Ever hear of live edge? Usually, it refers to a woodworking technique in which the bark is stripped from the edge of a slice of wood, but the contours are allowed to remain in place. The slab is finished and usually the piece is converted into wall art or the surface of a piece of furniture, like a table.
The technique is also mimicked in stone – such as in beautiful Sofita marble – but what is it, and why is it essential to your interior decorating, especially if you’re enchanting by natural minimalism?
Why Live Edge?
Live edge in stone is slightly different from what is applied to stone. Whereas it occurs naturally in wood, in stone, the edge of the surface of a slab of stone – such as marble – is meticulously worked to give it a roughly hewn appearance, as though it was broken fresh off a block at the quarry.
This gives live edge stone a rugged, unfinished appearance that balances a fusion between the beauty of nature and the art of the craftsman. Stone live edge coffee tables therefore are perfect for decorating natural minimalist interiors, in which there are elements of raw nature and more refined, simplistic decorative touches.
How to Compliment a Live Edge Coffee Table
If you’re considering getting a stone live edge table for your home, regardless of the room in which you choose to decorate with it, here are some best practices to make it really pop:
● Nod to the stone’s unfinished, live edge with other raw, natural elements. Worn wood, exposed cordage made of natural fibers, and unpolished stone, such as granite or marble, make excellent pairings with live edge stone tables.
● If decorating with a light stone like white marble, keep the rest of your design suffused by warm, earth-tone neutrals like white, light grays, and beige.
● If you need pops of color, align them with the highlights in the stone. For instance, consider the following live edge coffee tables; those at the previous link are made with light, Sofita marble with muted, warm veins. Align your other decorative elements with the colors of the marble’s veins.
● Lighter woods like white oak and beech pair beautifully with lighter stone, as they create harmony, although darker elements, like walnut and wood that has been treated through the Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban, can create pleasant contrast.
● Two great ways to mirror the raw, natural beauty of live edge stone furniture, like a coffee table, are with pillars of stone that have live edges, or through natural stone wall art.
Put Some of These Design Practices into Play Today
In the world of natural minimalism, more is less, which places an emphasis on the few decorative elements you do intentionally choose. This makes it easier to create a balanced minimal interior than it is to follow other schools of design.
But you still need a vision. So treat yourself to that live edge coffee table and see if you can put some of these ideas into practice today.
