The dining table is more than just a place to eat. It’s where we gather and linger for warm meals, great conversations, board game nights and maybe even last-minute work. From memorable moments to the quotidian, these are five dining tables that will stay by your side through every season.
With legs that appear as a closed surface at some angles and transparent at other vantage points, the Lattice table has a way of playing with perception and light. Copenhagen-based studio Norm Architects — whose practice melds Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics — drew inspiration from shutters and covers that adjust the amount of light streaming into a room. This piece ushers a calming presence to any dwelling, especially when paired with the Lattice bench.
Image 1: Soft-Edge chair, Two-Colour table, Revolver stool
Image 2: Rey Chair, Two-Colour table
Belgian designers Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen are renowned for furniture objects that straddle between design and art. This Two Colour table for HAY was their way of designing for a younger audience who typically wouldn’t be able to afford their pieces. Playing with the concept of contrasts and similarities, the duo matched durable steel tube legs with a table top crafted in organic coloured Valchromat, a robust MDF material coated with a water-based lacquer. It’s all about the little details here: both components share the same thickness, creating an easy-on-the-eye silhouette. The table is also available in different shapes, sizes and colour permutations — a wonderful way to inject your personality into the piece.
As its name suggests, this table references the traditional Japanese clothing worn by the samurai, with legs resembling a warrior standing in full dress. Its distinctive wide base and wave-like groove pattern (an expression of the folds in the samurai’s attire) make this piece the perfect conversation starter when guests come over. Designed by Hamburg-based design collective Maly Hoffmann Kahleyssm, this stately table can be rectangular or round, with multiple wood finishes to choose from.
Gothenburg-based designer Sami Kallio’s In Between marble dining table in Verde Guatamala stone is quiet and timeless yet never lacking in character and materiality. It bears a classical shape but feels contemporary in expression — a showcase of Kallio’s ability to balance between the past and present. Take your pick from three stone finishes, or opt for a down-home feel with an oak or walnut tabletop. The lack of ornamentation makes it a great match for any chair of your liking.
The Iena table appears simple and elegant with sleek and slender legs, but it can actually support an expansive 300–cm table top. The secret lies in its aluminium die-casted construction, whose durability has made it a popular pick among the Japanese. Designed by French designer Patrick Norguet — the mastermind behind Capellini’s iconic Rainbow chair — this piece is available in an oak or revolutionary ultra ceramic tabletop. Made to last a lifetime, this is one piece that can be passed on to the next generation.
