Tag Archives: tables

Candy-like cylindrical tables change color when you nest them

Posted on by

Tables come in a wide variety of designs ranging from the basic flat surface on a stand to elaborate sculptural objects. There is also a spectrum of colors and materials, like wood, plastic, metal, or glass. Given their permanent functions, you’re often forced to choose one of these permutations upon purchase and be stuck with them forever.

Fortunately, there are some creative ways to get around that with a simple play of color and materials. These cylindrical side tables might look simple in their forms, but their playful colors give life to the room. Putting one inside the other, however, creates an almost magical appearance that also looks good enough to lick, though we definitely don’t recommend it, no matter how tempting it might seem.

Designers: Kristýna Mikolášková, Tereza Drobná

In terms of function, the Candy Tables collection is pretty basic. It comes in two variations – a solid cylindrical side table and a slightly larger hollow cylinder with an open bottom. They can be used independently, leaving you with two tables, but they can also be nested inside each other if you need to save space.

The magic happens through their colors, using a simple principle we all learn in grade school art class. Mixing two colors together creates a third color, depending on the ratio. In this case, the taller cylinder made of glass lets the metallic table inside show just a little of its color, mixing the two to create a visual effect that almost looks like hard candy.

The collection is available in six smaller metal tables and six larger glass cylinders. You can mix and match them, provided you have more than one pair, to create different combinations as the need arises. Or you can also just nest tables with the same hues to really highlight the color. It still looks pretty either way.

Candy Tables combines simple shapes and color theory to create a very pleasing and interesting aesthetic. The design also cleverly offers the benefit of having two tables or a single one, depending on the need and situation. More importantly, the lively design brings joy into any space, be it residential or commercial, completely transforming the room without complicated and sophisticated gimmicks.

The post Candy-like cylindrical tables change color when you nest them first appeared on Yanko Design.

Walking wooden coffee table is equal parts mesmerizing and unsettling

Posted on by

In the prehistoric past, man’s survival relied on preserving as much energy as possible by using the least amount of effort possible to complete a task. Today, that might sound a little like laziness, but it was that spirit of necessity that gave birth to many of humanity’s greatest inventions, from cars to smartphones to this rather ingenious walking wooden table. A product of passionate craftsmanship, computer wizardry, and creative imagination, the Carpentopod and its 12 crawling legs could be the semi-automated table you’ve dreamed of that will bring your snack and drink at your command, or a sci-fi nightmare come to life that will haunt your waking hours.

Designer: Giliam de Carpentier

Given our advancements in robotics, you might think that making a table walk would be a trivial pursuit, but unlike a wobbling and bouncing quadruped, a table needs to be stable and level if it’s to be useful. The biggest puzzle to this project, therefore, is designing legs that would move the table without jiggling and potentially spilling its contents. To solve this, computer software was used to generate thousands of leg linkage variations and have them compete with each other based on certain criteria. In other words, a kind of machine learning to create the best leg design that can move smoothly in a horizontal direction.

The result is a design that looks like a fusion of Theo Jansen’s iconic Strandbeest mechanism and the movement of multi-legged creatures like centipedes. The table moves with no less than 12 legs in four groups, as each leg can only do a third of the walk cycle on the ground. As you can imagine, the assembly of this wooden machine is no trivial task. The leg linkages themselves were CNC’ed from laminated bamboo for the sake of precision. All in all, There were more than a hundred bamboo parts involved in the construction, each of which was sanded and lacquered.

The Carpentopod isn’t just a mechanical wooden sculpture, however. There are motors used to move the legs, specifically the smooth, brushless motors used for automated curtain products. There’s also plenty of electronics involved, though the majority of them are for controlling the table remotely. Curiously, these non-wooden parts are all hidden inside a central hollow compartment, almost like the belly of the beast, so to speak. The table can be controlled using a custom wand-like remote not unlike a Wii-mote.

It’s definitely mind-blowing how the table can walk so smoothly without toppling things on top of it or spilling their contents. There’s still a bit of shaking, of course, but still within safe ranges. One can only imagine how the basic design of the Carpentopod could be improved with some sensors and automation, delivering your food while you sit on your couch and then parking itself away once its job is done.

The post Walking wooden coffee table is equal parts mesmerizing and unsettling first appeared on Yanko Design.

