Designer: Eero Saarinen, 1956
Details: From £6,948, The Conran Shop
Great designs often arisefrom a single overarching preoccupation on the part of their creator. In the case of Eero Saarinen’s Pedestal collection, it was his distaste for the‘slum’ of table legs, which he believed made foran ‘ugly, confusing, unrestful world.’
The Finnish-American’s solution was to eliminate legs and replace them with a single stem connected to a curved base, opening up space under the table and providing a cleaner, more organic look.
The Pedestal collection seemed wildly futuristic whenit was introduced in 1956 – the Tulip chair wasa regular fixture on the Starship Enterprise, while the table featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Explore more modern dining room ideas
But the real genius of the design is its versatility:it looks equally effective in a range of sizes and configurations – from round side table to oval dining table – and is at home in both the kitchen and the boardroom.
Not only is the table itself able to blend into any aesthetic or environment, but the modern design can also be produced in a wide range of materials for the surface, furthering its adaptability and appeal among designer furniture fans.
Surround it with matching tulip chairs for an ultra designer look.
-
Florals *Can* be Groundbreaking, and This Unlikely Collaboration Proves HowItalian fashion house, Moschino, tapped Sanderson’s iconic floral archive for its latest show in Milan
-
The "One Amazing Thing" Theory Could Just Be the Secret to Making Your Decorating Budget Go Further (While Making More Impact)What if we told you designers had found a way to control a project's spend even while elevating the final result? This new trend does just that
-
Dining room wall ideas to set the mood for relaxing and entertainingGet your guests talking with dining room wall ideas that are guaranteed to grab the attention, from hand-painted murals to flamboyant wallpapers
-
Dining table ideas to elevate your decor out of the ordinaryThe latest dining table ideas that show interior designers are bringing new shapes and styles to the table
-
Dining Room Ideas — 23 Ways to Create a Stylish Modern Space to GatherFrom simple storage to tasteful table decor, here's how designers curate the perfect convivial backdrop for dining
-
10 kitchen diner ideas – how to create a stylish and functional open plan spaceLet these kitchen diner ideas help you design the dream space to cook, dine and entertain...
-
14 small dining room ideas – chic and clever ways to make the most of your spaceThese small dining room ideas prove that limited square footage needn't limit your style
-
10 dining room wallpaper ideas – modern murals, quirky prints and subtle styles tp update your spaceAdding pattern, texture, and personality, these dining room wallpaper ideas are sure to impress your guests
-
DECORATING TREND: ROUGH CUTForget about trad looks – this season’s timber furniture and accessories feature unusual grains and offbeat finishes.
-
Design Classic: Wishbone ChairThe Hans J Wegner classic chair that's on everyone's wishlist
