“All About the Ming:” The No-Fail, Non-Boring, Universal Donor Coffee Table

Laurel Bern recently did a post on that ever-fascinating, mind-bending topic — the trick to “the mix” of contemporary and traditional elements. Articles have been written on this topic ad nauseum. Even considering the fact that Laurel has major design creds (she’s a veteran-designer-turned-blogger rather than the other way around, like it often is), I was a little sceptical whether or not she would have new light to shed on this topic for homeowners. However, she did come up with one little jewel of advice.

“No matter what, you can always do a modern-style coffee/cocktail table. Always. Always. Always.”

Bravo, lady! You just said the little jewel that hundreds of people have talked around, and thousands have been waiting to hear, in a single sentence. She goes on to say:

“There are no hard and fast rules [to mixing styles]. There is an art to it and when one starts putting formulas together, I think is when we get into trouble.”

Sorry folks. Great designers and the mix they create is the result of talent (and hard work, of course). I can buy a paint-by-numbers Renoir kit, but whatever I come up with still won’t look like a Renoir. There is no formula for genius. (And I am SO not a design genius. 😉 )

Cheer up! Despair not!  The rest of us can learn from study and imitation. Let’s focus on that coffee table statement!

If you have a modern home, if you have a traditional home, if you want to throw in antiques, if you want glam, if you want neo-trad-meets-casual comfort, or a rustic-iron/wood-accents-with-shappy-chic-slipcovers, I have the coffee table for you that will give you the mix you seek….

“All About The Ming:”

The Non-Boring, Universal Donor of Coffee Tables

Ming tables come in all sizes, colors, and finishes — woods, linen-wrapped, brass, iron, mother of pearl. You name it. But they have 2 things in common — the Chow legs and/or feet and slight pagoda-like overhang to the top.

 

Bruce Glickman and Wilson Henley

Corbusier chairs, a zebra rug, charcoal walls, an ancestral portrait, and a red Ming table.

Andrew Howard goes airy and refined beachy.

An eclectic Boston apartment.

Super traditional Southern elegance by Margaret Kirkland.

Everyday with bits of fun in Lindsay’s family room.

Looks great right in front of Courtnay’s mod upholstered lounge chairs and the Victorian moldings in the living room.

No one paints rooms yellow anymore. Why not, I wonder?

Laurel used the above pic to illustrate a sofa that some people saw as traditional and others as contemporary. I was looking at the coffee table.

Airy and light with a dark Ming to ground the space.

French-rustic-industrial-vintage style, courtesy of RH. (It’s overpriced, for sure, but I still buy there sometimes, though it pains me more than I can say.)

Yep, I have one, too. Because of the small scale of the room, this one was custom made by a trade-only shop near the Boston Design Center and is thanks to one of my design mentors and friends Dena Hamilburg, who introduced me to the wonders of what is possible when you’re a trade professional.

A Ming for You, Me, and Everybody

So, if you like this style, the big question is: “Where do I get it?” Your basic wood Ming coffee table can run you $250 +shipping from eBay to $2,500 + for a real antique or a custom job.

A word of caution to vintage buyers — these older tables can run really low … in height, I mean. Like 12″-14″ high. Because most chair/sofa seats cushions are at about 18″ high, modern coffee tables run 16″ on the low side to 20″. If you find a Ming at 12,” you will be reaching DOWN. No problem if you like the low, hipster, I-still-dress-like-I’m-at-NYU style, but if you plan on serving tea and scones, or even espresso and Oreos, watch out for those low ones.

It seems I’ve been doing roundups lately, but this trend is really just a product of what I’ve been searching for during my design work. Many a vintage gem below! Some trade-only things, all of which are available through Home Glow Design or sometimes through places like Candelabra or Kathy Kuo Home for a markup. I think there is one  affiliate link here, but let’s be honest. I’ve never had the time to get a handle on advertising or affiliate marketing. I do it for the love and to send my design opinions out into the blogosphere. If you buy one of these, I may see a dime in 5 years. 🙂

1./2. The white one is going out of production — if you like, buy soon!

3. Great fretwork top and color. Also comes in white and gray.

4. Ming twist on a typical iron table.

5. Shagreen top, how cool?!

6. / 7. / 8.

9. Custom grasscloth-covered Ming available to consumers, not just trade.

10. Comes in 21 colors and finishes!

11. Snakeskin. ‘Nough said.

12. / 13. / 14.

15. Love the lines.

16. Awesome color.

17. / 18.

Any favorites? Are you sold? PLEASE! If you buy one, let me know! Some of my other “round-ups” that have included vintage eBay and Etsy things have sold the day I posted after months of languishing online, and I’d love to know that I’ve helped you find your gem.

Thing 1’s baseball season championship is on Sunday, and then maybe I’ll get back on an editorial calendar and some idea what I will be writing about from week to week. ‘Til Saturday then!

-Amy