Size it on the people around it
Count about 70 cm of table edge per person for a working meeting, 80 cm for a board that sits for long sessions with papers and laptops. Add at least one metre between the table and the wall so chairs can be pulled out and people can walk behind them. A table for 14 is often around 4.80 m by 1.40 m, but the room decides: a boat shape gives everyone a view of the end of the table and of the screen.
Depth matters as much as length. Too narrow and the cable boxes crowd the centre; too wide and people opposite each other feel far apart, which video microphones also dislike. We draw the table in plan and in 3D with the chairs in place before choosing the final dimensions.
Tops, edges and legs
Solid oak or walnut in jointed boards, veneer on a stable core for very long tops, travertine or marble in sections with discreet joints, lacquer for a monolithic look: each material has its weight, maintenance and lead time, and we explain them before you choose. A stone top for twelve people can weigh several hundred kilos, which changes the leg structure and the delivery.
The edge profile is what hands touch all day. We can ask the workshop for an edge sample before production, so you judge thickness and finish on the real material rather than on a drawing.
- oiled, varnished or waxed wood, chosen for use and maintenance
- stone sealed against stains, with joints aligned to the cable boxes
- legs set back to clear knees and chair bases
- felt or adjustable glides to protect the floor
Power, data and video built in from the drawing
Every seat needs power and often a USB-C point; the screen end needs a cable route to the wall; microphones need a clear centre. We plan flip-up cable boxes or flush sockets, cable trays under the top and a hidden route through one leg to a floor box. The floor box position goes to your electrical contractor early. Soul Design does not carry out electrical work; we supply the table ready to be connected by them.
Your audiovisual integrator can send us the equipment list: we leave the cut-outs and spaces it needs, rather than drilling the top on site.
Getting a five-metre table into a Paris building
Lifts in Paris office buildings rarely take more than 2.20 m. We check lift, corridor and door dimensions during the site visit and design the table to be assembled in place: top in two or three sections joined with concealed fittings, legs bolted on, cable trays fitted after positioning. Partner installers assemble and level the table and leave the room clean.
Typical cases
Typical case
A board of 14 in a room with two columns
- Situation
- No catalogue table fits between the columns while leaving circulation on both sides.
- Our approach
- A boat-shaped table in two sections, sized to the gap, with power at each seat and a cable route through the leg nearest the floor box.
Typical case
A conference room used for boards and for client workshops
- Situation
- The room must seat 20 for a board and split into smaller groups the rest of the time.
- Our approach
- A set of modular tables in the same top material, joined for board meetings and separated for workshops, each with its own power.
Typical case: a representative situation, not a completed project.
What determines the cost of a bespoke table
We quote after a drawing and a choice of materials. The main variables are these.
| Item | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Top | material, thickness, length, number of sections and joints |
| Base | wood, metal or stone, number of legs, finish |
| Integration | number of cable boxes, cut-outs for AV equipment, cable routes |
| Prototype and samples | edge sample, finish samples, possible full-size mock-up |
| Delivery and assembly | weight, access, floor, out-of-hours slot |
The quote shows each item and the workshop’s announced lead time, confirmed in writing when the order is placed.
How we work
- 01
Room survey
Dimensions, columns, screen wall, floor boxes, lift and access.
- 02
Drawing and 3D
Shape, size and seating options drawn with chairs in place.
- 03
Materials and edge sample
Wood or stone samples, finishes, edge profile validated in hand.
- 04
Production by a partner workshop
Nothing is launched without your written approval of the drawings.
- 05
Delivery and assembly
Sections assembled in the room, levelled and ready for connection.