Minimalist Side Table Hides a Simple But Effective Cable Management System

Posted on by

Many of our everyday items find their way to the side tables sides couches, desks, and beds, and some of these items have cables that snake their way down and across the floor. These wires might not always ensnare your feet, but they definitely turn any beautiful interior into a dangling mess of cables. There are some side tables these days with built-in power outlets, but those still show the wires that crisscross each other. Some might even have the uninspiring charging bricks also rearing their ugly heads. This simple side table, on the other hand, has an equally simple solution that makes sure that nothing but your phones or tablets get the spotlight.

Designer: Rudolph Schelling Webermann

At first glance, the Charge Table looks like a pretty nondescript side table, albeit one with some elegance thanks to its minimalist design. The body itself is made from sturdy powder-coated steel that provides stability and handsome looks. The top of the table is lined with soft felt that protects your devices from scratches and bumps. It also gives a rough surface for mugs and cups to grip, keeping them from sliding.

This simplicity, however, is deceptive, because that tabletop slides out a bit to reveal a hidden compartment inside. This storage space has one primary function: to house a power strip that can charge your devices. You simply plug in your chargers, slide the tabletop back in, and have the charging cable discreetly coming out from the small gap at the side. And when you need to leave with that charger, simply slide the tabletop out again, unplug the charger, and go. You can also leave as many chargers in there thanks to the compartment’s spacious area.

As for the power strip’s own thick cable, a hole in the middle of that hidden storage for it to pass from beneath the table. Ideally, you’d have it find its way down one of the table’s legs or across to a nearby couch or chair, completely hiding it from view. Admittedly, it’s going to be trickier than keeping devices’ charging cables hidden, but at least there’s only one snake to wrangle.

The Charge Table offers a simple, elegant, yet very effective solution to ensuring that unsightly wires don’t ruin the aesthetics of your interior, though the compact size of the table does present another problem. Given today’s practice of owning more than one device per person, it might not be big enough to charge a phone and a tablet or a combination of multiple devices at the same time. Then again, the very design of the table itself encourages simplicity and frugality, and it might give people pause for thought on what’s really important, at least as far as the devices they keep close are concerned.

The post Minimalist Side Table Hides a Simple But Effective Cable Management System first appeared on Yanko Design.

Quirky wooden side tables bring delight with geometric holes like a kid’s game

Posted on by

Almost all tables have tops that are flat and horizontal mostly because of the function they serve. You wouldn’t want your glass to tilt over or your phone to slide down just because of an uneven or inclined surface, right? But as long as you are able to place things down on the table without having them wobble, fall, or roll off to the side, then the tabletop can almost be open to any design or shape. That seems to be the reasoning behind these fun-looking side tables that, at first glance, don’t look reliable or functional, at least until you realize that using them is almost like playing that educational game of fitting shapes inside the right holes.

Designer: Chien Yuoning

Many parents or even kids might be familiar with that toy where you have holes in a geometric shape and you’re supposed to drop matching geometric blocks inside them. This side table collection might immediately remind people of those toys and, unfortunately, might also give them the wrong impression of the practicality of such a design. Fortunately, it isn’t just a whimsical decision as these geometric holes can actually act as helpful organization aids in addition to being quite interesting to look at.

The Designated Table collection has geometric shapes like circles, squares, rectangles, and even pills cut out from the tabletop. While they might look like a loss in terms of usable space, they act as designated containers for things like glasses, phones, books, or whatnot. These compartments let you separate different things while also providing a bit of support to some extent. It’s harder for a glass to topple over if its area is constricted.

At the same time, the shapes add a playful character to the tables, especially since the shapes have a different color from the natural finish of the rest of the wooden table. The tables themselves come in different shapes, including a hexagon and a half circle, doubling the fun factor of each side table. That, however, also determines where some of these side tables can be placed, like the hexagon-shaped side table making a poor fit for a nightstand or anywhere the table needs to be flush against a flat surface like a wall, a couch, or a bed.

Another interesting aspect of the Designated Table’s design is that the legs follow the shape and orientation of those seemingly random shapes. That makes it feel like the wooden legs flow from these geometric indentations or vice versa, giving the tables an almost whimsical flavor that doesn’t sacrifice their stability. The gaps between the legs can even become a place for magazines, taking advantage of the narrow space. The geometric design of the Designated Table feels jovial and delightful but still makes the side tables completely functional and, perhaps, even more effective in keeping your things in their proper places.

The post Quirky wooden side tables bring delight with geometric holes like a kid’s game first appeared on Yanko Design.

