The 5-Degree Coffee Table

I try to limit designs to just a few elements. In designing this piece, I had a natural texture from the wood, a bold color, and a square U-shaped structure joined by dovetails. It was an alright starting point, but it needed just a little something else. It was many years ago (2006), right after I started making furniture, but I clearly remember the moment when I found the solution: push all the angles off just a little. I settled on five degrees, and the whole thing came to life. I call it a coffee table, but it works as a bench too. It’s a good place to tie your shoes. Special thanks to Trey, the model.