As the name suggests, unique tables are one-of-a-kind in shape, color, craftsmanship, and material. Usually, the tabletop is the main distinguishing feature, as with wooden tables, the type of wood, grain, knots, or cracks in the material already provide a unique appearance.
A table can also become unique through its edge. If it is designed to mimic the natural longitudinal growth of the tree, as with a live edge table, a naturally curved, organic edge results, as every tree grows differently. For such unique tables, the top is sawn in the direction of the tree's longitudinal growth, and then the bark and rough bark are cut off and sanded down to the tree's growth layer (cambium).
Dining tables and coffee tables in living areas or desks and conference room tables in business settings are popular as unique tables and are very much in vogue. The appearance of such a unique table suits almost any interior style and conveys a rustic naturalness – often a popular contrast to a cool, modern living environment.
Of course, other pieces of furniture can also be fitted with natural edges, such as benches, shelves, chests of drawers, display cabinets, sideboards and coat racks.
For live edge tables, the tabletops are usually between approx. 25 and 50 mm thick; the thick tops are, of course, particularly visually appealing and a real feast for the eyes. However, with thick tops, one should also consider the weight. Depending on the size of the table, it can weigh over 100 kg – not necessarily suitable for constantly moving the table. A solution here can be a so-called doubled-up table edge, where only the edge is, for example, 50 mm thick, and the inner part of the top is significantly thinner at about 25 mm (making the table lighter, of course).
A unique table can be crafted from various types of wood such as oak, acacia, beech, or cherry. In any case, hardwood is used for this, as it is harder and thus makes the table more resistant than the relatively soft softwood.
