Furniture should probably stay still. That’s the basic contract between you and the table: it holds your dinner plates, you don’t worry about physics. Alessio Scalabrini decided that contract was negotiable. The Animo table, produced by Italian marble workshop Serafini, features a brass sphere that rotates around a central lamp fixture, tracing concentric ripples carved into the marble surface like a tiny planet orbiting its sun. The table functions perfectly well as a static dining surface, but it also invites you to set something in motion every time you walk past it, turning what could’ve been another high-end marble slab into an interactive kinetic object that happens to hold glassware.
Named after the Italian word for Soul, the Animo table adds some animated joy with a dash of luxury to your space. The table, made entirely from Italian Rosso Levanto marble, is hand-finished with ripples that break the illusion of stillness, making it look fluid. Nestled in one of those ripples is a brass sphere, adding a dash of gold to the table’s ultra-dark burgundy and white-vein design. The result is furniture you can fidget with. It’s art and play combined brilliantly, with the kind of craftsmanship you can only expect from an Italian brand showcasing at Salone del Mobile!
Designer: Alessios Calabrini for Serafini
The table first attracts you with how it looks, then how it feels. The marble finish is impeccable, with the ripples crafted to absolute perfection. The perfection plays an important part here, because a brass sphere needs to seamlessly roll around the table, with the smoothness of a fidget spinner. The sphere has solid heft to it, giving it a fair amount of momentum when you nudge it around the table. It moves with little to no effort, completing tens of rotations before coming to a very gradual halt. Any other material would falter. Wood might end up deforming after years, metal would make the table feel unpleasant, rough stone wouldn’t cause the sphere to move as freely.
The central lamp adds another layer of functionality, illuminating the table from within while serving as the gravitational anchor for the sphere’s orbital path. The whole composition balances three distinct roles: functional dining surface, sculptural marble centerpiece, and interactive kinetic object. Most designers would’ve picked one and committed. Scalabrini made all three work simultaneously.
Scalabrini runs a Paris-based design studio with 18 years of experience merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary fabrication technology, and that dual approach is visible throughout the Animo. The table uses Serafini’s established production methods, combining precision CNC machining with hand-finishing by Italian artisans who’ve been working marble their entire careers.
If you want to see the Animo table in person and experience the satisfying physics of that brass sphere yourself, Serafini is showing it at Salone Raritas during Salone del Mobile. The difference between seeing photos and actually pushing that orb around the channels is substantial. Photos capture the visual design, but they can’t communicate the tactile satisfaction of setting something that heavy into smooth, controlled motion.
Designed by Belgian furniture brand Extremis, this modular outdoor dining system is named Panigiri, and it is designed to accommodate a whole bunch of people to sit comfortably in a range of seating options. The Panigiri dining system is designed by the Extremis founder Dirk Wynants, and it features a long table with either an attached bench seating or open space for chairs.
Since spring is almost here, the Panigiri dining system is excellent for your yards. It features various benches which are divided so that each seating spot can be easily and efficiently accessed, without having to clamber over it. There is also an option of an add-on called the Bring Your Own Seat (BYOS), and it can be easily hooked onto the benches to build a supportive, comfy, and chair-like sitting experience with a backrest.
The dining system is named after the Greek words “pan” and “giri” which means “all” and “gathering”. The seating solution was designed to encourage and facilitate communal dining, where family members and loved ones can gather to share a lovely meal. The table can be customized to any desired length, capable of seating any number of people.
The dining system is available in three iterations – the Panigiri picnic, Panigiri Table, and Panigiri Combo. The Panigiri Picnic has a picnic-table-style setup with bench seating, while the Table features no built-in seating, and can be used with supplementary chairs. The Combo merges the elements of both these styles and formats. The furniture is made from steel and ash wood and is designed for longevity. Extremis utilized the excess wood from other collections to build the dining system, in turn minimizing the environmental impact they create. The dining system is perfect for lovely spring picnics or Sunday brunches with your friends or families, although it isn’t very tiny, and would need some space in your yard, you could customize it to get the length that perfectly works for you and your backyard.
It’s that time of year to gather with loved ones around the Thanksgiving table, sharing a delightful meal and reflecting on gratitude. Beyond the cuisine and menu, the table decor plays a key role in infusing a festive vibe and enhancing the space’s aesthetic appeal. After all, the real essence of Thanksgiving dinner lies in creating a warm and inviting environment that fosters connections and meaningful conversations across the table.
Designer: Linda Schuster Vartanian
What is the importance of a Beautiful Tablescape?
Designer: Aukolass
Although a beautiful tablescape may not enhance the flavor of your feast it surely helps in crafting the desired ambiance for your entire Thanksgiving dinner. A well-designed tablescape helps in making guests feel valued and special while showcasing attention to detail.
How to create an interesting Thanksgiving Tablescape?
• The first step is to choose a traditional, modern, rustic, or any unique theme for the tablescape and achieve a cohesive look. The color palette, decor choices, and overall design of the tablescape shall revolve around the desired theme.
• Rich autumnal hues of deep red, orange, and brown are perfect for a traditional tablescape.
