I mentioned in my last post that my life is full of changes lately. One of the harder choices I've made was to leave a business I have been part of for the last two years. I started Modern Union with my friend Jaren a couple years ago and together we set out to make a name for ourselves building gorgeous modern kitchens and custom furniture in Salt Lake City. Truth be told, the vast majority of the actual work was done by Jaren, as I was still working a full time job on the side. 

This sycamore slab table is the latest work to come out of the Modern Union studio, and one of the first things done without me being involved at all. It's a bitter sweet moment for me. My gut reaction is to be disappointed that I didn't have anything to do with it. It's so gorgeous I want to pretend that I'm somehow associated with it. Mostly though I'm just glad to see Jaren getting great commissions and still making absolutely flawless works of art. 

Jaren is doing the exact work I'm wanting to promote on Grassrootsmodern. He's just one guy in a small shop. He's incredibly talented, and he's making amazing things. This particular table has some great heritage too. The 5 foot by 7 foot slab comes from a Sycamore tree that used to be at Westminster, a local college here in Salt Lake. I know from experience that it takes hours and hours of hard work to get the top perfectly smooth and flat. One large butterfly joint in the middle of the table not only provides a beautiful contrast it actually adds structural rigidity to and old crack in the middle of the slab. 

I wish I could do more to support great local artisans like this. If you want to help support Modern Union, like their Facebook page, tell your friends about them, or even better, contact them and see what amazing thing they can build for you. Jaren has lots more slabs just waiting to be transformed

Modern Union

Modern Union on Facebook

Modern Union on Etsy

I stumbled across these three affordable modern side tables on Overstock.com today and figured they were worth sharing. As is always the case, you get what you pay for, but at least your not paying much. The Dyer End Table (above) has a great simple wire base and a "engineered wood" top with a  basswood veneer. The consensus in the reviews seem to back up the fact that it's solid. If the top doesn't age well, hit up your local stone yard for a marble remnant. 

Dyer End Table $60

The Triplet Round Glass Top with Tripod Base end table (talk getting literal with the names) is also a looker. The chrome and glass give it a much more contemporary look than the Dyer above. Again the reviews are almost all positive with most of them making comments on how sturdy it was. Again at $60 the price is right.

TRGTWTB end table $60

Sometimes I like it a little rough. I suspect in fact that many of you do. The latest trend in modern furniture is using reclaimed and less polished materials in contrast to clean modern forms to create an interesting visual tension. Feeling the olympic spirit, UK based James Henry Austin designed a range of furniture built from salvaged sports hall flooring (that a gym floor in case you wondered). The lines are simple and often even traditional but the execution and presentation are just right to make it modern and interesting. 

James Henry Austin

A huge congratulations to my friend and fellow blogger Tyler Goodro of Plastolux on his latest collaboration with Eastvold! It's great to see someone make the transition from talking about good design to producing good design. The Cube Side Table was designed by Tyler and made by Eastvold and is right on trend with one of my latest obsessions, wood and steel. He even has a walnut and brass version coming out soon that is going to be amazing. 

Cube Side Table

I'm working on doing some interior design for an upcoming convention, and while looking for a good outdoor table I came across this Firewood Trolley by Radius Design. At first I was just attracted to it's fairly reasonable price ($500) and the fact that it's made of steel and oak so it should hold up well. It looks great loaded up with firewood, but would be equally at home acting as an outdoor bar cart. What really impressed me however was its flexibility and the way you can stand it up vertically and use it for a bar height serving table. Available in stainless, black or white.

Firewood Trolley Storage cart $499

I'm not sure what it is about this little table, but I absolutely love it. It's a vintage piece, and there is only one available, but for $20 the price is right. Available from the fantastically curated Forage Modern Workshop which has a great collection of vintage and new modern pieces. 

Turquoise Triangle Table $20

I'm going to close out this week with a sexy little wood and metal table I found on themodernshop.ca. It's called the Adaptable Table as it's available in multiple different color combinations. The table was designed by TAF Architects and is made by Muuto.

Adaptable Dining Table $2495

I like clever objects. I also like simple objects. So when a side table manages to be both clever and simple at the same time, it's almost a guarantee I'm going to like it.  Throw in a little white Corian and some hand oiled domestic hardwood and I'm powerless to resist. Bravo Ampersand. Bravo.

Bundle side table

For sale on Fab today!

I first found out about Four Eyes Furniture by reading some comments by one of our readers. Ever since then I have had the Four Eyes website open in my browser, and I keep on going back and looking at it.  It's good design, solid construction, and it is made by one guy who is really passionate about what he does.  What more could you ask for.