Four speakers masquerade as table legs for a tidier living room

Posted on by

Sound is finally getting the attention it rightfully deserves. Even the most stunning visuals wouldn’t be immersive without matching good audio unless you’re viewing a photo or an animated GIF. That’s why speakers are now a more common sight in homes, including those that are separate but connected to TVs. Unfortunately, that also means they can become an eyesore, especially if you have multiple units spread around, either near the TV or even on tables and shelves. There are speaker designs that try to hide their presence, and this particular concept does so ingeniously by making the speakers, which usually take on a cylindrical form, function as legs for a minimalist yet stylish glass table.

Designers: Jiung Yun, Eunbyeol Yun, Jisu Lee, Seonjin Baek

Smart home speakers try to dress up as decorations or art objects, but they are still very visible and take up space on tables and shelves. That’s not even considering the more numerous soundbars and TV speakers that are situated near the screen. They might not block your view, but they can still be a distraction by their mere presence, breaking what should have been an immersive experience.

verre is a concept for a living room table that addresses that design problem in a rather creative and unusual way. Many wireless speakers these days are simply variations on a cylindrical shape, so why not use them for something that’s innately cylindrical? That’s why all four legs of this glass table are actually speakers, though you will definitely not know it at first glance.

The speakers have a powder-coated finish that’s not unusual for tables that combine a glass surface with a metal frame. And while the speaker grilles do catch your attention, they’re not exactly alien to a design that has a teeny bit of an industrial design vibe to it. What’s really impressive is that you won’t see any of the controls for the speakers at all, save for the power button hidden on one of the frames. Physical controls for the speaker are embedded in the fabric-covered discs that sit on top of each “leg,” perfectly blending into their surroundings.

While this LG-inspired speaker concept is visually interesting, it does have some practical considerations that need to be addressed. For one, having the speakers be that low could actually affect the very immersion that they’re supposed to enhance since not all sounds come from the bottom. Additionally, speakers will naturally generate some amount of vibration, so having a glass tabletop might not exactly be the smartest choice for this design.

The post Four speakers masquerade as table legs for a tidier living room first appeared on Yanko Design.

Terrazzo side table concept seems to tempt fate and defy the laws of physics

Posted on by

Tables come in all shapes and sizes, but regardless of the design, they all need to have a single critical trait: they have to be stable. No matter how breathtaking a table might be, it is nothing but a piece of art if it comes crashing down under the lightest of weights. Stability can be achieved through many means, but for something like a coffee table or even a side table, that mostly means having a flat surface that doesn’t wobble or, more importantly, doesn’t tip over. That’s the behavior that people have come to expect from even the most beautiful table, which is why this side table concept is striking both for its elegant looks as well as its rather worrying composition that precariously balances the tabletop on a curved surface, or at least it would seem like it.

Designer: Stuart Cole

Objects that boggle the mind and seem to defy the laws of physics have always been a fascination for us, which is probably why balancing toys or levitating speakers have always been popular products. That, however, doesn’t apply to furniture, especially ones that we expect to be stable or fixed. Seeing a table that’s about to topple over is enough to give some people a heart attack, but fortunately, that’s not the case for the aptly named “Balance” side table design concept.

The table’s form is actually pretty simple, utilizing basic geometrical shapes like a disc and cups. It’s the tension between these shapes, however, that gives Balance its dynamic and rather unstable appearance. It’s almost as if the circular tabletop would topple and fall off the upside-down bowl shape of its base, or that the cup would similarly fall over the edge and break. Of course, it’s all just an illusion because all three parts are joined using interlocking mechanisms that prevent them from falling apart, at least not without much effort.

Balance’s appeal doesn’t stop at its eye-catching shape. Its unique appearance is due not only to the use of terrazzo but also from employing recycled materials. This gives the side table not only a distinctive visual character but also a sustainable narrative that will surely be a topic of conversation for envious visitors. You might even be tempted to use it as a coffee or center table, rather than just leaving it off to the side, though that temptation might also be tempered by unfounded worries that the table will eventually become unbalanced and send your cups and books crashing down.

The post Terrazzo side table concept seems to tempt fate and defy the laws of physics first appeared on Yanko Design.

