It's funny when you think that 'burl' is technically an abnormal growth in the tree, an imperfection interrupting the natural grain of the wood. Yet, in furniture it's lusted after — its one-of-a-kind swirls make it so striking, and typically quite expensive. That's why when I saw Marks & Spencer's Nesting Burl Coffee Tables at a recent press preview, I had to see them up close, straight away.
As far as burl wood furniture goes, £300 for two tables — you could nest them together or style them separately — feels pretty well priced, to me (for context, Soho Home's cheapest burl coffee table is £1,195). Plus, the lighter stain and cylindrical legs make this design feel much more contemporary compared to the heavier styles of the 1920s.