• If you desire a contemporary and sophisticated look, consider a monochromatic color scheme in shades of white, cream, and gold.
• Don’t be afraid to explore unconventional color pairings to craft a distinctive and visually striking tablescape. Consider shades of pink, purple, and green for a modern twist.
Dried flowers and branches are perfect for holiday table settings as they are budget-friendly. The best part is that one can continue using dried flowers for years instead of buying fresh blooms every year.
One of the most popular trends is to take inspiration from the natural world and create a beautiful table setting using fruits, pumpkins, vegetables, acorns, pine cones, and so on.
4. Bring out your Tableware
Thanksgiving dinner provides an excellent opportunity to elevate your table setting with elegant china, exquisite stemware, and beautiful linens that you’ve collected over the years or have inherited as heirlooms.
A warm and festive ambiance is created with a snug woolen checkered tablecloth, complemented by orange linen napkins and midcentury hand-painted large earthenware plates. The addition of a sizable pumpkin soup tureen enhances the homey atmosphere, completing the inviting feel of a feast.
An elegant mother-of-pearl plate from Lotus Arts de Vivre is adorned with a sterling silver turtle. Crafted from the finest Southeast Asian mother of pearl, it possesses a shimmering iridescent quality. The silver turtle with a mother-of-pearl shell symbolizes harmony with the earth, water, and other elements, making it a versatile item suitable for use as a statement serving platter for hors d’oeuvres or as a formal dining plate.
Explore a palette of organic earth tones for Thanksgiving as they effortlessly embrace the hues of fall leaves and autumn colors. Abundant textures can be introduced to create a warm and layered ambiance.
Embrace the rustic and natural ambiance with wood as a central element in your table setting. Integrate wooden serving plates for a wholesome, earthy feel. This setting celebrates the imperfections and unique textures of wood, adding character to your table.
An ideal centerpiece for gatherings, the Wakefield features opulent antique brass hardware crafted into organic forms that beautifully contrast with the luxurious walnut wood. Radiating undeniable warmth, this bucket adds both panache and personality to the tablescape.
Elevate your Thanksgiving dinner by incorporating an abundance of flowers, extending from your salad plates to captivating centerpiece arrangements. Choose locally grown, in-season blooms.
Opting for pumpkins as Thanksgiving centerpieces is a timeless choice. Elevate their appeal by carving out the tops and transforming them into miniature planters, adorned with either real or artificial succulents for an extra touch of uniqueness.
Embrace simplicity by adhering to a neutral color palette and arranging the table with glass dinnerware. One of the simplest centerpieces for this theme is a clear glass vase filled with elegant flower stems.
This Thanksgiving, layer on various eye-catching patterns to adorn the dining table. Maintaining a unified color palette ensures that the arrangement remains whimsical without becoming overwhelming.
12. Light the Table
Instead of flowers, opt for stylish decor alternatives that provide beauty and warmth, such as tapered candles. For a cozy yet non-utilitarian table appearance, use candleholders of different heights, ensuring the candles are staggered across the table for a varied and inviting display.
Ceramic artist Abid Javed applies his craft to sculptural forms influenced by microbiology. Augmin, a five-part candela, harmonizes artistry and functionality, drawing inspiration from the dynamic molecule Augmin. It serves as a statement sculpture and a practical candleholder for the Thanksgiving tablescape.
Spiral Light Candles feature a unique wraparound wick that burns for 3 hours, depleting ‘around’ the candle due to its spiral design. Its hollow design collects melted wax and creates a new candle with a wood wick that burns for 40 hours.
Crafted with a dual wax composition, the Chouchin features a standard wax interior for familiar candle burning. Its distinctive outer layer is made of patented, non-melting wax, creating a translucent shell that diffuses light like a lantern. As the candle burns, light permeates through this outer wax, providing gentle, warm illumination, with a 60-hour burn time and replaceable refills, minimizing waste.
Embrace a bold, maximalist aesthetic with striking glassware, an oversized floral arrangement, succulents, and crystal candleholders for a truly impactful statement.
Enhance your festive table with Ben Bodman’s exclusive ABASK carving set, expanding his hand-forged blade collection from his Wiltshire family farm. The two-tone amboyna burl wood handles, symbolizing durability, are sourced from the resilient Narra tree in the Philippines. Crafted with Damasteel, these blades boast intricate patterns, adding functional elegance to your table.
14. Napkin Folding Art
Designer: Phuong
Infuse texture into each place setting by creatively folding cloth napkins. Experiment with various techniques such as the classic fan fold or use innovative folding techniques to create an interesting design. Enhance the presentation with elegant napkin rings, elevating the overall tactile experience.
TALLO de OLIVO turns ordinary spaces into distinctive ones with handmade pieces crafted by Colombian artisans, utilizing local materials to enhance their inherent beauty.
Infuse a touch of glamour into your Thanksgiving table with a decor theme that revolves around hues of gold. Envision gold-rimmed plates, shimmering candle holders, and metallic accents creating a dazzling setting for your festive meal.
With a skillful combination of colors, textures, and decorative elements, one can transform the dining table into a captivating showcase of autumn-inspired beauty that sets the ideal ambiance for your Thanksgiving feast.
