Acquisition
Cheryl had an early look at the Eucalyptus Console Table while it was temporarily stored at her home. The piece captured her attention, and by the time it was officially released at Keita’s opening show in April, she was first in line to inquire. By the end of the month, the table had found its permanent home with Cheryl and Chris.
Now positioned in the entry hallway of their home, the piece sits just beyond the glass front door. Pinks and oranges in the grain catch the natural light from the entryway as it invites guests into the earthy and modern interior.
The Origin Story
This piece was harvested from a tree that blew down in Pasadena near Johnston lake in 2017. It air dried for several years and, as eucalyptus does, it warped and bowed.
Chris and Eric had the idea for the design, and began milling. After some hand planing the plank revealed a dramatic knot pattern and grain warp that both inspired us and presented unique challenges.
An Innovative Approach to Flexibility and Structure
The method that we came up with blends precision woodworking and engineering. We made a series of cross-grain relief cuts on the underside of the slab, which allowed the wood to flex in a controlled way. That gave us the ability to carefully pull the top down to meet the frame, using embedded hardware to lock it to the stiffer rails that run against the underside of the piece, locking the top in place.
We then cut custom plugs from the eucalyptus and used them to conceal the hardware. These details maintain the organic look of the table, and serve as testimony to the transformation it underwent.
One of the unique features of this table is the large split at one end, stabilized with small "stitches" of native material. We chose to keep this feature open to the air as opposed to filling the void. Each detail in this piece represents an exploration in design and manufacturing techniques.
Honoring the Material
Our goal with this design is to preserve the character of the original slab—the checks, the knots, the flow of the grain—while creating a clean and elegant design that stands the test of time.
The result is a functional piece that feels alive: it has movement, depth, and presence. It reminds us that the most compelling design often comes from a dialogue: listening to the material and responding with our own intention.
