Kauri Designer Tables – Functional Furniture with a Sculptural Presence

Modern designer tables made from subfossil wood

Designer tables crafted from millennia-old kauri wood combine the practical functionality of high-quality furniture with the aesthetic impact of a standalone work of art. Made from burl wood or tree trunk wood, these exclusive tables are designed for everyday use while also serving as distinctive design pieces.

The material’s particular strength lies in its natural grain, its depth, and its unique character. This results in designer tables that enhance and define a space.

Designer table crafted from millennia-old kauri wood, featuring a unique tabletop made from a single piece of burl wood, making it an exclusive piece
Large-format Kauri design table made of subfossil wood – both a functional piece of furniture and a unique work of art

What Makes a Designer Table

A designer table combines form, function, and material in a way that goes beyond mere functionality. The grain of the wood, the proportions of the tabletop, and the finish of the surface collectively define the character of the piece. This is particularly evident in the case of kauri wood. The material already possesses its own distinct presence—the design then consists of making this presence visible and transforming it into a piece of furniture that can be used for years to come.

A distinctive designer table crafted from a single solid slab of kauri wood, a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture for exceptional interior design
The freestanding tabletop defines the form, function, and understated presence of this design piece

Kauri wood as a material for unique designer tables

The unique kauri wood is particularly well-suited for striking designer tables because it embodies a natural character and an archaic tranquility. Special properties make this wood more interesting for designer furniture than almost any other: preserved for millennia in swamps and often naturally embedded with amber, it cannot be reproduced at will, but possesses a form that speaks its own language even before it is worked. This is precisely what creates the special tension between nature and design.

Kauri wood inlaid with golden amber in the tabletop of an exclusive designer table, creating a one-of-a-kind piece of designer furniture
Tabletop made of subfossil Kauri wood from New Zealand, featuring embedded amber and exceptional depth of material

Burl wood, log wood, and epoxy resin

For my designer tables, I work with natural root wood and tree trunk wood. Both types have their own unique grain patterns. Root sections often appear organic, lively, and more dynamic, while tree trunk wood can exhibit a calmer and more defined grain. I use high-quality epoxy resin to stabilize embedded bark and amber, to precisely define surfaces, or to create smoother transitions. This preserves the wood’s original form while ensuring the table remains durable and suitable for everyday use as a moisture-resistant dining table.

Tabletop of a designer table made of kauri burl wood with amber, bark, and high-quality epoxy resin, creating a unique dining table
Burl wood, natural features, and precise resin detailing combine functionality with natural form

Designer tables as art-like objects

Kauri design tables straddle the line between furniture and artwork, between function and sculptural impact. That is precisely what makes them so appealing: they are functional, yet remain distinctly unique in their form, material, and presence. Kauri wood enhances this effect because its distinctive grain, natural edges, amber-colored areas, and the depth of the material create an almost curated aesthetic.

Kauri Designer Table: a work of art crafted from millennia-old wood with natural edges and amber, a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture and art
Somewhere between furniture and a work of art – design crafted from archaic natural materials

Custom-made and one-of-a-kind

Every designer table is crafted as a one-of-a-kind piece. The selection, proportions, and size of the raw material play a central role. Each table is assigned a unique serial number and comes with its own certificate of origin. This underscores the character of these pieces as traceable, individual works of art. Custom-made does not simply mean the right size, but a form that harmonizes with the material. The result is a piece of furniture that is as impressive in its fit and function as it is in its aesthetic appeal.

A custom-made Kauri designer table with a unique serial number, featuring a burl wood tabletop, crafted by master cabinetmaker Michael Beaupoil to ensure long-lasting durability
Each table is a one-of-a-kind, custom-made piece with its own unique serial number and certificate of age

Development, Design, and Quality Standards

For me, design is an ongoing process. I work with prototypes, surface treatments, and various resin systems to find the best possible solution for each type of wood. What matters is not the technique for its own sake, but the result: a serene, durable, and cleanly crafted table that makes a strong visual impact.

A durable designer table from a master craftsman's workshop—an easy-to-maintain designer dining table made from unique wood, perfect for functional furniture and art objects
Low-maintenance designer dining table, tested for surface smoothness and durability using high-quality resin systems

Selected Designer Tables

Below you will find a selection of designer tables made of kauri wood, available in various sizes and each with its own unique character. Some pieces have a clean, understated look, while others have a more organic feel or a distinctive depth of material. What they all share is a commitment to blending functional furniture with art-like objects.

Desk featuring amber and embedded bark

Unique number

160

A designer table crafted from a single slab of kauri wood with an organic shape, featuring natural amber and visible bark growth. The natural tabletop gives this piece a warm, almost sculptural presence.

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Designer dining table made of solid kauri burl

Unique number

141

A massive, 2,900-year-old root serves as the base for a large dining table with a striking natural grain. The tabletop’s organic shape clearly reveals the material’s origins.

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Large designer table made of burl and trunk wood

Unique number

137

A large-format designer table designed as an investment, featuring a tabletop crafted from natural root and tree trunk wood. The combination of these two elements gives the table an exceptionally serene yet powerful presence in the room

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Exclusive Kauri Wood Design Furniture

Unique number

132a

A cohesive set consisting of a table, a bench, and two stools, all crafted from the same solid 2,900-year-old kauri root. Cracks and natural openings were stabilized and meticulously finished using epoxy resin.

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Designer table with glass legs and epoxy resin

Unique number

132

A single piece of solid kauri root forms the base of this table. The elegant combination of transparent resin detailing and lightweight glass legs makes the solid tabletop appear to float.

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Designer table with a natural, organic shape

Unique number

69

A table made of burl and tree trunk wood with pronounced natural grain patterns in all directions. It is precisely these natural lines that give the piece its distinctive visual appeal and uniqueness.

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