Clear Intentions

Philippe Cramer’s Mix dining table marries the warmth of walnut with industrial acrylic—a beautiful exercise in striking contrasts. Jerry Helling, president of Bernhardt Design, was intrigued by this mix of natural and man-made materials, and the many possible combinations they suggested. The table was put into production after Helling visited Cramer’s studio. “The whole point of this piece is that the viewer understands exactly what’s going on,” Cramer says. “Seeing the table, you can read exactly where its legs end and join. It’s such a simple piece that it has to be instantly readable and totally clear.” We asked the Geneva-based designer to talk about the table, part of his collection for Bern-hardt design (www.bernhardtdesign.com), which also includes chairs, side tables, and a coffee table.

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This table is called Mix, and I named another one in the collection Remix. The idea was actually the mix of the two materials. It was the hardest to design and make technically, even though it looks simple. We ended up finding that one way to do this was to put an acrylic platform around the top of the leg, which is just under the tabletop, to hold its weight.

We used a natural material—solid wood—because I wanted people to touch the piece. I describe this as “sensual minimalism.” I’m working on making objects that can be industrialized but still retain some warmth and humanity.

I always like using woods we can find in our country, such as oak or walnut, and I never use tropical woods or endangered species. It’s part of my idea of being honest by using what you have.

I always have a little cross in my designs, which is a reference to Switzerland. This cross goes all the way through the tabletop, so when you look into the cross from the top you can see all the way down. It’s a magical effect.

The edge of the tabletop is beveled to look lighter. When you look at it from the side, it creates a floating effect.

The legs are transparent, cross-shaped, and tapered at the bottom, which creates an optical illusion and makes the table look lighter.