Knoll Saarinen Table
Right now I am loving the cleanness of this table designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956. It has really stood the test of time and is now considered a "Design Masterpiece". I will never forget in Design School we had to do a two-point perspective rendering, hand drawn, of this table (the elliptical version) with 6 chairs with the same base around it. I hated that base for years, but I have finally come to terms with the beauty and versatility of the design. I particularly like the quote below by Saarinen and the fact that he referred to the legs of tables and chairs as "a slum of legs". As a designer I can totally relate to that. It is always a challenge to pay attention to the detail of "legs".
Knoll Saarinen Table
"The underside of typical chairs and tables makes a confusing, unrestful world,"
said esteemed Finnish designer Eero Saarinen.
"I wanted to clear up the slum of legs." Design Year: 1956
Knoll Saarinen Table
Diamond Baratta
Knoll Saarinen Table
Eric Piasecki Photography (left) Dominio (right)
Tom Scheerer (above left and all below)
Knoll Saarinen Table
Knoll Saarinen Table
Knoll Saarinen Table
Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture,
and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009
Clean - is what comes to mind when i see this table - interesting how its mostly in white
ReplyDeleteI love his comment about table legs!
ReplyDelete-Lana
i love this table ... you know it's a great design when ikea is copying it! :)
ReplyDeletebut you're right, very versitle and just so visually pleasing in almost any environment.
j.lee
Oooh -- I love this with the traditional chairs!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fabulous table and you have picked some great pictures to show it off!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe table looks nice with anything it's paired up with. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://social-network-web-design.blogspot.com
Boy, does that table hold memories for me about my mother...
ReplyDeletehttp://fififlowersdecor.blogspot.com/2008/05/happy-mothers-day.html
It is a very clean and neat table, although I find it too stark for my tastes. When I was in Grade 1 we had a little table like that in my classroom (a wee knock-off, I suppose) and I hated it because it wasn't fun to put your feet up against the sloping base. I always liked to sit back and stretch out my legs and I find that base really annoying. He talks about a "slum of legs" but that sloping great base takes up a lot of real estate too and doesn't make a very comfy place to stretch out ones feet. Now a simple pedestal table with no slope to the base, but just right angles, while less attractive is more practical. ;)
ReplyDeleteBut then again, what do I know? I just know that I never like to stretch my feet out under these tables, as there is no place for feet to go...
Hi Patricia
ReplyDeleteThis is such an amazing piece, that never gets old and seems to fit every situation.
For some reason, I think only Tom Scheerer gives this table the freshness it once had. No other decorator I know handles it with quite so much panache.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed Patricia!
ReplyDeleteThe table HAS stood the test of time and looks marvelous the many settings you share here!
Hope you are well!
xo
Constance
I love this table. I especially adore the oval marble topped one! They are so versatile. One of these days I will convince the husband that we need a change and I will get my table. I love the photos you've chosen. They all show the table in a completly different environment and it looks amazing every time.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Charlie
I love this classic design, too, Patricia! Very beautiful. Hope you are well!
ReplyDeletetom scheerer REALLY loves using that table! but he does it very well! i love my dining room table, but i would take one of these in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeletejust added you to my daily reads - i cannot afford to miss your posts! they're so full of great spaces!
Lovely to see this beautiful table in all those different contexts - and to learn a little more about it too!
ReplyDeleteI really like this post. It made me look at a table I would normally consider 'too modern' for my taste in a different light. Thanks for opening my mind!
ReplyDeleteIf you like the table but don't know how to integrate it to your house, do check my full coverage post of the saarinen table here:
ReplyDeletehttp://a-mad-tea-party-with-alis.blogspot.com/2008/01/story-of-saarinen-table-and-other.html
Patricia, I love this table and this is a fantastic post on the different ways to use it!
ReplyDeleteGreat design, but I ultimately decided not to buy this table as every one I saw in stores wobbled unless the floor was perfectly flat (and here in San Francisco in old Victorians and such they seldom are). The heavy ones with marble tops were better but still not perfect, but the wooden and laminate ones just wobbled whether writing or cutting meat or whatever, and that made it a no go for me. It might be better on low-pile carpet (or worse -- no idea) but on a bare floor they ALL wobbled.
ReplyDeleteMine has a marble top and does wobble terribly! It is in my dining room that rarely gets used but is always seen, so I don't mind very often. It makes me enormously happy to look at everyday.
ReplyDeleteMine wobbles too! In fact I was looking for ways to fix it when I found this post. I think my old warped wood floor could be to blame though.
ReplyDelete