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A nest of tables is one piece of furniture that becomes three. Closed, it occupies the footprint of a single small table. Open, everyone in the room has somewhere to put a cup down.
It is also entirely dependent on being made properly. The tables have to slide under each other cleanly and keep doing it in fifty years when the timber has moved. That is a fitting job rather than an assembly job, and it is why we make them one nest at a time.
The patterns we make
Rectangular nest, #721. The standard: three tables in graduated sizes with straight tops and turned or square legs. Made in oak and in cherry, and much the most-specified pattern.
Oval top nest. The same arrangement with oval tops. The curve softens the piece against a sofa and leaves no corner at shin height when the tables are out and forgotten about.
Trestle nest, #721A. Trestle ends rather than four legs — a shaped standard at each end with a stretcher between. The tables read much lighter, and the smallest sits completely clear when it slides in.
Long John nest, #721B. The long, low pattern. The tables are noticeably longer in proportion than the standard nest, so the largest works as a small coffee table on its own and the smaller ones pull out beside a chair.
What to look at
Graduation. The gap between each table and the next is the whole craft. Too tight and they bind in a wet winter; too loose and the nest looks sloppy closed.
Leg thickness. Every leg has to be slim enough that three tables still fit together and strong enough to carry a full tray.
Top thickness. The tops graduate in size, not in thickness, so all three read as the same table at different scales.
Timbers
Oak, cherry, mahogany and walnut are the standard four, and every nest is made in all of them. Cherry is a common choice here and darkens markedly over the first few years; mahogany and walnut suit the Long John and oval patterns.
Specials, on application: character oak; pippy oak in light, medium and heavy grades; oak selected for medullary ray; and clean timber with no knots at all. The three tops are seen side by side in the same light, so they are cut from the same board wherever the width allows.
Finishes: polished, painted, limed, sand-blasted, rub-through paint, natural, or colour matched to a sample. We can match furniture that is 100 years old to new reproduction purchases made the year before.
Order free timber and finish samples before choosing between oak and cherry. Three small tops in the wrong shade are three mistakes rather than one.
Made to your size
Common changes: the whole nest scaled up or down; height set from the arm of a particular chair; the largest table made to work as a coffee table in its own right; two tables instead of three, or four; the top shape changed between rectangular and oval; a nest made to match lamp tables we have already built for you.
If what you want does not exist yet, our designers draw it first. See bespoke and commissioning.
Prices
Quoted per nest. Tell us the pattern, the size you want the largest table to be, and the timber and finish, and we will give you a guide price. Special timbers and finishes are on application. Lead time is typically ten to twelve weeks.
Frequently asked questions
How many tables are in a nest?
Three as standard, graduated so the two smaller ones slide completely under the largest. We also make nests of two and of four to order.
What is a Long John nest of tables?
The long, low pattern, #721B. The tables are longer in proportion than the standard nest, so the largest works as a small coffee table on its own and the smaller ones pull out beside a chair.
Will the tables still slide in years to come?
Yes, if the clearances are cut correctly for solid timber in the first place. Each table is fitted individually rather than made to a fixed gap, which allows for the seasonal movement every solid piece has.
Can a nest be made to match a coffee table?
Yes. Ordering them together means they come from the same boards and the same finish, which is worth doing when they will sit a few feet apart. See coffee tables.
