Lily Moayeri is one of Modern Shelving’s oldest customers. Roughly ten years ago, Lily was searching for a shelving system for her new home to house her extensive music collection. She needed something that was sturdy yet low profile that could support the weight of her assortment of CDs, vinyl, DVDs, VHS tapes, books, and scrapbooks.
As a music journalist, music is a huge part of Lily's life and as such, her collection is ever growing. Over the years, Lily added additional shelving units to her home to support her expanding collections. Today, Lily has four units proudly displayed throughout her home. Here, Lily shares how she first discovered Modern Shelving®, the various shelving systems she has throughout her home, and how her shelves have held up over time.
How did you discover Modern Shelving®?
A friend who was helping me get the house together saw my shelving woes and suggested Modern Shelving®. He knew it was what I was looking for but was concerned that it would be cost-prohibitive. Once I took a look at examples of Modern Shelving® online, I was instantly sold and started a conversation with John Clark.
Did you go with custom shelves?
Custom shelves were a must as we wanted to maximize the various wall spaces I had. Plus, we have a combination of different-sized items. I sketched out my ideas on paper, took a picture, and emailed it to the Modern Shelving® designer. They came back with a rendering that looked exactly like the final product.
Where in your home are your shelves?
We have two systems in our living room, one takes up an entire wall and the other takes up a smaller wall. Those are shelves that display our CDs and DVDs and we have other music-related items in the cabinets.
We have another one in our library/music room that holds our books. There is a fourth one of all shelves in my “she shed” that holds all the magazines in which I’ve had my writing published. That one is the largest system. It goes all the way to the ceiling and takes up almost the entire wall.
In that room, there is another system that is a combination of cabinets, shelving, filing drawers and work surface. Every system we have is custom and was designed in collaboration with the Modern Shelving® team.
Why is the blend of cabinets and shelves a good fit for you?
The fact that it was possible to combine shelves with cabinets was an absolute bonus. While much of what we are displaying on the shelves looks good, some of it just isn’t that aesthetically appealing. The scrapbooks are in uninspiring binders. There are a bunch of mixtapes and CDs in sleeves. All of that we wanted to keep, but not in plain sight so the cabinets came in very handy.
As a music journalist why is it important for you to have your home filled with CDs, books, and magazines?
Both my husband and I moved a lot with our families when we were growing up. My parents didn’t let us bring anything with us each time we moved other than a suitcase with a week’s worth of clothes. The books and music that we were attached to stayed behind. Our collections might have something to do with trying to hold on to items that have meaning and connection for us. Music is a passion, as is reading and writing. We like being surrounded by the things that inspire us.
When did you first start collecting CDs?
I’ve been collecting music since I was four years old. My husband started collecting music from when he was in elementary school. Sadly, we don’t have those early items since we moved so much. The current collection we have is from our teenage years onward. We have no idea how many we have. The way we determined how much shelving we needed was by volume. We like lots of different genres and how collection reflects that.
What has been the reaction from friends and family to your shelves?
Anyone who comes to our home comments on the shelves and asks if they’re custom and where we got them, and we’re delighted to turn them onto Modern Shelving®.
What do you like about your shelves and what do you think sets them apart from other options?
Their durability, low-profile aesthetic and customizability.
You’ve had your shelves for 10 years now? How are they holding up with time?
Our shelves are holding up like new. They’re fantastic.
Anything else?
We really appreciate how cooperative and accommodating the Modern Shelving team® is. Working with them is easy and friendly. They always seem as excited by what we’re doing as we are.
Lily Moayeri’s story is a testament to the lasting quality, customizability, and timeless appeal of Modern Shelving. Over the course of a decade, her shelves have not only supported an ever-growing music and media collection, but also become an integral part of her home and lifestyle. Whether you're a collector, a creative, or simply someone who values functional design, Modern Shelving is built to grow with you—and to last.
Ready to start your own shelving story? Book a free design consultation with our team today and let us help you create a custom solution that’s built to last.
👉 Book a Free Design Consultation