Triangle Side Table offers an interesting way to show off your books

Posted on by

As the name suggests, a side table is a piece of furniture that’s often placed on the periphery, serving a secondary purpose to hold small objects temporarily. They’re a great location for placing drinks while you lounge on the couch and read a book, or for placing that same book when you need to put it down for a bit. Because of this function, it’s sometimes possible to let side tables take on less conventional forms, at least compared to common desks and tables. You might even be able to stretch the definition of a table to something that might not look like a table at all, like this hollow triangular prism that functions as a decorative piece and a resting place for your books.

Designer: Matthew Soule

The standard definition of a table is an elevated flat horizontal surface supported by vertical legs, but the exact interpretation of these elements is sometimes left to imagination and creativity. The only real requirement is that it should have a stable structure to hold items, though what objects it can hold is again open to interpretation. Side tables are often used to hold cups, mugs, pens, phones, notebooks, and books, and they sometimes have separate storage space for other, less-used objects.

With that in mind, there are plenty of sources for design ideas, like this Triangle Side Table that was supposedly inspired by kids’ toy blocks. It definitely challenges the definition of a table having a flat horizontal surface, though there is definitely an area for that on the back of the apex, like a ledge for your things. That flat area, however, is barely enough to hold a mug, a small notebook, or a smartphone, but only one at a time. There’s also a groove for securing a writing instrument, but you’ll have to make it your favorite or most-used tool since there’s only room for one.

The main focus, instead, is to have a resting place for what you’re currently reading, be it a book or a magazine. You place the partially opened book on top of the triangle, using the tip as a bookmark. It’s a popular design in many minimalist products these days, though it’s uncertain whether it will harm the book’s binding in the long run.

The open interior of the triangle is also another place to showcase reading materials, though it can also house a potted plant or even a pet mattress. The unique shape of the side table, its natural wood material, beveled edges, and the minimalist base that makes the table look like it’s magically floating all contribute to making the odd side table an attention-grabbing piece of furniture. Unfortunately, it’s also quite poor at actually functioning as a regular table, so you’ll definitely want to put it at the sides only.

The post Triangle Side Table offers an interesting way to show off your books first appeared on Yanko Design.

Geometric coffee tables use 3D printing robots and recycled plastic to create organic forms

Posted on by

3D printing has come a long way, but unless you’re using industrial printers in large factories, you’re probably limited to creating small designs or just parts of a whole. That, unfortunately, means that creators and makers aren’t able to fully express their ideas and designs, at least not those that involve pieces that can’t fit inside a commercial 3D printer. That said, you don’t have to give up your creative freedom to use an expensive production line if you can put 3D printing robots to smart use, like this sustainable plastic coffee table that is able to form organic geometric forms just by making the robot arm loop round and round.

Designer: Martin Zampach

When people think of 3D printers, they most likely think of those boxy contraptions sitting on tables, with nozzles that quickly run back and forth while oozing out hot plastic material in order to build up a three-dimensional object almost like from thin air. While this is the most common and most convenient kind of 3D printing, it has severe limitations in the size or shape of the object being made, basically anything that can fit the area and height of the printer.

LOOPS is a collection of coffee tables conceived to push the envelope of 3D printing and create objects that are larger than normal without requiring additional hardware. An industrial 3D printing robot pretty much goes round and round to create the base shape, building layer after layer of composite material until the desired form is achieved. This is the process used for creating the base of these tables, allowing the designer to apply different geometric shapes with organic forms that look like they’re literally growing before your very eyes.

The coffee tables are more than just experiments in 3D printing, they are also testaments to beautiful sustainable design. Tabletops are made from 100% recycled plastic that is crushed, melted, and then moulded from used plastic. The 3D printed bases, on the other hand, are made from composite material containing cellulose from responsible forestry. When the tables reach the end of their use, both the base and the top can be recycled or reused to extend their life in a different way.

The LOOPS coffee table collection offers a unique and novel design that pushes the boundaries of 3D printing to produce beautiful shapes and textures that almost resemble traditional ceramic creations. The variety of recycled plastics used gives each tabletop a unique appearance, both in color as well as in texture. The minimalist yet elegant designs make the coffee tables the perfect artistic centerpieces for any space, offering a thought-provoking design that opens your mind to the possibilities of sustainable 3D printing.

The post Geometric coffee tables use 3D printing robots and recycled plastic to create organic forms first appeared on Yanko Design.

