Stuart Hough, Sunnyside Trading Co.

Tables are perhaps one of the most practical pieces of furniture that exists in a home. Fittingly, tables are found in every room. They hold things, such as family photos or memories of a special meal. And, this time of year especially, they host holiday decorations, food, and presents.

Beyond their practical use, tables also facilitate connection. To ourselves and each other. Have you ever noticed that where there is good conversation and cheerful gathering, or peaceful study and reflection, a table is usually involved? Think about it: although the usage may change with the type of table involved, the connection charm applies to all types of tables, from dining room table to coffee; side; writing; hall; and consoles.

Tables come in all shapes and sizes at Sunnyside. Many of our Old Silk Road antique tables are from the late 19th century, or even earlier. Most tables we offer are crafted out of sturdy teakwood or elmwood, and, bearing witness to their long histories of use, show glimpses of the original paint in their lovely now-worn finish.

Some of our tables, like our consoles from India, have been constructed with antique elements including reclaimed teakwood, and architectural elements like corbels, carvings, and overdoor panels from houses in Rajasthan. In fact, the resulting piece is so well crafted that it can be difficult to tell that these reconstructions are actually “new” creations! Hall tables, like consoles, serve as stylish storage solutions in entryways, the intersections where we naturally pause to gather on our way to something else.

Sunnyside coffee tables include antique blanket chests, old doors repurposed as tops on iron legs and four-legged options. Blanket chests have an additional benefit, by virtue of their deep wells, of offering storage inside. Just as a dining room table facilitates congregation around a meal, coffee tables serve as the conversation centerpiece in our living spaces.

While the name many imply peripheral importance, side tables are the anchors that hold the room together. They often lovingly cradle our beverage of choice and a good book. We have many kinds of side tables from barrel-shaped and octagonal pedestals; to storage boxes fashioned on iron frames; and repurposed jali (decorative lattice work used for ventilation and security) windows with glass tops.

As we move into the busy season of holiday gatherings, when we are more prone to jump from one thing to the next as we speed through our packed calendars, I’d like to invite you to consider with me an alternative message inspired by the table: one of connection. Connecting with ourselves, and with one another. This can be as simple as pausing, even in the midst of our holiday comings and goings, to reflect upon what it is (and who it is) that is important, what grounds us, and who brings us home.