Why the Royal Modular Wall System by Poul Cadovius Is Still So Popular
You’re looking for a piece of furniture that brings calm to your space, without feeling heavy. Something that lets you store what you need — but also display what matters: your favourite art book, an object with a story, or a keepsake from a journey.
The Royal System by Poul Cadovius offers exactly that balance. Storage where you need it, space where you want it. A modular wall system you configure yourself — bringing style to your wall while keeping the floor open.
Poul Cadovius deliberately let go of the traditional cabinet concept. His Royal System, designed in the late 1940s, isn’t placed on the floor — it’s mounted on the wall. You decide where the shelves go, where the cabinets hang, and how the whole composition comes together.
Durable, personal, and timeless
Moving house? A new space? Simply ready for a change? You can reconfigure the system anytime. It’s solid craftsmanship that lasts for years — and more importantly, it adapts with you.
- materials designed to last
- flexibility in layout and use
- the space to express your own style
- store what you’d rather keep out of sight — and showcase what means something to you.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Poul Cadovius (1911–2011) was a Danish furniture designer and entrepreneur who revolutionised home interiors with his Royal System. Instead of heavy cabinets on the floor, he envisioned a light and flexible wall-mounted system you could configure yourself. His philosophy:
“Most of us live on the bottom of a cube… Why not use the walls?”
The Royal System was one of the first wall-mounted furniture designs to combine hanging, storage, and display in one modular concept. It won international awards and is still considered a quintessential example of Scandinavian design today.
Royal System at Ztijl
In our collection, you’ll find original Royal System setups — from compact two-piece arrangements to full wall-spanning systems with a drop-front desk. Each piece is carefully selected, inspected, and ready for immediate use. You’re buying an authentic mid-century wall system: a piece with history — stylish, functional, and timeless.
FROM THE BOOKS at Ztijl
The visuals, information and context in this article are partly based on original documentation from our own Ztijl library. We collect and use vintage brochures, books and archival material to understand each piece in our collection as thoroughly as possible — not just in terms of design, but also in origin and meaning.
At Ztijl, it’s not just about form — it’s about the story behind it.