In 1917, the Lazy Susan was introduced in an issue of Vanity Fair. Since that time, people everywhere have used the rotating shelf to their heart’s content. In terms of ubiquity, not one space-saving/organizing product has garnered as much attention. Designer Stefano Bettio is hoping to change that with the introduction of his rotating shelves.

Giralot. Designed by Stefano Bettio. Manufactured by Bellato.

Giralot (gira means turn) are cabinets of varying sizes that rotate 180 degrees. Manufactured by Bellato, Giralot revolutionizes storage. These swinging drawers are designed for any room: they are bookshelf, pantry, and linen closet all at once. Keep some shelves open, others closed, some at an angle, others not-any way you arrange the system works. Part of the beauty with Giralot is its versatility. You can use the storage for stuff that’s visible or invisible, stuff within reach or out of reach, public or private. Part of this changeability depends on the finish of the material, which comes in opaque and translucent panels-or any combination thereof.

From primary red, yellow, and blue to softer pastels like lilac and cement, Giralot can add a punch of color or simply a dab. The translucent panels are well-suited for baths, where they can take on a foggy appearance, as if the shower was running hot for too long; in the kitchen they can highlight beautiful dishes or goblets. The opaque panels are great for bedrooms and living rooms, where the convenient swinging function can make picking up a snap-a wonderful boon should guests or in-laws come for an unexpected visit.

It must be mentioned that a series of Giralot can make a sculptural statement: arranged at varying degrees, the drawers look like a spiral staircase or an inorganic nautilus. For a library, Giralot serves the browser rather well (and for CDs or DVDs too, in case you’re not a reader). I’d like to see a prismatic arrangement of Giralot-all waist-high-in the public library’s children’s section; there is no better container for the likes of Seuss or Sendak.

Giralot should be the new cubicle for innovative companies. Certainly, the ur-candidate for Giralot is Mac: the candi-colored and dripping ipods seen on TV should emerge straight from Bettio’s units. Other prime hopefuls include Ebay and MSNBC, whose rainbow-colored logos should truly reflect an out-of-the-box attitude.