BH | Studio Albi Stacked Side Table

The stepped silhouette, tiers that widen and narrow as they rise, was one of the signature shapes of Art Deco. In the 1920s and 1930s it appeared everywhere from skyscraper setbacks to radio cabinets and cocktail tables, borrowed from the ancient ziggurat and recast for the modern house.

This side table is built as a stack: three square slabs separated by two round drums, so the profile alternates between crisp edges and curves as your eye moves down it. It is made from a blend of materials that includes solid hardwood, with the drums shaped from flexible plywood, and the square top gives a proper landing place for a lamp, a drink or a plant. It is rated to hold 77 lbs. The finish, in Honey, Jet, Terracotta or Claret, shows a lively open grain, and it arrives fully assembled on non-marking glides.

Use it as a nightstand in a calm bedroom, with a lamp, a small stack of novels and a glass of water on top, or as an accent table beside a sofa or in a hallway. It makes a characterful plant stand too, lifting a fern or a small olive tree closer to the light. Each finish sits happily beside white bedding and a woven rug, and with mustard, rust and cream it brings out the stepped shape's Art Deco glamour without any fuss.