590 Marble top contemporary

This is actually a Ceasarstone top, but the design is appropriate for marble as well.   (44 x 84 x 30"h)  Solid sapele dining table.  A lightweight and very strong torsion box is used to provide strength and stability for the stone, and this hides behind the apron.  Stone is let into the center and is glued in place with the proper mastic for Caesarstone.  Many adjustable levelers within the torsion box act in tandem to adjust the height of the stone to a precise 1/16 inch above the level of the surrounding wood apron and holds the stone "just so" as the mastic hardens over its proper cure time.  

Rather than the commonly seen cutaway style leg, these are, instead, full split-turned legs (lathe turned and then split into four sections).  Our client liked a similar dining table built by us several years ago but a different leg profile was more appropriate for her look, which if described in only two words would be opulent yet modern.  

Close view of legs showing inside detail.  Solid sapele was chosen for its grain pattern and has been ebonized to give the "very very dark, almost black" color desired.  

Showing table edge close view.  

A small gap between the stone and table edge is necessary to allow for seasonal movement of the stone.  This is carefully filled with color matched flexible caulk.  Ordinarily we must allow for seasonal expansion of the wood; however in this design, such movement is minimal to non-existent.  

This shows finish sample used to create this finish.  During the design phase of any project, finish examples are mailed to our clients to look at and choose in their own rooms with their unique lighting.  The chosen sample is then sent back to us, and since we do so much bespoke work, we use that sample to guide our finishing choices.  In the end, the piece will perfectly match the example board.

593 "Aslan's table"

This massive cabriole style dining table (dimensions 42 x 96 x 30h. with (2) 24 inch leaves) was designed and built for a family with a large dining room in a home with a high vaulted ceiling.  It was decided that thicker legs and top would be more appropriately scaled for a larger residence.  The table stretches to 144 in (12 ft)

This piece was fitted with two large "company board" style leaves:  the size of the dining room permitted these large leaves (with arms attached to the leaf) to swing in and fit into each end.  Rectangular plugs cover the leaf arm holes when the leaves are not in place.

A close view of the leg and foot, also showing leaf-hole plug.  Solid distressed alder with a living finish.

Close view of top showing marks, dings and character.  

Another close view of top showing round pegs, "cracks" and "gaps between boards of top.

Alder is a lovely wood and we use this species frequently for distressed pieces.

565 Dark Voluptuous Oak

A lovely extension table, 36 x 50 x 30h table with center opening extension slides and (2) 14 inch leaves, total open length 78 in.  Designed, bespoke for a client who wanted voluptious romantic leg styles in solid oak. 

This is the "Grand Baluster dining table from Restoration Hardware."  When a client first calls me, (s)he usually gives me some inspiration photo like this and asks for us to make it in a custom size or other options not provided by the manufacturer.  I cannot ethically reproduce some other firm's design, nor would I want to.  This is generally the beginning of a bespoke collaboration, in which I learn the client's preferences based upon conversations including lots of images.  I make up my own sketches and we choose the best, and go from there.  The end result is usually much more pleasing to the client than the inspiration image provided.

Here is the table closed, with no leaves in place.  Chunky and solid, with a pleasing heft and shape.   

Opened to its full length of 78 inches.  I always love it when a client is willing to do something really bold.

The flared corner details suggested themselves, after the leg profile was decided.

Details of finish -- this table was made to mimic what an antique piece would look like.  Toward that end, I included some scuffs, dings, "burns", "ink stains", discoloration, and color variation. 

 The resulting table will be so easy to live with.  It will weather normal wear and tear beautifully and will only look better with the passage of time and use.  And if the unthinkable happens - a gash, or a plant pot that leaks - the "living" finish here is the easiest possible finish to repair.  Most repair work can be done in the client's home with minimum possible fuss.

In this photo it shows some of the antiquing that I used:  the black spots are small burn marks, made to mimic perhaps actual cigar burns or perhaps ink spills.  Remember when people used real pens?  They also ate a lot of gravy and used real butter in those days.  You can also see tiny cracks, and a small chip that has (long ago) broken off the flared corner. 

Close view of the top.  The grain is not actually white like this - it shows white because of the bazillion watts of light I have in my studio.  You can see that there is quite a bit of color variation in the top, as antique piece might develop through its lifetime.

Look closely and you can see round pegs at the junctions of the boards in the top. 

Corner detail.  

Leg detail.