Making of Handmade 2015’s bed table by Muller Van Severen

Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen at Alma's leather workshop in east London. Portrait: Adrian Wilson

Muller Van Severen and Alma have created a table for Handmade 2015 that slides smartly over your bed, provides a home for your latest copy of Wallpaper* and features an iPad stand. Pictured left: Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen at Alma's leather workshop in east London. Portrait: Adrian Wilson

(Image credit: Baker & Evans)

By Sujata Burman

last updated 31 October 2022

in Features

We need never leave our beds again with this table created by Belgium-based design duo Muller Van Severen and London's Alma leather for Handmade 2015.

Seeking an upgrade from ubiquitously clunky bedside tables, we turned to photographer Fien Muller and sculptor Hannes Van Severen, experts in minimalism who founded their studio in 2011, to create a bed table that was both functional and refined in its appearance.

A true vision of architectural furniture was produced, a concept that Anna Yudina discusses in her book Furnitecture: Furniture that Transforms Space – exploring the idea of creating a room space within the framework of a furniture piece. Muller Van Severen fundamentally employs this in their design aesthetic; both 2011's 'duo seat + lamp' and 2012's 'rack + seat' are pieces that combine overarched lighting and lounge seating in a single form. For our bed table, the duo have designed a table on wheels that slides smartly over the bed, provides a home for your latest copy of Wallpaper* and features an iPad stand, all in one.

Staying true to their sculptural style, Muller told Wallpaper* that she wanted materials that allowed the 'different functions to converge fluently' and that '[leather] can function both independently and dependently in the frame'. Just like the linear steel body, the leather becomes a structure of its own in the hanging compartment and table top. The artistic pair wanted a clean finish without any seams in the leather or visualisation of the back of the hide.

With this guidance, bespoke leather experts Alma provided a luxurious covering to match the playful red structure. Established in 1938, the company produces fine leathers for the fashion and interiors industries in its east London workshop. Here they have chosen their 'pisa veg tan hide' in a caramel colour. Tanned in Italy, it connects with the framework perfectly, making our bed a perfect place to eat, work, play and entertain.

Originally featured in the August 2015 edition of Wallpaper* (W*197)

A true vision of architectural furniture for the bed table with their linear steel structure — Experts in minimalism Muller Van Severen have created a true vision of architectural furniture for the bed table with their linear steel structure

Staying true to their sculptural style, Muller told W* that she wanted materials that allowed the 'different functions to converge fluently' and that '[leather] can function both independently and dependently in the frame'

Alma provided a luxurious covering to match the playful red structure. Established in 1938, the company produces fine leathers in its east London workshop. Here they have chosen their 'pisa veg tan hide' in a caramel colour

Sujata Burman is a writer and editor based in London, specialising in design and culture. She was Digital Design Editor at Wallpaper* before moving to her current role of Head of Content at London Design Festival and London Design Biennale where she is expanding the content offering of the showcases. Over the past decade, Sujata has written for global design and culture publications, and has been a speaker, moderator and judge for institutions and brands including RIBA, D&AD, Design Museum and Design Miami/. In 2019, she co-authored her first book, An Opinionated Guide to London Architecture, published by Hoxton Mini Press, which was driven by her aim to make the fields of design and architecture accessible to wider audiences.