I was looking through some old photos over the weekend that brought me renewed inspiration. I thought I’d share with you today to hopefully inspire your own design ideas for your home.


Back in 2008, I had a customer in Laguna Beach I was doing a lot of work for. He wanted a table for his living room but didn’t have a style in mind. He gave me all creative control and with his approval, I designed a unique piece for him. My friend Reid Endly did the construction along with my input. Here’s what we came up with:

custom table drawings
Blue print custom table design

I wanted to design a table for my customer that had one-of-a-kind features. I like pieces that have a story behind them, so I created this table to look like a hatch from an old ship. To add even more character, I crafted an X pattern that intersected the four table legs. I also wanted to incorporate different materials like metal in the design.

Medieval custom table
Initial construction of custom table

Here you see the top of the walnut table. I designed it with hammered metal strips to create a “medieval” style.

custom wood table
Refinishing Process

After my buddy Reid completed the construction of the table, it was up to me to bring it to life. To create a custom, aged, walnut color, I bleached the wood, dyed, stained and distressed it. A complex process yielding a great result!

Industrial wood table
Table Legs
top of table
Metal Accents
finished Medieval table
Finished wood table

The finished table looks stunning paired with my customer’s white couches. I once heard an interior designer say that the key to creating impactful ambiance in the home is to make sure a unique conversation piece is in every room. Drawing the eye inward, this table is a beautiful focal point of the room and sure to be a fun conversation piece for years to come.

Ed Arthur