Time for the regular monthly 10 best feature on this month there are eight. Because after a while they were all starting to look the same and I would rather show you eight good ones that 10 with two makeweights. So, console tables. Massively useful. Perfect for the huge house where you want to put something behind the sofa to rest a drink or a book or a lamp. But also great for the small space where it can double up as a desk – works for a laptop – or in a hall or even as a sort of breakfast bar in a small kitchen or a dressing table in a small bedroom. The possibilities from one piece of furniture are endless. It’s like the perfect pair of jeans. Goes with everything, lasts for ages.
ANTIQUE METAL CONSOLE TABLE
£190
This is a particularly handsome specimen. You know that I’m always a fan of black in a room in some form or another and this will bring a bit of weight to a narrow hall. Prop a mirror on top and add a small stool and it’s a dressing table.
ROMY METAL CONSOLE TABLE
£153
Another metal version but with more ornate legs. This fits with the current trend for crittall which is spinning out into lots of black lines either outlining furniture or even being used in paint effects. This comes with either a white or green marble top. Dare I say that the white, although lighter, has been seen a lot. Green may ring the differences slightly.
CHLOE EMPERADOR MARBLE TABLE
£489
This is a more luxurious version with a brown marble top. Watch out for that brown marble. Elle Decoration mentioned it a few months ago and everyone went “ugghhh” but it’s coming. It’s especially nice with a warm brass leg. Give it a minute, you’ll be wanting it soon.
MAGPIE CONSOLE TABLE
£625
This is the statement piece. It’s very simple in shape which is how it gets away with the ornate design – that is if something can be ornate and geometric at the same time. There are rumours of brass beginning to pass and make way for chrome to come back round. This is the perfect hedge-betting table and will look classic for years to come. You will note there are no copper tables here.
MAKRANA MARBLE CONSOLE TABLE
£350
Brass and white marble this time. Because it’s become a classic and you can’t go wrong with this combination. Fill it with plants underneath for an on trend jungle look or keep it simple and styled.
NORDIC WOODEN CONSOLE TABLE
£350
Finally a wooden one. There aren’t that many around you know. But this is simple and elegant and will work i a kitchen (some of the others may be a little fancy for that) as well as any other room in the house. In addition to black every room needs a little natural wood. This might be that.
LENE BJERRE DRESSIA IRON ZINC
£655 (sale price)
Back to black but this time with grey marble on top. If there’s a theme here it’s that marble is the thing. Doesn’t matter what colour just get some. This is a pleasingly simply shape with no twiddly bits or fancy footwork. This makes it the perfect basis for all your fancy bits. Also, the shelf along the bottom is just useful for extra storage. None of the others have that.
ETIENNE CONTEMPORARY CONSOLE TABLE
£449
Finally a fancy one. Because why not. This one is better in a hall. If you’ve got legs like that why hide them behind the sofa? The glass top makes it look like the objects are floating on top of the giant wheels. This is not the most expensive but it might be the most dramatic.
So console tables. Useful. Pretty. Where will you put yours?
Thank you, Kate. Firstly may I say how much I *ADORE* your blog, with all its wonderful words of wisdom and wit and its beautiful pictures. Reading it is a highlight of my day (that and getting my four-year-old twin boys safely dispatched to school, ha ha) and I miss it at the weekends and holiday time!
On the subject of console tables, I would love to put one in the middle-ish of the room behind the sofa with lamps on it. But what does one do about the distant lamp socket and all the trailing wires that result? I was aware of this issue when we were renovating our house and doing the electrics and feebly raised it with the husband and electrician, but it was one more decision/battle than I could cope with at that time…
Thank you so much, what a lovely thing to read. Now console in the middle is difficult – in modern houses where they have thought about it they sometimes sink a socket into the floor and then put a rug over the flex so you don’t trip. If you live in a period house with floorboards you can probably also do this as you can run the flex from the lamp under the boards and across to the wall socket with minimal disruption. If you have fitted carpets or tiles then I think you’re probably stuck! We are not yet at the beautiful battery lamp stage but I did google it https://www.wayfair.co.uk/lighting/sb1/battery-operated-table-lamps-c476084-a76346~433946.html. Sorry not to help more x
Inspirational post as per usual ! But oooo that Robert Redford print , I neeeed that !
Ooh Kate, love this post, in fact, first thing I do early each morning now is check emails, get a quick interior fix and the day starts in a better way!! Already painted the tatty floor boards in spare bedroom, to good effect and have purchased the gubbins for a new lighting system with grey cables swinging into areas that require a beautiful filament bulb glow. I am listening and learning and wonder if you might be tempted to do a similar post on bedside tables? waiting in eager anticipation……….
That’s so lovely to hear and what a good idea – bedside tables – coming up in February.