The Zelo Collection – Modern Walnut and Brass Side Table with Integrated Magazine Storage
This blog article is more or less the same as the one from my old “Stuff Seth Makes” blog, but rewritten and updated so I can have the content here on my new blog. Even though the original blog article was published a few years ago, this is STILL an exciting article for me, so please keep reading!
As you may have seen in some of my other posts either here on my website or over on Instagram, I have a sketchbook with a bunch of ideas. Some are just quick sloppy doodles so I don’t forget an idea, while others are sketches of pieces I’d like to build at some point. Some of the designs in my sketchbook are things I simply think look cool and would be fun to build, while other designs might address a need I have in my own home. That’s where the Zelo Side Table comes in!
When I’m done working for the day and find myself with some down time (rare) you might find me hanging out in the living room with my wife. If we’re relaxing after a good day’s work we may very well be enjoying a few episodes of whatever we’re into at the moment. Maybe it’s the newest episode of Physical 100 or The Great British Baking Show, or maybe it’s some quality vintage entertainment like The Dick Van Dyke Show or Little House on the Prairie. When it comes to our favorite shows, we’re all over the place. Additionally, it’s not uncommon to find me browsing through past issues of Dwell or Atomic Ranch. In our living room we’ve got a Petrie Sofa and Chair (the name is probably inspired by the living room of Rob & Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show) and for the longest time we’ve had this old rusty mid-century magazine rack down by it’s side. That magazine rack has seen better days, and in addition to it’s worn out appearance it didn’t really allow the magazines to sit comfortably. Furthermore, if we happen to have a drink with us, there wasn’t anywhere convenient to set it down. This was a problem I had to solve!
The design I came up with addressed our needs perfectly without compromising style. For this particular piece of furniture I knew I wanted to use solid walnut, so I milled 8/4 stock down to the sizes I would need. This design also has an area to store a few magazines (or a sketchbook) and I incorporated a brass shelf rail along the front edge to keep us from cluttering up the piece with too much literature. Since this side table would be placed next to the Petrie Chair, which has a bit of a mid-century modern style, I wanted the Zelo Side Table to give a nod to mid-century modern furniture as well. This side table shows off tasteful roundover and chamfer detail throughout the piece and is finished with Odie’s Oil which is currently my go-to for these side tables and other projects. I chose this finish because I like to feel the wood when I touch it, as opposed to a glassy smooth film finish. This side table is very nice to touch!
It’s extremely satisfying to see a piece go from concept to creation. One of the things I love most about building, creating and making things is seeing the project start out as a chunk of whatever, and at the end I can stand back and admire my work and what that original chunk has become. The one right here in these photos was the first walnut prototype (I’ve refined a couple minor details since this one) and it will live in our own home, so I get to enjoy it’s style and functionality every day. Lucky for you, I offer the Zelo Side Table in my Etsy store so you can own one too! It’s been very popular and while most of my orders are for one side table, I’ve also had several customers order a pair of Zelo Side Tables. I hope you’ll enjoy the following photos of my Zelo Side Table!
Are you in the market for a unique, attractive and functional mid-century modern inspired piece of furniture? Are you an interior designer looking for a modern touch to finish off your client’s room? If so, follow this link to learn more about the Zelo Side Table. If walnut doesn’t tie in to your space, I can always do a version in a different wood species, like this version in white oak.
The Perfect Pair
As you can see from this customer’s home in San Francisco (image above), the Zelo Side Tables work very well with genuine mid-century modern pieces.
If you have any questions about ordering a Zelo Side Table for yourself, or an entirely different piece of furniture, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me and we’ll go from there! Thanks for stopping by the blog of Seth Mondragon - American Craftsman.
