Artistica Home: Metal, Glass and Stone in Occasional Furniture
Artistica occasional tables, available at Sutter & Vale, combine metal, glass, cast panels and wood veneer work in pieces designed for long daily use. The collection spans coffee tables, end tables and consoles. Each piece centers on a specific material pairing, so choosing one starts with understanding what each material contributes to a room.
What materials does Artistica use in its occasional tables?
Metal, glass, cast panels and treated wood veneers are the core materials across the Artistica occasional line. They appear in different combinations depending on the piece, and the choice of finish, whether champagne bronze, brushed nickel or wire-brushed wood, determines how the table reads in a room. Browse the full range in the Artistica collection at Sutter & Vale.
How does Artistica use metal in its table designs?
Metal appears as structure, accent and surface texture throughout the line. Solid brass ferrules on the Andare Round Cocktail Table and its companion Andare Round End Table ground wide quartered white oak legs with a warm finish detail at floor level. On the Barnaby Square Cocktail Table, a cast panel in champagne bronze finish sits inset into the top, its organic texture doing the decorative work that applied ornamentation once did. The Appellation Rectangular Cocktail Table uses brushed nickel hardware on two drawers, keeping the hardware tone cooler than the wood around it.
Metal never overwhelms in these pieces. It marks transitions: where a leg meets the floor, where a drawer meets a front, where a cast surface meets a wood frame.
Where does glass fit, and what does it add practically?
Glass adds lightness and a secondary function. On the Appellation Rectangular Cocktail Table, an inset glass top sits above an open display compartment. You see the shelf below through the top, which keeps the table visually open in a smaller living room. The glass also protects whatever sits beneath it from dust and handling.
A few things to consider when choosing a glass-top occasional table:
- Glass reads cooler than wood in a palette, so it works well against warmer upholstery
- An inset top sits flush with the frame, reducing chipping risk at the edges
- The compartment below functions as display space for art books, trays or objects
What is the cast panel technique used in the Barnaby tables?
A cast panel is formed by pouring a material into a mold to capture fine surface texture. On the Barnaby Square End Table and its cocktail companion, the panel sits inset into the top surface and carries an organic, irregular texture finished in champagne bronze. This gives the table a surface quality that reads differently from veneered wood or polished stone. The texture catches light at an angle and holds it flat under direct overhead light, so the table changes character across the day.
How do wood surface treatments work across the Artistica occasional line?
Wire-brushing and veneer pattern work are the two main wood techniques in these tables.
| Technique | What it does | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Wire-brushed finish | Opens the wood grain, adds tactile texture, reduces reflectivity | Appellation series, Credence End Table |
| Starburst veneer pattern | Radiates flat-cut veneer from a center point for a graphic, symmetrical top | Appellation Square Cocktail and End Tables |
| Four-way match | Mirrors veneer leaves around a center seam in four directions | Credence Square End Table |
| Quartered sections | Slab top divided into three quartered white oak panels | Andare series |
The Credence Square End Table uses mahogany with wire-brushed solids and veneers in a four-way match pattern on the top and open shelf, so the patterning continues through the whole piece rather than stopping at one surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall should a side table be relative to my sofa arm?
A standard rule is to keep the side table top within two inches of your sofa arm height. Most sofa arms fall between 24 and 28 inches from the floor, so look for end tables in roughly that range for comfortable reach from a seated position.
Can I mix metal finishes across Artistica tables in the same room?
Yes, mixing finishes works when you repeat each finish at least twice in the room. Champagne bronze on two tables and brushed nickel on a lamp and drawer pull, for instance, creates rhythm rather than inconsistency.
How do I care for a wire-brushed wood surface?
Wipe with a dry or slightly damp cloth, then dry immediately. Avoid oil-based polishes on wire-brushed surfaces, as the oil settles into the open grain and changes the finish tone over time.
The Sutter & Vale Team
