Walnut has always been cherished by furniture makers and interior designers. With its deep shades, expressive natural patterns, and pliable strength, it is an ideal medium for mid-century and modern designs. Whether it’s a whimsical twist on a traditional favorite or a futuristic reimagining of the original concept, these tables, cabinets, desks, loungers, beds, and chairs are some of the most exciting looks from the best designers around the world.
With their four different top shapes and heights and two bases of differing heights and diameters, these charming tables resemble a flowery garden when arranged together. The stands are available in several different textures and colors, so every composition is left to the imagination, just as in the garden.
Exchange Dining Chair by Stellar Works
Exchange is proof that new life and design can be breathed into used or well-worn objects and furnishings. Designing for Stellar Works, Crème’s award-winning chair takes the traditional Windsor form and exchanges the conventional wooden spindles and stretcher of the back with blackened steel, creating a new chair that feels both contemporary and traditional at once.
Self-described “artist, designer, architect, and developer” Joep van Lieshout created one chair per day for a month as part of his futuristic Prototypes art project. When Marcel Wanders, the founder of Moooi, saw the prototype for the Liberty Lounger, he reportedly said: “This is a great chair, we should produce it.” Launched by Moooi during Milan Design Week in 2018, the final version is made from smooth American walnut (in contrast to the rough, painted timber of Van Lieshout’s original.)
Friday Night Bed by Formstelle for Zeitraum
With the Friday Night Bed, the designer duo Formstelle brings the coziness of upholstered furniture into the bedroom, with textiles and wood that complement each other fluently and formally. “Not just a bed, but also a sofa, cinema chair, breakfast lounge, and quiet island.,” the backrest swings in a graceful arc from the headboard to the ground, radiating solidity and casual coziness. The sturdy cushions ensure the ability to sit straight and comfortably, with a delicate seam pattern transforming the backrest into a cushioned landscape.
Designer Karim Rashid’s Speed is just that: a slim, dynamic slice of solid wood, with rounded edges and an asymmetrical leg that seems to just barely keep the whole structure from leaping forward. One of the most prolific designers of his generation, with work in more than 35 countries and hundreds of awards, Karim’s designs are featured in 20 permanent collections as well as galleries worldwide.
Knucklehead Nightstands by Skram
Smart and sturdy, this 1-drawer side table/nightstand features solid timber construction, mortise-and-tenon joinery, and mitered corners with matched seams/waterfall edges. The drawer is maple with a recessed pull and cork-lined bottom that rides on soft-closing, concealed runners.
This slim, elegant console features two drawers and is crafted in solid Canaletto walnut. Available with a wooden top, marble top, or frosted back-coated glass top.
Massimo Scolari’s Erasmo reimagines the traditional “manager’s desk” for today’s more interactive workplace. The distinctive leaf-shaped work surface merges into the only leg “as if it were the nib of a seismograph that gently registers the earthquakes of discussions.” Both sides have a handy sliding shelf and the availability of a large series of drawers equipped with an independent 360° opening system; a modesty panel can be attached to hide the legs of the sitters from one another. The top is available in ebony macassar, sapele pommelle mahogany, or saddle leather.
This all-timber, mid-back version of the original version 5 leather sling rocker features include a solid timber frame, coopered seat, and carved back with mortise-and-tenon joinery throughout.
Walnut Multileg Cabinet by BD Barcelona
Twelve distinct legs give character to this cabinet, probably the best-selling piece by collaborators Jaime Hayon and BD Barcelona. Now available in a walnut finish, the cabinet’s inside, back panel, doors, and tops can be customized in varnished or natural effect walnut.
Charlotte by Carlo Colombo for Giorgetti
Featuring a system of doors in elegant grooved Canaletto walnut with a bold decorative motif, Charlotte is an architecturally inspired cabinet where every detail has been considered, down to the metal feet that are decorative as well as structural. The top is available in Calacatta, Portoro, or Zebrino marble, while numerous options for customizing the interior include drawers, shelves, mirrors, lighting, and bar assembly.
