The Complete Guide to Eero Saarinen’s Tulip Dining Tables
Simplicity underscored Eero Saarinen’s groundbreaking 1958 Pedestal Collection, designed as a solution to what Saarinen called the “ugly, confusing, unrestful world” created by typical table and chair legs. Inspired by a drop of high-viscosity liquid, the Saarinen Table swaps four traditional legs for a single sculptural base that eliminates visual clutter and allows for more legroom. Saarinen’s collection of pedestal tables comprises oval and round dining tables, coffee tables, side tables, and outdoor dining tables, all available at Design Within Reach. Made for the modern home, the classic Tulip Table is graceful, elegant, and timeless.
Table of Contents
History
Shapes
Sizes
Materials
Outdoor Tables
The History of the Saarinen Table
Eero Saarinen’s collection of pedestal dining tables is a sterling example of his ability to incorporate multiple facets of design into one simple yet innovative product. In designing the Tulip Tables and Chairs for his 1958 Pedestal Collection, Saarinen drew inspiration from architecture and sculpture, two disciplines with which he was intimately familiar from a young age.
Eero Saarinen was born in Finland in 1910, to architect Eliel Saarinen and textile artist and sculptor Loja Saarinen, both accomplished designers in their respective fields. Having been immersed in design from birth, it was no surprise that Eero Saarinen developed a passion for sculpture and architecture – a passion which flourished under his father’s tutelage. Saarinen studied at the Cranbook Academy of Art, where he befriended and collaborated with Charles and Ray Eames (then Ray Kaiser) and Florence Knoll (then Florence Schust). These relationships inspired some of Saarinen’s earliest and most essential projects. Alongside Florence Knoll, Saarinen cultivated a lasting and fruitful partnership with the Knoll furniture company, which manufactured some of his most iconic designs, including the Saarinen Dining Tables.
After Cranbrook, Eero Saarinen studied at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris and the Yale School of Architecture, where he refined his sculptural approach to design, one that relied on innumerable scale models, prototypes, and revisions. This design approach was critical to Saarinen’s pedestal dining tables, which blossomed from sketches into drawings into countless one-fourth-scale models staged in a miniature room. By manipulating his models, Saarinen was able to fine-tune the curves and proportions of his pedestal tables to achieve the gracefully balanced versions we know today.
Saarinen designed his Pedestal Collection to resolve the disorder he observed in the tangle of legs beneath traditional dining tables and chairs. The solution to too many legs, Saarinen determined, was quite simple: fewer legs. The Tulip Chair and Saarinen Tables, each with a single pedestal base in lieu of numerous legs, illustrate Eero Saarinen’s innovative uses of contemporary materials, modernist silhouettes, and mass production techniques. The Saarinen Dining Table exemplifies his groundbreaking design intuitions: The sturdy, powder-coated cast-aluminum base flows organically into a smooth stone or laminate tabletop, creating an elegant curvilinear silhouette.
How to Choose a Tulip Dining Table
Designed with balanced proportions and high-performance materials, the Saarinen Table creates a focal point in any dining space. Saarinen’s pedestal dining tables are available in a wide range of sizes and materials fit for indoor and all-weather outdoor dining tables. To select a Saarinen Dining Table, first consider the size and shape of your dining room or dining area. Select a dinner table that is proportional to the space. A table that is too large may overwhelm the area, while one that is too small may not anchor the space. Choosing the right Saarinen Dining Table for your space requires some of the same thoughtful care that Eero Saarinen instilled into his pedestal table design.
Saarinen Table Shapes
Round
Due to their structural equilibrium, round dining tables are best suited to square dining rooms, small dining rooms, and central dining areas encircled by other furniture. Round pedestal dining tables, especially the sculptural, round Saarinen Dining Tables, are a smart choice for compact areas. Choose this type of dining table for small spaces where you need to ease traffic flow and allow for more legroom.
