Dining Table

The stone table top is the most varied group of work in our catalogue: we make oval, round, rectangular and free-form tops. What they share is this — a table top does not settle into a space the way a countertop does; it becomes furniture in its own right. Slab selection is therefore more decisive here than on a countertop.

On a countertop, where the vein runs is bounded by the cabinet line and the wall; on a table top the top stands alone and is walked around. As in the black gold-veined round table in this catalogue, when the vein passes through the centre the table is built around a single gesture. In such single-pattern work we pay close attention to which region of the slab is used; a circle taken a metre to the side of the same slab would be an entirely different table.

Weight is a more significant constraint on a table than on a countertop. A marble top 3 cm thick is roughly 80 kilograms per square metre; a 160x90 cm rectangular top therefore passes 110 kilograms. That weight has two consequences. First, the leg system: a standard furniture leg will not carry the load, so a steel structure or a central pedestal is required. The star- and X-form metal legs used on the tables in this catalogue came out of that need. Second, transport: because the top is a single piece, whether it can be carried up a staircase has to be worked out in advance. We discuss this at the measuring stage; if necessary the top can be planned in two pieces with the joint concealed.

The edge detail is the decision that changes a table's appearance the most. A square edge shows the top's thickness as it is and reads as contemporary. An edge chamfered from below makes the top optically thinner and the table look lighter. A laminated thick edge does the opposite: a 3 cm slab yields a top that reads as 6 cm and the table gains weight. The images in this catalogue let you compare these three details.

Surface finish on a table depends on habits of use. A polished surface shows the vein most clearly and is easy to wipe, but it also shows scratches and acid marks most clearly. A honed surface is more forgiving of daily use. Not leaving acidic liquids such as wine, lemon and vinegar standing for long applies to both finishes.