Don Freas

The Sacred Space table is a melding of sculpture and furniture, using a mix of masculine and feminine lines and forms. I had in mind a surface with a central void that can be utilized in various ways, as a site for an object to be placed, for a candle holder or bowl, or simply to remain empty in honor of the opposite of being. As such it becomes a portal to the supporting structure of the table, and to what lies beneath. Both worthy meditations. Download PDF

The design for this “Lyrical Worktable”came from the author’s need for a tactile, beautiful work area in his new home. He wanted “real estate”— a large surface area on which he could spread out several projects at once. He wanted beautiful wood and a variety of textures he could run his hands over. We settled on Honduras mahogany, and I was overjoyed to find a selection of wide planks for the top, and a big plank four inches thick for the sculptural side structure around which the piece pivots. (read more) Making the worktable | Notes on the geometry

The “Almost Reunited” dining table is a piece that honors the planks from which it is constructed. The two top planks were actually one plank of mahogany, twenty feet long and twenty inches wide, that I bought along with the order for the Lyrical Worktable. The base is made from another piece, four by eighteen inches, from the same project. I tried to sell the idea to clients and finally had to go ahead and make it, because I knew it would be stunning. The top planks are mounted just a quarter of an inch apart—which creates a dark line of separation and highlights the power of the individual boards. The name refers to that space, and infers the joy we feel when our longing has finally brought us so close to the source that we can almost touch it. The table could seat ten, if they are good friends, eight leaves a little more room for serving dishes.

A striking table needs a striking chair. This “Almost Reunited” dining chair prototype draws from the modern lines of the table to create a low-profile chair that doesn’t distract. The seats will be upholstered and are comfortably wide and deep. I have a few changes in mind already, but the prototype gives the general feel.