Oval
Elongated oval dining tables are better suited to long or narrow dining rooms and dining areas that run parallel to other architectural features in the home, such as a kitchen island. Oval pedestal dining tables allow for versatile seating arrangements, unobstructed by dining table legs, making them ideal for families or those who frequently entertain.
Saarinen Dining Table Sizes
Ensure a functional dining setup by choosing the right dining table size. Dining table dimensions dictate not only how the Saarinen Table will fit in your space but also how many people can sit comfortably around the table.
To choose the right dining table size, first measure your space. Then, use those measurements to sketch a dining room floor plan. Next, determine where a dining table can be arranged for comfortable seating. The best practice is to account for 24”–36” of space between the edge of the table and any surrounding furniture or walls. This will allow for easy movement around the table. Carefully consider dining table dimensions to determine what size table is best for your space.
Finally, consider how many people you’d like your Saarinen Table to seat on a regular basis as well as the width of the dining chairs you plan to pair with your table. Standard dining chairs are 20” wide; dining armchairs from Design Within Reach measure up to 26” wide. Below, we’ve outlined the seating accommodations for each Saarinen Dining Table size.
Pedestal Table Dimensions & Seating Arrangements
Available in a significant range of sizes for both round and oval silhouettes, a Saarinen Dining Table can be a perfect fit in countless spaces.
35” Round: At 35.75” wide, the 35” Round Saarinen Dining Table is approximate to a standard 36” round dining table. It can seat up to three 20” dining chairs or three 26” dining chairs. It also works equally well as a dining table for two. It’s a perfect table for small spaces since it can fit in rooms as compact as 9’ by 9’. This 35” piece is also available as an outdoor table.
42” Round: The Saarinen 42” Round Dining Table is an ideal dining table for four. It can comfortably seat up to five 20” dining chairs or four 26” chairs. This four-person dining table is also available in weather-resistant materials for outdoor use. This size is best suited to spaces that are at least 9’6” by 9’6”.
47” Round: At just over 47” wide, the Saarinen 47” Round Dining Table is comparable to a standard 48” round dining table. It’s suitable for six as it can accommodate up to six 20” dining chairs or – to allow for more elbow room – up to five 26” dining chairs. This six-person dining table is ideal for rooms that are at least 10’ by 10’.
54” Round: Available as an indoor and outdoor dining table, the Saarinen 54” Round Dining Table is the perfect dining table for six, suitable for up to six dining chairs that measure 20”–26”. This 54” round dining table is ideal for spaces that are at least 10’6” by 10’6”.
60” Round: The Saarinen 60” Round Dining Table is an excellent dining table for families or hosts who entertain large parties. It can seat up to eight 20” dining chairs or seven 26” dining chairs. This eight-person table fits best in spaces that are at least 11’ by 11’.
72” Oval: The smallest oval dining table in the Saarinen Dining Table Collection: The Saarinen 72” Oval Dining Table is an essential dinner table for six. It can accommodate up to six 20” or 26” dining chairs, situated on opposite sides of the table for a seating arrangement conducive to conversation. To fit in your dining area, this 72” dining table needs at least 12’ by 9’6” of space.
78” Oval: If you’re looking for a roomy oval dining table for six, the Saarinen 78” Oval Dining Table is a perfect choice, as it can fit up to six 20” or 26” dining chairs with significant elbow room. This oval indoor or outdoor dining table can fit in spaces that are at least 12’6” by 10’.
84” Oval: At 84” wide and 47” deep, the Saarinen 84” Oval Dining Table is generous enough for eight diners, with room for up to eight 20” or 26” dining chairs. This oval dining table is spacious, offering room for a seat at the head and foot of the table. Spaces that measure at least 13’ by 10’ can accommodate this 84” dining table.
