Gnarly End Tables!
Tree Trunks and Stumps Bring Freeform Warmth to All Kinds of Spaces
Do you adore the natural gnarly look of tree trunk stumps and burled wood and wonder how you can bring that look into your home without it looking too rough and rustic? The good news is that a small dose in the form of an end or coffee table is just the right amount of organic shape to balance your home's more streamlined, angular furniture.
A gorgeous slice of tree trunk has been transformed into a polished and stylish coffee table. The wood element looks just right with the austere wood arm chairs and modern wood-framed fireplace. But the freeform amoeba-like table shape adds a casual air to what would otherwise be a fairly stiff room.
The classic burled wood coffee table looks something like this: a huge knotty mass as the base with a circular glass top. Designers are getting creative by pairing it with modern furniture and light colors for a modern look. You may be lucky enough to score a table like this at a flea market or garage sale. Furniture dealers are pricing these beauties around $1,000.
Burled wood is a hot commodity right now. You assume vintage rustic lodge decor, but with a clean straight edge to act as a table top, it fits in wonderfully with modern furniture. Here, it ties the black and white furniture scheme with the architecture of the wood-framed windows.
This example of burled wood is so large it takes on the dimensions of a round dining table. The owner still chose to use it as an end table of sorts to display a grouping of decorative items, but I would even go so far as to use it in an eat-in kitchen.
Like the natural look of the tree trunk but a burled wood table is out your comfort zone? A nice solution is a cluster of tree trunks to act as multi-height table surfaces.
I have an inkling that this homeowner used a tree in their own backyard for a DIY solution.
West Elm and Viva Terra are known to sell small end tables like these.
A way to stand out of the pack is to find tree trunk specimens of varied colors, such as this intriguing piece with hints of light and dark to match the gray, black and white color scheme in the room.
Make your table stand out by choosing an unusual shape, such as this faceted and sculptural form made out of the familiar trunk stump.
Stump end tables need not be limited to the living room. This one, along with the sheepskin rug, adds warmth and texture to this bathroom.
A formal sunroom getting a touch of relaxation with a cluster of stump tables.
Don't forget these stumps can also function as simple stools, no matter what the weather.
More: Loving Wood's Live Edge
Browse photos of stumps in design
More: Loving Wood's Live Edge
Browse photos of stumps in design