Inspiration | Interpretation - A Raw Wood Table
When the work, words, home, style, talents, or values of someone or something else makes your breath catch, stirs a longing, or causes you to lean in with curiosity, this is simply part of them reflecting part of you. Their life and work is not a prescription or formula, but an invitation for you to live fully yours. Take that awakening, that curiosity, and see what it becomes in your unique life.
INSPIRATION: These raw wood tables. Something about the purity of the wood, the checking (what the long cracks are called), the simplicity of the wood in its natural state. As if there was no stain, no varnish, no layers. Naked and beautiful.
INTERPRETATION: This table, made by hand of solid alder, purchased years ago by my clients for their former house - a rustic log home. Now, however, we were doing a careful renovation of their new-to-them forever house, a clean-lined mid-century modern home made of stone, glass, and wood, and they thought they may have to replace their much-loved dining table.
I knew immediately that we didn’t need to replace this special piece, just change it a bit.
The inspiration photo of the raw tables above was part of my design presentation to them. I explained that I thought the handmade, rustic style of the table was a great juxtaposition to the streamlined architecture of their new home - an unexpected element that brought the perfect tension - and that stripping it to its natural state would be the key detail that would make it all work.
They loved the idea.
A refinisher did the transformation for us. It was a thrilling moment when I checked in at the workshop after they’d stripped one leaf to show us the color of the raw wood.
Here, the fully stripped alder table is waiting for its finish-that-doesn’t-look-like-a-finish. I specified Woca, a Danish oil that I’ve used on several projects, in matte clear with a touch of white to retain the raw wood look.
Installed in the space and set off by a set of modern chairs, it really made the quiet, raw wood statement I had envisioned. Best of all, the clients love it.
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Inspiration / Interpretation is a series meant to encourage us all. Next time you see an inspiring human, or inspiring thing, let it wake up the best in you. No inferiority or lack. No inadequacy or comparison. Just inspired curiosity, discovery, passion, you.
