T-TABLE DINING TABLE

T is a 260 cm solid wood table on a sculptural base marked with vertical metal accents. The top is left smooth and natural; the base carries the detail, with the metal running downward rather than across — the opposite of most of our dining tables.

Vertical lines, and what they do

Horizontal detailing makes a table look longer; vertical detailing makes it look taller and lighter. On a 260 cm top that is the useful direction: the base reads as a series of upright elements rather than one long mass, so a big table does not dominate an open-plan room. Each line has to be exactly plumb, because a vertical that leans is visible immediately against the floor.

Wood and metal together

Wood moves with humidity and metal does not, so the fixings between them have to allow for it; fixed rigidly, a wood-and-metal base loosens or splits within a couple of heating seasons. Done properly the two stay tight for the life of the table. The metal tone is chosen with the order and it changes the piece more than the timber does.

How many it seats

260 × 110 cm seats eight generously or ten comfortably — allow 60 to 65 cm of table edge per person. The base sits inboard of the ends, so the end places are usable and chairs go anywhere along the sides. Leave about 90 cm of clear floor behind each chair.

Materials and sizes

260 × 110 × 74 cm as drawn; made to order, with length, width and height adjustable. The spacing of the vertical accents is re-set with the length so the rhythm stays even. Wood species, finish and metal tone specified per project.

Where it belongs

A large dining room, an open-plan apartment, a restaurant, a boardroom. It works in both modern and traditional rooms, because the form is contemporary and the materials are not.