BH | Studio Ripon Round Burl Side Table

Burl, the swirling, knotted figure cut from a rounded growth on a tree trunk, has been prized by cabinetmakers for centuries, and the Art Deco makers of the 1920s and 1930s laid it across whole surfaces for its depth of pattern. No two pieces of it are ever quite alike.

This is a simple drum, a solid-looking cylinder with the burl veneer wrapped all the way round its sides and across its top, so the pattern flows without a break. Almond, a bleached tone, keeps the figure soft, like light freckling, while Honey shows it warmer, and because the veneer is real wood, each drum is unique. Engineered wood forms the core, the top is rated to hold 298 lbs, and leveling feet with non-marking pads sit underneath to settle it on any floor. It needs no assembly.

Set it beside a white linen sofa or a pale armchair with a reading lamp and a glass of water, or at the bedside in a calm, light bedroom with a stack of novels on top. It is handy in a family room or a media room too, where a round table is easy to pass. Group it with a sand-coloured bouclé chair, a woven basket of throws and a single stem in a clear glass bottle for a soft, quiet corner.