Let me just throw it out there. I love burlwood tables. Rough, tough and raw, I have always thought them sexy and sculptural. They skirt that fine line between awesome and bad taste that I find particularly appealing. With their straight-from-the-late-70s feeling right in line with what's going on in design right this minute, here's how to bring their hunka chunka burning love into your home.
Pair them with items that can hold their own: While you don't want to go full on giant black leather couch (actually, that is exactly where you shouldn't go unless you want your place to vibe sleazy bachelor pad), any furniture you pair with them should be solid, simple and strong. Delicate, ladylike pieces can get trampled on
Balance their solid profile with something lighter: Don't confuse solid simple and strong to mean that this furniture can't work with a light colored or Knoll-style couch on legs. In fact, the contrast of the organic table with a clean-lined couch is a look that's both visually appealing and practical.
Be judicious with pattern: With so much going on in the natural design of the table, err on the side of less when it comes to pairing this table with patterns. That being said, don't be afraid to experiment: a burlwood table on top of an intricate kilim rug might be bold and unusual but it will also be interesting.
Give 'em room to breathe and stretch: Don't crowd your furniture around these tables and don't crowd their tops with stuff. Consider the table as a piece of sculpture in the room. What you put on top of them is as important as what you put around them. Either way, no crowding.
Clear and simple: If you've found your table or tabletop at a flea market or charity shop, chances are it'll need a top or a base. Stay away from heavy carved wood and wrought iron bases. Think clear, light, airy. We like round or oval tops to echo the table's swooping shape; for a base, try hairpin legs or a lucite base.
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Comments (11)
The tables are indeed beautiful. What I really don't get is the rug in the first pic...not because it's an animal hide, but because it still has the fold marks on it. Can't those be steamed out or something?
Haven't (and probably won't) work these tables into my design, but I do love looking at them in other people's homes!
a) those tables are gorgeous
b) the first thing i noticed were the fold marks in the cowhide too! i had the same problem with my cowhide and it is really very simple to iron them out. here is how: http://www.rughouse.net/how-to-smooth-out-the-creases-in-your-cowhide-rug/
I like the one without the glass top...the other ones are kind of pushing it. I think it might be because the wood base is such a rough, organic shape, and the glass top is too geometric by comparison....am I making sense?? Ahh, Monday... :)
I agree with the comments on the rug...does anyone know the source of the couch? Thanks.
"They skirt that fine line between awesome and bad taste that I find particularly appealing."
This is so great, and it totally describes my own aesthetic. Especially with vintage lamps...
I just can't get over an impulse to eat cheez-whiz when I look at those tables.
I really can't warm up to see through glass table tops but I do love the gnarly heavy wood and curvy features. I much prefer the grain of the wood to be the table top both for visibility and pure aesthetics. Glass just creeps me out. The green couch is gorgeous!
Growing up, my mum had five burl tables in our house - three were large (about 30 inches across) and two were smaller (about 18 inches across). They were all made from the same burl and had caste iron hairpin legs with the burl slice as the top. I *hated* them. I thought they were tacky and ugly.
Now, in my 30s and in my own home, I have all five in my livingroom and I LOVE them!! The three large ones are the "coffee table" in front of the couch and because they are from the same burl, they match and sort of fit together.
I love them and everyone always comments on them when they come to visit.
Now I really want to be difficult and break rule 1. I want to see burl wood tables with delicate little Louis chairs or bergeres in a similar colour of wood.
It will be like a fairy tea-party, half organic elements and half diaphanous dollhouse furniture.
A thoughtful insight and ideas I will use on my blog. You've obviously spent some time on this. Well done!