We need never leave our beds again with this table created by Belgium-based design duo Muller Van Severen and London's Alma leather for Handmade 2015.
Seeking an upgrade from ubiquitously clunky bedside tables, we turned to photographer Fien Muller and sculptor Hannes Van Severen, experts in minimalism who founded their studio in 2011, to create a bed table that was both functional and refined in its appearance.
A true vision of architectural furniture was produced, a concept that Anna Yudina discusses in her book Furnitecture: Furniture that Transforms Space – exploring the idea of creating a room space within the framework of a furniture piece. Muller Van Severen fundamentally employs this in their design aesthetic; both 2011's 'duo seat + lamp' and 2012's 'rack + seat' are pieces that combine overarched lighting and lounge seating in a single form. For our bed table, the duo have designed a table on wheels that slides smartly over the bed, provides a home for your latest copy of Wallpaper* and features an iPad stand, all in one.
Staying true to their sculptural style, Muller told Wallpaper* that she wanted materials that allowed the 'different functions to converge fluently' and that '[leather] can function both independently and dependently in the frame'. Just like the linear steel body, the leather becomes a structure of its own in the hanging compartment and table top. The artistic pair wanted a clean finish without any seams in the leather or visualisation of the back of the hide.
With this guidance, bespoke leather experts Alma provided a luxurious covering to match the playful red structure. Established in 1938, the company produces fine leathers for the fashion and interiors industries in its east London workshop. Here they have chosen their 'pisa veg tan hide' in a caramel colour. Tanned in Italy, it connects with the framework perfectly, making our bed a perfect place to eat, work, play and entertain.
Originally featured in the August 2015 edition of Wallpaper* (W*197)
Experts in minimalism Muller Van Severen have created a true vision of architectural furniture for the bed table with their linear steel structure
Staying true to their sculptural style, Muller told W* that she wanted materials that allowed the 'different functions to converge fluently' and that '[leather] can function both independently and dependently in the frame'
Alma provided a luxurious covering to match the playful red structure. Established in 1938, the company produces fine leathers in its east London workshop. Here they have chosen their 'pisa veg tan hide' in a caramel colour
-
Hella Jongerius’ ‘Angry Animals’ take a humorous and poignant bite out of the climate crisisAt Salon 94 in New York, Hella Jongerius presents animal ceramics, ‘Bead Tables’ and experimental ‘Textile Studies’ – three series that challenge traditional ideas about function, craft, and narrative
-
A photographic study of a family hi-fi store is a vivid portrait of a small businessFashion photographer Nik Hartley looked behind the scenes at Wilkinson’s Hi-Fi, a longstanding part of its Lancashire community.
-
The Contestant: inside the dark and exploitative beginnings of reality TVClair Titley’s The Contestant examines a sensationalist moment in TV history, before Big Brother meant reality became an accepted part of popular culture
-
Surplus fashion fabric finds new life in playful seatingMuller Van Severen and Kassl Editions team up on this Re-Use initiative for Wallpaper* Re-Made
-
Pitch perfect: ‘Love Rocker’, by Owen Bullett Studio and HeerenhuisFor Wallpaper* Handmade X, sculptor Owen Bullett and table manufacturers Heerenhuis devised a rocking chair for two
-
Wet set: ‘Three Isles’ birdbaths, by Teo Yang Studio and Huguet -
Artisanal precision is at the core of the ‘Arched’ centrepieceFor Wallpaper* Handmade X, Norwegian silver manufacturer Arven and Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Guglielmo Poletti design a seemingly simple ‘conversation piece’
-
Lars Beller Fjetland and Bottega Ghianda craft love birdsFor Wallpaper* Handmade X, Norwegian designer Lars Beller Fjetland and Italian workshop Bottega Ghianda translated the romantic symbolism of the duck into ‘Amaranth’, a series of stylised bird figurines
-
We're tickled pink by Design Haus Liberty and Yerra's Peruvian alpaca picnic setLuxury rug maker Yerra and architecture studio Design Haus Liberty humanely sourced the finest Peruvian alpaca fur for ‘Isla’ – an ethical and sustainable Wallpaper* Handmade X project
-
How Coffey Architects and Compac joined forces to design a quartz tableFor Wallpaper* Handmade 2018, we challenged Coffey Architects and marble and quartz manufacturer Compac to create a hybrid design inspired by the theme of wellness. Here, we go behind the scenes to find out how the Stepwell table was bought to life
-
Special brew: ‘Rising Sun’ tea cart, by Isabelle Stanislas and Mauviel
