ZENITH DINING TABLE

Zenith puts wood and metal in the same base. The top is wood with a smooth matte finish, 240 × 110 cm; underneath, the structure is built from both materials set against each other rather than one covering the other.

Two materials in one structure

Mixing them in a base is harder than it looks. Wood moves with humidity and metal does not, so the joints between them have to be made to allow for that — fixed rigidly, a wood-and-metal frame loosens or splits within a couple of heating seasons. Done properly the two stay tight and the contrast becomes the design: warm grain against a hard, flat metal surface.

A matte top

Matte rather than polished, which on a dining table is a practical decision as much as a visual one. A gloss finish shows every fingerprint and every wipe mark under a hanging light; a matte surface absorbs it. It also lets the grain read as texture rather than as a reflection.

How many it seats

240 × 110 cm seats eight comfortably — three a side, one at each end — and ten when needed. Allow 60 to 65 cm of table edge per person and about 90 cm of clear floor behind each chair for pulling it out.

Materials and sizes

Dimensions listed above; made to order, with length, width and height adjustable. Wood species, finish and metal tone are specified per project — on this model the metal tone changes the table more than the wood does, so it is worth seeing both.

Where it belongs

A contemporary dining room, an open-plan apartment, a restaurant, an office dining space. The sculptural base wants to be seen, so leave the chairs pulled out when the table is not in use.