Dining on the edge

There is nothing like a gathering with family and friends, sitting down to a holiday meal that has been lovingly prepared. It is a scene that is familiar and comforting to all of us, so why not shake things up with something a bit avant-garde?

The So-Ho Dining Table from Jean de Merry, with the puzzle-like base of ebonized or white gold leaf metal legs and a fossil stone top.

Cerused oak and hand-hammered and carved metal accent legs in a platinum finish, define the strong lines of the Sun Valley Dining Table from Berman Rosetti.

Christian Liaigre's Courrier Table by Holly Hunt. Sloped edges, x-base, in stock!

The cool, clean, high lustre Azure Blue polished finish and nickel feet on the Arabesque Dining Table by Dakota Jackson.

29 squares of walnut or rosewood add up to the Square Luna Dining Table by Helene Aumont.

The exaggerated scale and proportion of the turned legs round out the Owen Dining Table by Oly Studio. Available in antiqued white, chalk and antiqued black.

Giving new life to trees from the urban forest, Seattle's Urban Hardwoods crafts unique tables from what would have previously ended up in a landfill. The Seattle Dining Table uses book-matched Chinese elm with a free edge and an ebonized metal chevron base.

Cool stools

Stools iconic, modern or merely decorative are up to the task of garden gazing, breakfast eating, counter sitting or serenely occupying a corner. With a myriad of forms to choose from, it will be a mighty tough decision, how about one of these?The rustic beauty of hand-hewn keleng wood is what the Shard Stool by Ironies is all about.

Gerard's Etienne Barstool with hand-forged iron base and mahogany seat.

All it needs to be and nothing more, the Ansel Bar Seat through 17th and Riggs. Chrome finish and chocolate, black or white leather seat.

The Selangor Stool by Jiun Ho exemplifies the architectural influence on his furniture design.

Guinevere Antiques through 1stdibs, offers the c. 1900 Venetian Baroque Carved Limewood Stool.

The Glass Stool by Alison Berger for Holly Hunt, the 4" thick frosted glass practically glows.

The lightest touch of the Butterfly Stool, originally designed in 1954 by Sori Yanagi, now available through Hive Modern.

Why pull up a chair when you can perch on a stool?

A Nod to Mod

Clean, spare, modern, timeless. Whether these pieces are reissues, reinterpretations or completely original, they look to the past for design inspiration while embracing current trends and desires. These are truly the "comfort food" for the homes of the boomer generation, but have found a whole new audience with the X's and Y's.

In perfect balance, the console by Jens Risom for Ralph Pucci International.

The chaise by Thos. Moser is an ode to Alvar Aalto's tubular frame relaxer of an earlier era.

The "Papa Bear" or "Teddy Bear" chair as designed by Hans Wegner is just right, and available through House of Copenhagen in a range of finishes and fabrics.

Jonathan Adler's Philippe Loveseat is "Jetsons" cool.

For the media room or the board room or maybe the man cave, the Dexter Chair by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

The keen eye of Michael Berman Ltd. produced the Griffith Console with shagreen leather doors.

The epitome of the modern design aesthetic, Christian Liaigre at Holly Hunt, offers the Ile de Re Armchair.

Rob and Laura Petrie never had it so good.