Self Led Project
One-Off
Wood-Working | Marquetry | CNC Machining | Plasma Cutting
Teak | Beech | Yew | Oak | Sycamore | Brass | Mild Steel
Furniture Design
A coffee table that embraces stains, wear and everyday use as part of its aesthetic.
The Problem
Domestic objects are typically designed to resist ageing, reinforcing the idea that wear reduces value.
Proposed Solution
This table, at the heart of the home, the coffee table welcomes everyday life. Its coaster-like forms invite cups, spills, scratches, and mess, celebrating signs of use rather than hiding them. Each mark responds differently to the material beneath it.
Reframing wear as meaningful signs of life asking if objects can become more valuable through use.
The O Marks Table is designed to become something it isn’t yet. Reclaimed teak and mixed-species inlays, from beech and oak to yew and steel, each react to coffee differently, so every ring, stain and scratch is unique to its owner. Square and circle inlays double as coasters, inviting the marks that build the table’s story. Thick solid timber means it can always be sanded back, so “good as new” becomes a choice rather than an expectation.
Sustainability:
All materials in this table are sustainably sourced. The teak is a repurposed jeweller's bench and repurposed legs, the metal accents (mild steel and brass) are cleaned scraps form the University's metal department, and the wood is locally grown and felled in Scotland by the not-for-profit charity Scottish Wood.
This table embraces aesthetic sustainability, allowing users to develop a connection with the piece over time:
It uses subtle novelty to prevent boredom and creates joyful moments - whether removing coasters to wow guests or savouring a quiet moment of pleasure.
Each mark made during use becomes visible and permanent - a record of the table's story.
If desired, the thick veneer allows users to sand the top layer and re-oil it, restoring it to its original state.
Sustainability