Four Eyes Furniture

Check Four Eyes out on Facebook.

I saw a similar looking coffee table last year in NY, and it just about blew my mind.

About:

The unique cantilevered Bloom coffee table features a salvaged Western Red cedar base fused with a colored top made of peanut and soy non-toxic resin and is finsihed with a clear lacquer.  Each base has been hand-salvaged, dried, peeled, sandblasted, and cut to size.  The fusion of the two elements creates a seamless connection that results in a heat and stain resistant surface.

Do want.

Bloom Coffee Table by Wood Design $3,900 CAD

The trestle leg is a classic design that always looks fresh. The Morton table takes that look and offers it in a white, oak, or dark ash leg coupled with a simple glass top.

Morton Table £249

I love this simple design that uses no hardware to be put together. Designed by Matthias Ferwagner the table can be summed up by the following.

To express it minimalistly:

5 bars

1 table top

Assemble

Minimato

Why does one need a table top valet? To be perfectly honest with you, I have absolutely no idea. Still, that doesn't stop me from wanting one. If it's not exactly your thing, make sure you check out some of the other beautiful items that Cincinnati based Brighton Exchange is making. They also have some gorgeous cocktail tables and shelves. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love seeing white oak furniture these days.

Brighton Exchange

I've mentioned before my mild obsession with tables that feature interesting legs. The Hexag table uses a simple yet ingenious system of a powder coated metal leg that clips onto an American Walnut veneered top. The result is fantastic, and surprisingly affordable.

Hexag £99

I love me a good modern table. The only thing better is 3 modern tables.  I stumbled across these beauties this week and I absolutely love each of them for very different reasons.

The Koota table by Marc Haldemann is a great example of classic woodworking craftsmanship applied in a modern aesthetic. Constructed with absolutely no screws, glue or the like, the desk relies on precision mortise and tenons to stay together. Instead of hiding the construction method, it's tastefully integrated into the final design. Bravo.

While simple is great, that doesn't mean that complex is bad. "The Desk" by Christofer Odmark is far from simple in appearance, and it's absolutely stunning. I'm a sucker for a good table leg, and Christofer takes the classic hairpin leg and adds a touch of spice to it. The butcher block top plays off the wedge shape of the legs, also lending a sense of motion to the table. It's not all about looks however, the core of the top is hollowed out to house a plug strip and cable management. My favorite detail is the recessed plug underneath the top that powers the whole table. Hot.

Last and certainly not least is David Week's Ribbon Table. Aptly named for it's thin dramatic leg, the Ribbon table is a nice mix between the two tables above. It's visually simple and easy on the eye, but has some subtle complexity hiding underneath the skin. Literally.  Each leg attaches to the top via a two long metal stretchers that are recessed into the table. The top itself is plywood with what looks like a white laminate on each side. Fantastic.

The SOFT side table designed by Northern California-based interior designer Curtis Popp affirms once again my love for brightly painted steel juxtaposed with wood. Available in 7 different colors and three different woods there are lots of possible combinations to choose from. Whats your favorite? (walnut and yellow for me please) Pricing is more along the boutique furniture side of the spectrum than the Ikea side, but choose carefully and it's a piece you will have for a lifetime.

SOFT side table $469

Why yes, I am still obsessing over farmhouse tables in modern settings. Thanks you for noticing. Last night while flipping though the new West Elm catalogue I spotted this fantastic Emmerson table made from reclaimed shipping pallets. First off, I would love to get my hands on some of those pallets, second this is a fabulous table for the money. I love that it just has a simple wax finish on it too.

Emmerson Dining Table $849 - $1019

Natta (Norwegian slang for 'good night') is a bedside table with an integrated light hidden in the back.  When turned on, the light reflects off the wall behind it, filling the room with soft, diffused light.  Pretty brilliant I say!  Available in two styles: a simple tabletop or a single drawer unit.  Made of birch plywood.

Natta Side Table by Thomas Jenkins: available on request

As far as I can see, there's not much to not like about Giorgio Biscaro's wood and iron side table (created exclusively for CB2).  I love the pinstripe effect of the birch and white oak legs especially when combined with that crisp white powder coated top.  The price is just right, too!  Perfection.

Reprouvé Side Table by Giorgio Biscaro for CB2: $129

Hello Monday. I thought you needed a little pick me up, so I got you this sexy little concrete and steel table. Hope you like it.

The Harvest table is one of the newest creations from James DeWulf, master of concrete. For more great concrete furniture, check out jamesdewulf.com.