Low table with handles
Compact work table or desk
Introducing a blend of minimalist design and precision joinery—my portable side tables turn any chair into a cozy nook. These unique drink tables are handcrafted from solid hardwood ensuring both stunning aesthetics and lasting durability.
- The signature feature is the clever built-in handle that extends vertically from the table surface. This enables you to easily move the table with one hand, making it perfect for shifting between the sofa, patio, or lounge chair.
- The castle joint at the base offers superb stability while maintaining a small footprint, strong enough for the football game or holiday entertaining.
- The top is perfectly sized to hold a mug, glass, remote, or a small book, keeping your essentials close without taking up excessive space.
- Each table is made by hand, showcasing meticulous joinery and engineering that can not be matched by any fast-furniture you can buy online.
Designed to be light, sturdy and portable it can be used occasionally in an apartment, living room, home office, or bedroom.
How to buy?
Text Tim at 612-707-9435 to commission a drink table that perfectly fits your situation.
Allow 2-4 weeks to design, make, finish, and deliver.
why buy?
Need to instantly entertain anywhere in your house or apartment? Use this drink table to create a intimate space for conversation or silent reading. Designed to be sturdy and portable, it is ideal for entertaining or creating your own personal space.
Here is what makes the drink Table unique
Sturdy construction: Unique castle joints for the base holds small items within easy reach.
Wide stance: A traditional castle joint is used to form a simple and table base.
Portable: The table is engineered to be light and is easily moved around without being flimsy.
Compact top: The top is designed to hold several drinks or notebooks or small knitting projects.
Details and specifications
Base: Pedestal with x-base or cantilevered with t-base. The stiles and rails are roughly 1 inch square.
Height: Vary from low at 14 inches, small at 18 inches, and tall at 24 inches.
Top: Varies from square 12 x 12 inches to 12 x 9 inches.
Materials: Made of solid ash, white oak, or black walnut.
Finish: Five to eight coats of shellac with a hard wax buffed to a light sheen. All natural finish with no volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Low table Design story
I am a fan of chabudai which is a short-legged table used in Japanese homes. It can fold up for storage, normally has four legs and can be used with floor seating.
My version focuses on minimal materials, portability and usefulness. It is relatively easy to deal with downward and upward forces. It is challenging to handle so-called “racking” force.
Racking usually damages inexpensive and poorly designed furniture. It is a sideways force that can fold the legs under the table like house of cards. Most designs counter this by adding a second support at the bottom or corner braces.
I want my low table to be used while while seated on the floor. A second support or braces would make this difficult given its petite size (14x9x18 inches).
So I created my version of a housed mortise and tenon joint which attaches the table top, rail and legs in a single interlocking connection. The “housing” refers to two grooves cut into the table top and then also into leg. When these are all three members are connected, it creates a surprisingly durable and strong joint. This allows this minimal table to be portable and useful while sitting.
I like this piece because of the range of use and durability.
The sketch above shows an X-ray of the complex housed mortise and tenon joint used on this piece.
- The groove in the bottom of the table top provides a lot of surface area for gluing the top to the base.
- The top then slips into a “housed” groove cut into the leg to prevent racking.
- And finally I mortise the rail into the leg to enlarge surface area for this critical connection.
I design, make and actually use every piece of furniture shown on my site.
This table is used by my 8-year-old daughter in her room. It survives two cats, homework and encounters in the dark when I kick it over.
Tim B Studio 