Ideas for coffee table

[ribbet]

Hi guys,

I have a Huon slab that i want to make a coffee table out of. So far I've replicated it in Sketchup 7 and was toying around with the idea of copying a George Nakashima design.

Would anyone have any ideas or pics of slab coffee table for some inspiration? I was thinking of using jarrah for the base. Also, natural edges or a more clean cut shape?

Thanks,
Damen

[garfield]

Don't wanna get off the track here but I've gotta ask - How did you replicate that into Sketch up? WOW!!

is Sketch up 7 really good??

[mic-d]

how about a curved laminated base, along the line of something like this Gemini table:
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://s7v1.scene7.com/is/image/JohnLewis/230439210%3F%24product%24&imgrefurl=http://www.moderncoffeetables.co.uk/blog/%3Fcat%3D3&usg=__C4W_uhzVYZWowP0YOlMBccozybs=&h=298&w=298&sz=7&hl=en&start=154&sig2=4WHnWCWGMoPzFW4GKkxrKg&tbnid=6cZ_UcDZ_BCrXM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&ei=E0VASeeyJIe4sAPyuuSxCg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcoffee%2Btable%2Bdesign%26start%3D144%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

but a different shape of course. maybe flowing to echo the shape of the central hole.

Cheers
Michael

[ribbet]

how about a curved laminated base, along the line of something like this Gemini table:
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://s7v1.scene7.com/is/image/JohnLewis/230439210%3F%24product%24&imgrefurl=http://www.moderncoffeetables.co.uk/blog/%3Fcat%3D3&usg=__C4W_uhzVYZWowP0YOlMBccozybs=&h=298&w=298&sz=7&hl=en&start=154&sig2=4WHnWCWGMoPzFW4GKkxrKg&tbnid=6cZ_UcDZ_BCrXM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&ei=E0VASeeyJIe4sAPyuuSxCg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcoffee%2Btable%2Bdesign%26start%3D144%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

but a different shape of course. maybe flowing to echo the shape of the central hole.

Cheers
Michael

Ahhhh interesting, that's a great idea Michael. I've been stumped trying to work out how to make the hole a feature and integrate it with the base - as you can imagine it's not very practical having a hole in the middle of a table. The idea of having the base echo the hole sounds exciting. I'll have a crack at a design...

Garfield - wasn't as hard as it looked. Imported the jpeg and scaled it to size so that the width of the slab was relative to the width in real life. Then zoomed right in and traced around the edges of the slab (over the top of the jpeg) using mostly the arc tool and some freehand. Slow process but got there in the end.

Cheers,
Damen

[blackhole]

when you make the base around the hole put a false base halfway up so you can put a vase or something and have flowers, chopsticks, cigars or something coming out of the hole.

although that hole looks big enough to have a flat screen tv pop up through it.

That is a really nice piece of dead tree you got there.

[garfield]

Ahhhh interesting, that's a great idea Michael. I've been stumped trying to work out how to make the hole a feature and integrate it with the base - as you can imagine it's not very practical having a hole in the middle of a table. The idea of having the base echo the hole sounds exciting. I'll have a crack at a design...

Garfield - wasn't as hard as it looked. Imported the jpeg and scaled it to size so that the width of the slab was relative to the width in real life. Then zoomed right in and traced around the edges of the slab (over the top of the jpeg) using mostly the arc tool and some freehand. Slow process but got there in the end.

Cheers,
Damen

Looks impressive mate. Good luck with your thread.

[joez]

Blackholes right, you've got to do something with that centre hole IMO, it could end up being the centre peice of the whole coffee table..

Maybe even glass and something below it...


joez

[Kallan]

It's just that if it's a coffee table inbetween a couch and a TV, you wouldn't want anything too high or distracting from the telly.. Although I guess I'm a bit of a videophile :p

[ribbet]

I was generously given some curly jarrah on my recent trip to WA. (See photos). These blocks will now make up my legs and base.

After much deliberation I opted for the clean edges as opposed to the raw edge. Still not sure whether i made the right decision or not, i.e. whether it looks 'contemporary' or like 'a giant jigsaw piece'!

To solve the problem of the hole in the middle, I'm thinking of getting some glass cut to size and slotting this in the top.

Apologies, this is turning into a bit too much of a WIP thread for the 'Google sketup' area... any objections if I keep the posts going?

Cheers,
Damen

[ribbet]

Found some spare time and had a play around in Sketchup.

In this design I ripped the blocks of Jarrah down the middle so there's 8 lengths 32mm thick. Height of the legs is now 400mm. Not sure how to attach but will probably use connecting rails at the top of the legs to strengthen.

[ribbet]

Here's the file if anyone has any ideas and would like to have a crack.

[flattoads]

You could experiment with other shapes of the table - ie, why keep the rectangle shape? Something like this:
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u90/stoolpidgeon/Table01.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u90/stoolpidgeon/Table02.jpg

[echnidna]

A conventional leg doesn't suit the top.
I'd make the leg out of logs or branches etc, or even a stump or root ball

[BantyMom]

Ahhhh interesting, that's a great idea Michael. I've been stumped trying to work out how to make the hole a feature and integrate it with the base - as you can imagine it's not very practical having a hole in the middle of a table. The idea of having the base echo the hole sounds exciting. I'll have a crack at a design...

Garfield - wasn't as hard as it looked. Imported the jpeg and scaled it to size so that the width of the slab was relative to the width in real life. Then zoomed right in and traced around the edges of the slab (over the top of the jpeg) using mostly the arc tool and some freehand. Slow process but got there in the end.

Cheers,
Damen

I am using that method to replicate the drawings of an dig in Herculeneum. I want to be able to try to recreate the building in Sketchup. Yes, slow, but the only way I've thought of.

And I agree with echnidna. The modern legs don't seem to go with it in my humble opinion. I so like the idea of just putting a bit of glass into the hole and so leaving the hole as part of the design of the table and not turning it into a gimmick.

[ribbet]

See this thread for the finished project:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=97635

Cheers,
Damen