Specie: French Oak
Finish: Pre-Aging, Oil Plus 2C & SheenPlus
Colour/s: Authentic #1 & Dunes
Dimensions: 2400mm x 1100mm x 750mm

“I am incredibly excited and honoured to have been selected to take part in the Rubio Monocoat 2026 Build-Off. It is a privilege to participate in a competition that celebrates creativity and craftsmanship while also supporting such an important cause, with the auction proceeds being donated to CANSA.

Rubio Monocoat is a company and product range that I know well and have trusted in my furniture-making for many years. This build offered me a rare opportunity to design something entirely from my own imagination, without having to work within a client’s specifications. It was both exciting and challenging to begin with a completely open brief and allow the design to develop naturally. I chose to create an eight-seater dining table using French oak. I love the warmth, character and old-world charm of this timber, particularly when it is used to create fresh, modern designs. Blending old and new is something I enjoy incorporating into both the design and manufacturing of our furniture. In the spirit of celebrating South Africa’s Heritage Day, I chose a table because it represents a space where we gather. As South Africans, so many of our best moments happen around a table, with family, friends, good food, generous hospitality and shared memories.

The design leans towards mid-century modern, while incorporating organic shapes into the tabletop. My goal was to create a table that would work practically in various areas of the home. Although it offers generous eight-seater proportions, it has a light construction and visual footprint. The carefully considered angles and finer details give the piece its distinctive character. Instead of laminating the oak with traditional straight edges, I used natural-looking, flowing edges between the boards. This celebrates the organic beauty of the timber and provides an ideal surface on which to showcase the Rubio Monocoat product range.

The table was first treated with Pre-Aging Authentic #1 to enhance the grain and create an aged, old-world character. Oil Plus 2C colour “Vienna” was then applied to introduce the rich, darker tone, followed by the SheenPlus to bring out the depth of the colour and grain.

The completed piece represents warmth, heritage and timeless elegance.” – Morris Knudsen