The Houseman side table concept was conceived around 2015 when designing some furniture pieces for my own home. I needed a compact entry hall table and storage piece. Something that wouldn’t take up too much space and that I could throw a phone, wallet and keys into when coming through the door. I also needed side tables for the lounge room. Again, something compact and easy to move, allowing it to nestle against an armchair and conceal the clutter of coasters and multiple TV remotes.

I conceived a table with a soft, sculptural form. The solid timber base, made by coopering lumber together like a barrel, seamlessly connected to a spun metal bowl with a discretely hinged timber lid to a hidden storage compartment. The design was thoroughly interrogated with Alec Tzannes acting as peer review, ensuring elegant details and convenient operability. Several material combinations were tested including coopered American Walnut and Tasmanian Oak bases with spun aged copper, plated aluminium and polished stainless-steel bowls.

When Tzannes designed the interiors for the Judith Neilson Institute of Journalism and Ideas, several side tables for the shared work space were needed. This offered an opportunity to take the Houseman tables into small batch production, bringing the concept to life with a brass bowl and Oak base to suit the interior material palette.

2024 Good Design Award Winner, Product (Furniture and Lighting)

Images courtesy of Tzannes. Photography by Sara Vita.