Inspiration

There’s something distinctly craft-like about Hebden. It makes us think of architects’ studios or a carpenter’s workshop. It’s a piece that’s all about making.

We like the largest Hebden for this role. Ideally, it’ll be used in a more open-plan living space, but it doesn’t have to be limited to that. Choosing the bigger size means you'll have plenty of space to spread out for the task in hand – be it arts and crafts activities or an afternoon of scrapbooking. And, the scale of it means you can share the space but divide up the tasks if need be; paperwork can take place at one end while creativity develops at the other.

The glass-topped version is a practical choice in case things get messy, but the oak tabletop can be covered with oilcloth to protect it.

Hebden can offer a refreshing alternative to a traditional desk, whether your study spot is in a separate home office, a hallway alcove or even a bedroom’s corner. We like the glass version in lighter and airier rooms as it gives the light a surface to bounce off, and the oak version for cosier climes. The smaller Hebden is the most obvious choice for a desk, but if space is on your side, then the larger of the two gives you far more surface area for spreading out books and piles of paperwork.

Bear in mind, though, that Hebden doesn’t have drawers, so you’ll need to think about incorporating enough storage around the rest of the room so you have everything you’ll need close at hand. Alternatively, our Heatherley desk organiser can perch neatly on top (its grips on the underside will keep it safely in place). 

If we had to choose between the two, we'd opt for the oak version of Hebden as a dining table. It works as a more informal kitchen table as much as it does in a separate dining room. Your choice of chairs and the room’s decoration is what will help to dress it up, or down. A mixture of chair types, such as Wardley and Harrogate will make it feel more informal. Whereas a single style, like Sheldrake, brings uniformity that’s more suited to a dining room.

The glass surface shouldn’t be discounted though. We can quite easily picture it in a more contemporary kitchen, such as Limehouse, surrounded by Shoreditch dining chairs. And neither should the smaller Hebden – it’s a lovely option in a petite room or apartment.

While Hebden comes with the choice of two tabletops, because of its construction, you can also think about removing either the oak or the glass (depending on which you choose), and replacing it with your own surface. We quite like the idea of zinc so that you can use it in a garden room or greenhouse as a potting bench. You can then get creative with what you do with your spare table surface. Store it somewhere safe to swap back in when you’re ready for a change. Or, prop it upright to use as a display piece – attach hooks to hang tools off in a shed or pin ideas to it as an oversized moodboard. Zinc-wrapping the oak is another possibility if you’d like to get really hands-on.

This last one is less about grown-ups. Because of the way the legs are set in a trestle, it means there’s a good amount of room between them to have a bit of fun. An oversized linen tablecloth, hanging all the way over the edge and down to the floor (or a bedroom sheet if you’d prefer to not use linen) creates the perfect den beneath. A pillow popped by each leg gives a bit of back support too, so little ones can get perfectly comfortable with a torch, a teddy and a good book – although lying on your belly on a sea of cushions is something we encourage just as much.