What hyper-minimalist forms lack in ornamentation, they often amplify in color, texture, and materiality. Iridescent and ephemeral, the Seahorse Coffee Table’s textural inlay – designed by Katerina Bulgakova in the tradition of straw marquetry – embodies the color and reflectiveness found on kaleidoscopic fish scales while celebrating the hues of Earth’s most precious resource: water.
Radiating from the center, the finish depth creates a cool, liquid-like surface, also evoking the feeling of water droplets disturbing a quiet pond. Right at home on the beach, one could also imagine this stately piece in a formal living room or an outdoor area. The top slab’s substantial thickness is quite satisfying, supported by an equally hefty base, fostering a sense of solidness and dimension beneath the shiny surface.
“With its sculptural presence and sunburst-laid straw surface, the Seahorse Coffee Table blurs the line between functional design and quiet spatial poetry,” Bulgakova shares. “Crafted in a demanding artistic tradition, the table embodies the studio’s core values: reverence for nature, excellence in craftsmanship, and the pursuit of timeless, resonant beauty.”
The strips are made from rye straw that’s harvested in western Ukraine. The straw is then dried, cleaned, and dyed by hand. After careful inspection of each strand, they’re opened and flattened to prepare them for application. Each laid by hand, expert rendering of the inlay around cylindrical forms takes this piece to the next level, the upper echelon of meticulous detail and execution. A satin finish allows the colors to embody a luminosity, a specific depth that could not be appreciated through a high gloss.
The way this piece captures light, especially in full sun, is extraordinary. Multitudes of blue tints create a halo of color gracing the tabletop. Imagine an elegant tablescape enveloped in its aura.
To learn more about the Seahorse Coffee Table by Katerina Bulgakova, please visit katerinabulgakova.com.
Photography courtesy of Katerina Bulgakova.
