Design is not only about the aesthetic. It is about how we live. And never has it been more about the flexibility in how we live. The days of stuffy, formal rooms- that homeowners only use twice a year- are gone. Our entertaining style has changed. We cannot afford to waste precious square footage and we want to feel comfortable in our spaces. We are ready to break a few rules…
Design by Amanda Nisbet
The coffee table is a perfect example of a design element that, in its traditional blocky form, can be reevaluated. In the large-scale room above, a sleek pair of tables adds an airy contrast to the heavy sofa and ottoman. A giant, solid table would have added too much visual weight and covered up that fabulous rug!
Design by Huis Styling
Who wants to have to stretch across the room to grab your coffee, once settled into a comfy sofa corner? The small wooden tables, above, allow you to pull one right up to your seat- exactly where you need it. Experiment with various combinations to update your look or group them for different family tasks. A teen might balance his laptop on one, while a smaller child eats a snack on another.
Design by Grade NY
Hands down, ottomans are the most versatile of “tables”. They are a triple-threat in the furniture world! They serve as a table top, extra seating for guests and allow one to stretch out and recline. Relaxing in a room like this one lets you set a chic tray upon one piece and put your feet up on the other. Bliss! (Hidden castors make it easy to maneuver them into just the right spot.)
Try two rectangular tables like the rosewood beauty, Lauren, by Bungalow 5. Standing in at 25″ square, the gilt Fairview table, by Aerin for Lee Jofa, would look great in a collection of four. Or purchase an official grouping like this black nesting trio by Hickory White.