One half of the design duo Kate & Kate, Kate Pascoe Squires opened her lounge room to us recently for a glimpse at her gorgeous coffee table — a brass and marble number that was imported from France. “I fell in love with the incredible brass Greek key motif, which pops against the veiny blush marble on my coffee table top. It would be a shame to hide such beauty, so I tend to keep it pretty clutter-free,” says Kate of the metre-round, mid-century table that also sports traditional black painted timber legs.
“The Greek key motif is heaven – it has various blemishes within the brass that are battle scars from its previous life. This table was imported from France and I’m certain it will stay with us for many years to come,” says Kate.
As for what you’d typically find on top, Kate is married to media personality Tony Squires so it’s understandable that newspapers are a permanent fixture. “For the most part, you will find a consistent stack of newspapers, my current read, a laptop and a fresh bunch of seasonal flowers. Oh and my sculptural Jessica Hans vase, handmade and painted in Philadelphia,” says Kate who doesn’t re-style her coffee table that often. “Apart from whatever blooms are on offer that week it doesn’t change much except for the newspapers that are on daily rotation.”
With two children, Kate’s coffee table is also a multi-tasking piece – a consideration when she styles it. “The coffee table is often at the heart of a living room, so it needs to offer both style and function. I do like some space on a coffee table for, you know, a cup of coffee! It’s lovely when kids can gather around a coffee table to do arts and crafts or your friends with some rosé – but equally, it’s also lovely to have a few special pieces on the table to really make it a centrepiece.”
As for styling tips, Kate believes simplicity is key. “Don’t go too crazy on the styling front. You want the table to be able to handle the movement of everyday life – a stray newspaper, a new novel, the ever-present laptop – don’t fuss too much about it. Keep it natural, with a few key pieces that tell a story,” says Kate.
Photography: Felix Forest
