Changes coming before production: a stabilizer bar at the bottom of the tall version (to better tie the sides together), tighter key fit, some sort of cord passthrough hole in the back, and the ability to stack short modules onto the medium or tall base.

Options coming soon: a padded cushion to convert the low or medium module into a bench (would make great shoe storage), an adjustable internal shelf (for stacking AV components or CDs/DVDs), a door choice that allows IR remote control signals to pass through (probably either polycarbonate, glass, or perforated metal).

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Kagen Schaefer Puzzle Box

I just got back from the CO-DESIGN show and I had to post this first. Not really furniture, but unbelievably cool. This little wood box was in a display case for most of the show, and I didn't really notice it. Then I got talking to the guy who made it, Kagen Schaefer, and he's telling us he is a champion puzzle box maker. So what's a puzzle box? Well, this picture doesn't do it justice at all. The top surface is made up of very thin wood pieces that slide back and forth, and by sliding you can make all sorts of different geometric patterns: a herringbone, various angled rectangles, etc. But when you arrange them into the pattern engraved on the side, the drawer opens. Fantastic.

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CO-DESIGN Show

If you're in Denver, you better be going to the CO-DESIGN show at P Design Gallery. Opening reception is Saturday, July 14th from 3-7pm, and the show will run until August 25th. Paul and Pifuka have ripped out a wall and expanded into the space next door, giving them a massive 6000ft^2 space. I'll be dropping off the first pre-production Key prototype tomorrow, so that will be there. I got a brief glance at the entry list for the show, among the names I recognized (from a pretty long list) were our friends at Doublebutter, along with E Bella, Tivi, and INV/ALT, and more. Should be cool. Go.

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Product Preview: Key

Key is a new product from Housefish coming this summer, which will be making its debut at the CO-Design show at P Design Gallery on July 14th (the show runs through August 25th). Made from low formaldehyde FSC certified maple plywood with a low-VOC finish, Key is a modular shelving system that assembles without any tools (except for a hammer or large rock). The parts are held together with machined aluminum tenon keys. Sliding powdercoated aluminum doors available in a variety of colors are an optional extra. The modules can be stacked as shown to form shelving, or different sides can be used with a single module to form a low console or sideboard.


We will add pricing and configuration options shortly. We've been very careful to minimize waste and optimize manufacturing, which will make Key very price competitive with other similar sustainably manufactured products.

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