by The shoe styles of the 1990s are having a resurgence for summer 2022, “thanks to both the continued rise of online vintage shopping and runway references,” Harper’s Bazaar says in a recent preview.
And that means chunky bottoms.
The Harper’s style roundup featured a lug-soled Mary Jane from Reformation and a platform sandal from Balenciaga, among other solidly soled options. Vogue spotlighted a block-heeled pump from Farfetch, and Marie Claire’s summer shoe preview showcased a soaring but solid denim platform sandal from Schutz and a platform-heeled sandal from Dries Van Noten.
So, maybe it’s fitting that when thinking about a trend in blocky tables, my mind went immediately to Superchunk, the indie rock band that helped define the music scene in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in the 1990s.
The chunky tables — consoles, side, even dining — are sturdy, stable, solid. They are the kind of pieces that anchor a space. Grounding, they often call to mind tree trunks or large boulders, the weightiest of natural elements. (You knew we’d have to bring biophilia into this somehow. It’s an inescapable trend across trends.)
Others have a more industrial vibe. Think concrete pillars. And in some cases, are made of concrete, making them suitable for outdoors or indoors.
The bleach-spalted Georgie console table from Austin-based Four Hands is made from thick-cut bleached oak veneer. The asymmetric base with pillar-style legs is topped with a plank-style top in keeping with the base’s proportions.
Jamie Young Co.’s aptly named Revolve side table has architecturally inspired lines, industrial notes and artisan-crafted quality, giving it a category-defying feel, the company says. Each is hand carved of mango wood.
The Templo indoor/outdoor dining table from Moe’s features a tapered geometric base, adding an elegant sculptural style to its gathering-round function. Sturdy and versatile, it’s made of fiber-reinforced natural concrete with a textured surface.
Designer Jay Jeffers’ third collection with Dallas-based Arteriors includes this Spiazzo end table with sturdy proportions and an industrial feel. Each piece in the new group “is handcrafted and meant to feel collected over time,” Jeffers says.
High Point, North Carolina-based South + English offers a host of occasional tables that fall solidly into the superchunk category. New is the rough-hewn Lanning side table and the ebony Bracken side table, with tapered feet balancing the rustic pillar. Oval indentations add interest to the Bracken.
Moe’s Terning coffee table is dressed in a hypnotic Art Deco design of ethically sourced white and black camel bone with resin. It’s eye catching, for sure. We were drawn also to the simple, low block-shape, too. It’s also available as a side table.
This story first appeared in sister publication Decor News Now.
