Shipping crates, pallet racks and boxes form display cases in this exhibition at R & Company gallery in New York City, which was created by local interior design firm Pembrooke & Ives.

Pembrooke & Ives designed the Uncrated Curated exhibition to be like a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the development of an interior design project, starting from the initial concept to finished work.

Wooden shipping containers emblazoned with "Fragile" and an "R" provide the platforms for a range of historical and contemporary objects sourced from the gallery's collection. Some objects are strapped to the top of the boxes with tape or are placed partially outside of them as if they are still being unpacked.

Sheets used to protect objects from paintwork and protective floor mats are among the other props that add to the unfinished aesthetic. Ladders are also included.

"Uncrated Curated explores the process of the interior designer from discovering and sourcing unique and inspired pieces of furniture and design, the joy of unwrapping these objects for the first time, and the way in which these elements come together to form the spaces we inhabit," said Pembrooke & Ives in a project description.

Pembrooke & Ives sourced a range of historical and contemporary objects from the R & Company's collection to feature in the showcase. They are grouped into layouts that suggest possible arrangements, like life-size mood boards.

Wood volumes are inserted into the centre of the gallery to house different set-ups. Glimpses of objects inside – including colourful pop by Los Angeles artist Kelly Lamb, chairs designed by French interior designer Pierre 
Yovanovitch and lighting designed by contemporary artist Jeff Zimmerman – are offered by peepholes and cracks.

"The team has selected historical and contemporary works from our collection and presented them in a way that we could have never have imagined," R & Company principal Zesty Meyers added.

"This show is about discovery and the space has been transformed into an engaging environment that invites people to wander through the gallery and explore the works on view."

On the gallery's upper level a series of metallic cabinets are arranged in a zig-zag. Each set forms a vignette for a different groups design like large-scale mood boards.

At the end of this row, the exhibit ends with a dining room, fully furnished with a Wendell Castle table, a Rogan Gregory hanging light and a grand marble fireplace designed by the Haas Brothers. Brazilian mirrors and gold mirrors also designed by the Haas Brothers hang on the wall as well.

Other items on show in Uncrated Curated are designs by Brooklyn artists Serban Ionescu and Katie Stout.

Pembrooke & Ives, which was established in 1987, were invited by R & Company as part of a series that invites architects and designers to be guest curators.

It forms the latest showcase at the gallery – a 19th-century building recently overhauled by Thai architect Kulapat Yantrasast. Other exhibits have included a Sebastian Errazuriz exhibition featuring a taxidermy Bird Chandelier.

Uncrated Curated is on view at R & Company, 64 White Street from 26 June to 22 August.