This article explores the evolution of the coffee table, from its historical roots to its modern interpretations. It highlights notable designers and their contributions to shaping this iconic piece of furniture.
The coffee table often serves as the center piece of a living room, combining functionality with artistic expression. While its modern form emerged in Victorian England, inspired by the growing trend of informal social gatherings, its roots trace back to cultures like the Ottoman Empire and East Asia, where low tables played central roles in daily life.
By the mid-20th century, designers such as Isamu Noguchi transformed the coffee table into a sculptural statement, pushing the boundaries of form and function. Today, its large, flat surface offers designers a canvas for experimenting with innovative materials and techniques, making it a statement piece that reflects the personality of its maker – and its owner.In Dutch designer Dirk van der Kooij's studio, nothing goes to waste. The 'Meltingpot' coffee tables are crafted daily by the studio's colourist using unwanted plastic prototypes and color tests, melted and pressed into moulds to create one-of-a-kind pieces. With their distinctive, plasticine-like patterns, each table tells a story of invention, circularity, and material transformation. Ana Kraš’ 'Slon' tables, named after the Serbian word for 'elephant', debuted in 2015 with Brooklyn-based brand Matter Made. The design rode the rising edge of the 'chubby furniture' movement, which later defined an era of rounded, monolithic forms. Balancing cylindrical legs with a lightweight top, the 'Slon' collection includes a variety of pieces, from benches to tables, among them this portly coffee table. Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.Sebastian Cox had been advocating for circularity in design long before it became a major topic in industry circles. The 'Hewn' coffee table, debuted in 2014 as part of his studio's 'Underwood' collection, is crafted from coppiced hazel sourced from his woodland in Kent, South Englan
COFFEE TABLE DESIGN HISTORY MODERN DESIGN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FURNITURE TRENDS
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