Designer Tables

Tables carry the life of a room — books, drinks, flowers and the things a family actually uses. I choose them for material honesty: solid woods, stone, aged metals and finishes that improve with use. Coffee table proportion. A coffee table should be about two-thirds the length of the sofa and sit 16 to 18 inches from it. Keep its height level with or one to two inches below the sofa seat. Round and oval tables soften a room full of upholstery and are easier to move around in busy family spaces. Side tables. A side table should be within a couple of inches of the arm height of the chair or sofa it serves, so a drink or lamp is in easy reach. Mixing a stone side table with a wood coffee table keeps a seating group from looking matched. Consoles and entry tables. Entry consoles are typically 30 to 34 inches high and 12 to 18 inches deep. Behind a sofa, a console should be no taller than the sofa back. Hang a mirror or art above it with the bottom edge 6 to 10 inches above the tabletop. Dining tables. Plan 24 inches of table length per person and leave 36 to 42 inches between the table and walls or other furniture. Round tables of 48 to 60 inches seat four to six comfortably; extension leaves let a table serve both daily meals and holidays.