The classic Nelson swag leg group has the look, scale, and function just right for today, 50 years after George Nelson designed them. The size of the desk is perfect for a laptop and mobile device dock and makes efficient use of space in your home or office. The tables work well in offices and meeting spaces and in your dining area at home.

What is a swag leg?

We named this furniture group for the process that created the distinctive legs because designer George Nelson started with this idea: “Wouldn’t it be beautiful to have some kind of sculptured leg on a piece of furniture?” How could that be done without wood and hand-carving tools?

Using pressure to taper and curve a metal tube—the process called swaging—proved to be the best way to produce the legs. Inserting a screw in the legs and rotating them in opposite directions makes quick work of assembly—and makes a strong joint too. You can assemble the pieces yourself and save money on shipping.

Choices for office or home

You can have a swag leg desk, a work table, a round dining table, a rectangular dining table. All have chrome bases with walnut stretchers. All have adjustable glides.

Although it was introduced in 1958, the desk seems to have been designed to fit today’s compact electronics. A grommet for cable management has been added to the back of the desk. Colorful cubbyholes at the back keep materials organized and at hand, and one fits a laptop computer. Two molded plastic drawers store small items.

The work table provides plenty of room to spread out papers; dining tables can also be meeting tables. Tops can be white laminate or walnut veneer with a walnut veneer edge band that coordinates with the solid walnut stretcher.

Carafe Table

Whether you’re working, playing, creating, conversing or hosting dinner guests, you’ll find the Carafe Table designed by Charles Wilson is equally adept at enabling all these activities. A versatile table for urban living, Carafe provides an attractive and adaptable surface for working or entertaining, along with thoughtful storage features. It’s a new take on the traditional communal dining table.

Flexible function

Compact apartments that are so much a part of urban living require every space and surface to be flexible in function. To address this need, the Carafe Table was designed to merge the functions of the kitchen bench top and the work desk, and transform easily between working and dining modes. Discreet drawers address storage, giving you convenient places to put objects as varied as cables or cutlery, paperwork or linens. Devices are subtly connected to power sources through cut-outs in the drawer bases. Like the communal vessel from which the table takes its name, Carafe embodies the convivial spirit present when family and friends gather.

Versatile for urban living

When designing Carafe, Sydney, Australia-based designer Charles Wilson reflected on how he lives and works. “In my inner city apartment, the dining table is the most utilised piece of furniture. It’s the centre around which all activity revolves. During the week, it’s my workstation, a quiet place from which I look out to the harbour, reflect on my designs and perfect their production. At the weekend, it’s the gathering place for family and friends who drop in, kids in tow, everyone pitching in preparing food and mixing drinks.”

Architectural in form

Inspired by traditional Vietnamese architecture, in particular the timber fishing huts that designer Charles Wilson saw while visiting South East Asia, the Carafe Table is tall and lean, as if perched on pylons. Its broad, faceted main drawer slides out from both sides of the table, making it perfect for storing work supplies or dining accoutrements. Cantilevered shelves at either end allow for additional storage. As Wilson notes, “A good dining table should be able to seamlessly segue from functional work top to elegant entertaining surface, and back again. It should look as good laden with documents or dinner as it does sparse or bare.”

Dining table as utensil

Technology has liberated modern professionals from the 9-to-5 grind, allowing them to work when and where they choose. Given this reality, designer Charles Wilson saw the need for a table that efficiently adapts to the demands of urban living. He says that while, “There is no one perfect dining table, a good design is like a snapshot of our needs. The Carafe Table addresses the complexity of our working and family lives, redefining the dining table as a utensil.”

People move, their chairs move, so why shouldn’t their desk, too? Named for the flexible work surface that slides to envelop a person while working, Envelop is the first desk designed to help human, chair, work surface, and technology be in harmony. Available with a standard pin-height adjustment or sit-to-stand height adjustable legs, it can support a full range of healthy seated and standing postures.

The eyes always win

Heavy computer use can be hard on the body. Even in an ergonomic task chair, a person may hunch, crouch, or lean in to help the eyes focus on the monitor—leading to back and neck pain, eyestrain, and fatigue. Envelop’s unique seven-degree tilt helps maintain the optimal distance from and viewing angle to a monitor. It also moves keyboard, pointing devices, and screen along with a person every time he or she moves, keeping eyes focused and body aligned in a variety of healthy, comfortable postures.

Moving support

The sliding, flexible support surface (or “infield”) of this desk actually envelops a person, moving forward seven inches and pivoting down seven degrees to provide continuous flexible support for forearms and wrists. The soft, resilient surface reduces pressure while eliminating awkward wrist positions. Pair it with an ergonomic chair with a wide range of motion to provide healthy support through a wide range of seated postures.

A good fit

Envelop’s clean, harmonious design fits wherever needed: as a freestanding desk at home, in an office, or within a panel system. It’s also built to fit the human body, with a body pocket designed to accommodate from the fifth to 98th percentile of women and men, according to anthropomorphic data. Pin-height or electric sit-to-stand height adjustable legs expand the applications even farther.

Everywhere Tables possess fine lines and a refined aesthetic that complement any space. From conference tables for formal meeting areas to coffee tables or standing-height occasional tables for more informal settings, Everywhere Tables offer boundless flexibility, enabling any activity that requires an inviting and expansive (or compact) surface.

Whatever the activity

Studying, working, videoconferencing, lunching—any activity that brings people together to engage with their work or one another can be centered around an Everywhere Table. The same kit of parts can be used to create a range of tables with functionality for any need.

Wherever the setting

With solutions for any table application, Everywhere Tables help achieve a consistent look across the entire office landscape, lending a sense of cohesion and visual calm throughout the workplace.

Whatever the change

With modular and mobile Everywhere Tables, a training room can be set up or rearranged in minutes. Easy-to-use ganging hardware helps keep rows of tables looking neat.