EXHIBIT 5.1



                                 February 22, 2002



Steelcase Inc.
901 44/th/ Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508

     Re:  Steelcase Inc.
          Registration Statement on Form S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am the Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for
Steelcase Inc., a Michigan corporation (the "Company"), and have acted as
counsel to the Company in connection with the public offering of $250,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6.375% Senior Notes Due 2006 (the
"Exchange Notes"). The Exchange Notes are to be issued pursuant to an exchange
offer (the "Exchange Offer") in exchange for a like principal amount of the
Company's issued and outstanding 6.375% Senior Notes Due 2006 (the "Original
Notes") under an Indenture dated as of November 27, 2001 (the "Indenture"),
between the Company and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the
"Trustee"), as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
November 19, 2001 (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), by and among the
Company, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Banc of America
Securities LLC, Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

     This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item
601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


     In my examination, I have assumed the legal capacity of all natural
persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to me as originals, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to me as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making my examination
of executed documents, I have assumed that the parties thereto, other than the
Company, had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all
obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all
requisite action, corporate or other, and the execution and delivery of such
documents by the parties to such documents, and the validity and binding effect
thereof. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that were not
independently established or verified, I have relied upon oral or written
statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the
Company and others.

     In rendering the opinions set forth herein, I have examined and relied on
originals




Steelcase Inc.
February 22, 2002
Page 2

or copies of the following: (a) the Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on the date
hereof (the "Registration Statement"); (b) the form of the Exchange Notes; (c)
an executed copy of the Indenture; (d) an executed copy of the Registration
Rights Agreement; (e) the Form T-1 of the Trustee to be filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement; (f) the Second Restated Articles of Incorporation of
the Company, as in effect on the date hereof; (g) the Amended Bylaws of the
Company, as in effect on the date hereof; and (h) certain resolutions adopted by
the board of directors and the executive committee acting under the authority of
the board of directors of the Company relating to the Exchange Offer, the
issuance of the Original Notes and the Exchange Notes, the Indenture and related
matters. I am a member of the Bar in the State of Michigan, and I have also
examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my
satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements of the Company,
certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other
representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as I have
deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth below.

My opinion set forth herein is limited to the laws of the State of Michigan and
the laws of the State of New York which are normally applicable to transactions
of the type contemplated by the Exchange Offer ("Opined on Law"). I do not
express any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction other than the
Opined on Law or as to the effect of any such non opined law on the opinion
herein stated. I have relied as to matters of New York law on the opinion of
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Illinois) of even date herewith and to be
filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement.

     Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications,
exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, I am of the opinion that the
Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and when the
Exchange Notes (in the form examined by me) have been duly executed and
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and have been
delivered upon consummation of the Exchange Offer against receipt of Original
Notes surrendered in exchange therefor in accordance with the terms of the
Exchange Offer, the Exchange Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally and (ii)
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered
in a proceeding at law or in equity).

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement.


                                        Very truly yours,



                                        /s/ Sheila C. Dayton
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Sheila C. Dayton
                                        Vice President, General Counsel and
                                        Assistant Secretary


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