In traditional Japanese home design, there are three things that are given the utmost importance: simplicity, functionality, and attention to nature and space.

These values are so similar to our values here at Son of a Woodcutter that it’s no wonder we were inspired by Japanese furniture design to create one of our newest dining tables. In a traditional japanese home, every piece has a function and simple elegance. This is what we aimed for when we designed the Kantan table, which literally means “simple” in Japanese. This simple beauty was designed to look incredible in any home, bringing balance and a healthy dose of nature to your dining room.

The Design

Japanese design is clean and uncluttered. The modern base of our Kantan table is what really makes this piece unique, with its clean lines and simple elegance. We’ve used natural wood with a dark stain to bring nature into the home. The Kantan is available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 6ft x 3ft all the way up to 10ft x 4ft.

The Materials

In traditional Japanese homes, wood was used in much of the construction, and much of the furniture was made with wood. Japanese furniture design has always seemed to lean towards a connection with the natural. 

As with all of our furniture, the Kantan is built with Ontario wood making it a sustainable and durable choice. The locally-sourced Ambrosia Maple wood that this table is made of is carefully hand-picked here in Toronto. Ambrosia is part of the hardwood family, and sits at the softer end of the scale. It’s a little softer than common hardwoods like Walnut, which actually improves the way the wood soaks up stains. Ambrosia Maple makes for beautiful satin finishes.

Because Ambrosia maple grows faster than many other wood species, it is a great cost effective option. We’ve also custom-mixed the stain to mimic walnut – a great affordable alternative.

Want to know more? You can take a look at our Kantan table here.

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A lot goes on behind the scenes at Son of a Woodcutter. The work we do wouldn’t be possible without our awesome team. They’re dedicated and hardworking. They’re passionate about their craft. Will is no exception. We asked him a few questions about his background in woodworking and his role at Son of a Woodcutter. Here’s what happened! 

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Over the years we’ve refined the method we use to build our tables. Part of our process involves joining multiple boards together to make a table top. We’re often asked why we’ve chosen to approach it this way – why not just take a big slab of wood?