96” Oval: For a truly grand, spacious feel, opt for the Saarinen 96” Oval Dining Table, a sweeping dinner table for eight. Able to accommodate up to eight 20” or 26” dining chairs, this 96” table is the largest available in the Saarinen Collection. To ease traffic flow around this piece, your dining area should measure at least 14’ by 10’6”.
Saarinen Dining Table Materials
Eero Saarinen’s pedestal table was a groundbreaking design, due in part to his thoughtful, intuitive use of high-quality materials that are easy to manufacture. The Saarinen Dining Table Collection comprises laminate, veneer, stone, and marble dining tables that are beautiful, sturdy, and stand up to daily use. To choose the best dining table material for your dining area, consider your personal preferences and note whether you’ll need the table for outdoor use.
Each indoor Saarinen Dining Table features a molded cast-aluminum base coated in abrasion-, corrosion-, and weather-resistant black or white Rilsan. Rilsan is a bio-based powder coating renowned for its extreme durability. It’s used to coat and protect metal furniture, including both indoor and outdoor dining tables. Stainless steel hardware attaches the top to the Saarinen Table’s pedestal base, resulting in a durable connection that will stand the test of time. Indoor Saarinen Dining Table surfaces feature beveled edges and are available in a wide range of high-quality materials:
Indoor Tulip Table Materials
Laminate
For a sleek white dining table or black dining table, choose a Tulip Table with a white or black laminate tabletop.
Laminate tabletops are exceptionally durable, made to withstand daily use. For a uniform silhouette that showcases the sculptural beauty of the table, pair a white laminate tabletop with a white cast-aluminum base, or a black laminate tabletop with a black cast-aluminum base. Or, for contrast, pair a white laminate top with a black base (or vice versa).
Marble
Marble is perhaps the most iconic material Eero Saarinen worked with during his partnership with Knoll. The variegated stone offered him the unique ability to bring forth his innovative modernist ideas with a classic, time-tested material. With his pedestal dining tables, Eero Saarinen introduced marble to Knoll’s catalogue of material finishes and established his Pedestal Collection as an unmistakable icon of design.
Whereas Saarinen’s original marble-top dining tables for Knoll featured White Italian, Wallen Grey, and Italian Cremo marble, contemporary Saarinen marble dining tables from Knoll employ a wide range of exquisite AA Grade marbles, from pristine white Arabescato marble to luxe green Verde Alpi marble. Each marble dining table surface undergoes several rounds of evaluation and refinement before being coated in durable, non-porous, transparent polyester. Choose from polished or smooth satin finishes – each with a neatly beveled edge. Despite their durability, marble Saarinen Tables should not be used outdoors. Over time and use, the polyester coating may gain a warmer tone.
Veneer
Wood dining tables and wood-top dining tables bring material warmth to modern dining areas. Saarinen Tables are available with a variety of wood veneer tabletops that are durable, responsibly sourced, and designed to enhance the natural beauty of the wood. Each wood-top dining table features a gorgeous cathedral grain veneer placed atop a medium-density fiberboard, finished with a beveled edge.
Veneer tabletop tones available include light walnut, ebonized walnut, light oak, rosewood, and dark cherry.
Outdoor Saarinen Tables
Saarinen Outdoor Dining Tables are available at DWR in the following sizes: 35” round tables, 42” round tables, 54” round tables, and 78” oval tables. These sizes are suitable for outdoor spaces small to large and provide a focal point for outdoor dining and entertaining areas. Saarinen Outdoor Dining Table top materials include Vetro Bianco and Slate, both engineered stones favored for their durability, weather-resistance, and sophistication.
Choosing the right outdoor dining table material is about more than aesthetics. To ensure that your outdoor dining table is a lasting investment, it’s essential to choose materials made to withstand a wide range of weather conditions. Saarinen Dining Tables are made specifically for outdoor use. These outdoor tables feature the same cast-aluminum base as their indoor counterparts and are heavy enough to withstand strong winds. They’re also coated with durable Rilsan, with stainless steel hardware securing the top of the table to the base.