Collection by William Lamb
Modern Picnic-Style Tables
Picnic tables. They work well inside or out, and they conjure happy memories of lazy summertime afternoons spent with friends and family. They're also simple and not fussy, and they allow for clear sight lines though a space. Put another way, they are perfectly at home in the modern world. Here are some graceful picnic-style tables from Dwell's archives.
In the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco interior designer Nicole Hollis successfully renovates this 1940s home. The kitchen opens up to the dining room, where Hollis played with size and shape. She designed the solid French oak dining table and bench, which were fabricated by B Serota Furniture and Architectural Design, and flanked the table with a Host and Hostess chair from Coup d'Etat San Francisco. Photo by: Ben Mayorga Photography
The courtyard acts like an outdoor living room, where the Arnolds’ daughter, Josie, plays freely, safe from nearby traffic. The family dines here most of the year at the custom-designed wood-and-steel table. The picnic table set reappropriates the century-old eucalyptus tree that once grew on the site.