Circular desk concept has an interesting way of measuring the time you spend on it

Posted on by

A lot of people feel that there aren’t enough hours in a day without realizing how much time they might be spending or even wasting on unimportant activities. Keeping track of how you spend your time is often one of the first pieces of advice that productivity gurus give because they often reveal how much free time we actually have if we schedule our actions wisely. There is no shortage of time-tracking and logging apps today, but these digital tools are sometimes easily dismissed or ignored because they’re too convenient. This rather unusual table, however, makes the passage of time a bit more visible and tangible, allowing people to have a more personal relationship with the time they invest in work, projects, and other activities.

Designer: Yunseo Jung

Right off the bat, the Time Table already strikes an interesting visual. Unlike the majority of desks and tables, it’s made almost completely out of circles, from the tabletop to the built-in lamp to the rods that make for its legs and structure. One side of the table shows that leg, but the other side has an arc that functions like a privacy shield. There is also a matching circular tool to complete the set, though such a design isn’t actually novel to this kind of furniture.

While a circular table isn’t exactly rare, the attached “sub table” is. It’s a smaller circular tray affixed to the exposed leg of the table, but that’s not what makes it unique. This sub-table actually moves up and down, changing its elevation as time passes before returning to its base state at the lowest point. Think of it as a time, like a reverse hourglass, that slowly demonstrates the movement of time in a very visual manner.

The basic idea of the Time Table is to let the person sitting in front of it measure, log, and be aware of how much time they’re spending there. You might place some tools related to your work there or anything else that you’ll be able to notice in the corner of your eye. It offers a visual and tangible experience in counting down time without being monotonous like watching seconds tick by. Admittedly, it might also be a bit distracting, which could also be the point of instilling awareness of your time.

Novel as the concept might be, there are also a few issues with the Time Table’s design. The position of the elements, for example, might not be ergonomic or comfortable, with the lamp at a fixed spot and the privacy shield at the side potentially blocking leg movement. Given its design, there seems to also be little room for changing the height of the table, which could be too low or too high for some people. The moving sub-table as a time tracker is definitely an interesting idea, but it could probably be implemented in a different way that doesn’t negatively affect the rest of the table’s functionality.

The post Circular desk concept has an interesting way of measuring the time you spend on it first appeared on Yanko Design.

Quirky shapes make this modular table set a fun yet functional addition to your space

Posted on by

Tables primarily serve a functional purpose, providing a horizontal surface to place things. Considering the space they occupy, it’s only fair that they should also have some aesthetic value, adding to the ambiance of a room instead of sticking out like a sore thumb. Unfortunately, not all designs balance form and function equally, with one aspect getting a heavier focus than the other. Some might be extremely beautiful but have little room for use as an actual table, while others try to get too smart with features at the expense of a pleasing appearance. Fortunately, we have plenty of inspiration around us to help shape our designs, and this family of odd-looking tables takes a few pages from Mother Nature’s book to create pieces that offer both practical utility as well as visual interest, bringing any living space to life.

Designer: Superlife

Most tabletops come in conventional shapes such as rectangles, squares, circles, or ellipses. These, after all, are the most space-efficient shapes around, maximizing the area that you can use to lay down objects like laptops, books, or cups. They’re probably also the most mundane shapes you’ve ever laid eyes on, and they are totally dependent on the rest of the table’s composition or materials to pique your interest. The Flow family of tables bucks that trend and presents a table that almost looks impractical but is actually quite flexible in its functionality, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that it pulls off this feat by learning from organic things designed by nature itself.

As the name somewhat implies, these tables are inspired by naturally occurring bodies of water. Whether they’re puddles or lakes, water doesn’t appear as a perfect circle or rectangle, not unless you put them in artificial containers. The amorphous and almost random shape that water comes in evokes a sense of fluidity, even while at rest. It’s almost the perfect metaphor for tables that become centers of activity even as they act as resting places for your stuff.

Flow, however, is also inspired by cells that take similarly undefined shapes. Each table in the collection also has different heights to add to its unique character. And just like cells, these distinct pieces can function independently or merge into one to provide a larger canvas to arrange objects. The dynamic shapes of the tables might even inspire you to inject some life into your room, just like how cells are the building blocks of organic life.

Whether alone or connected, the fluid shapes of the Flow tables create an interesting ambiance that is both lively and calm, just like water. The tables are both pieces of structural art as well as flexible furniture that provide a bold visual impact, blending form and function in harmony just as things in nature usually do.

The post Quirky shapes make this modular table set a fun yet functional addition to your space first appeared on Yanko Design.