About us
Made by hand in Braintree, Essex.
The workshop
Braintree, Essex
Visits by appointment
01376 313333
Who we are
Timber first. Resin with restraint.
River Table is a small workshop in Braintree, Essex, making live edge river tables, desks and boardroom tables to order. Every piece starts with a carefully selected hardwood slab, chosen for its character, grain and natural edge, and is paired with professional-grade resin to create the river that defines it.
Because no two pieces of timber are the same, every table we make is one of one. The movement of the wood, the line of the live edge and the depth of the resin combine into furniture that is both striking and built to last, in construction and in appearance.
We work with English oak, walnut, elm, cherry, ash and sweet chestnut, and we sell kiln-dried slabs as they are for anyone who wants to build their own. Our aim is simple: to celebrate the individuality of natural materials while delivering durable, functional furniture for modern homes and workplaces.
What we believe
Your table should feel naturally at home in your space.
Our process
From slab to installation, in five stages.
01
Slab selection
Every table begins with the selection of a solid timber slab, chosen for structural integrity, grain and the definition of its live edge. Each slab is assessed for suitability so it looks exceptional and performs reliably for the life of the piece.
02
Preparation
The slab is kiln dried, flattened on both faces and stabilised. Cracks, voids and bark inclusions are cleaned back and prepared so that the resin bonds properly and the top stays flat for decades.
03
Resin
Professional-grade epoxy is poured in controlled stages to the colour and finish you have chosen, from gloss black and smoky grey to deep blues and metallics. Resin is used to stabilise and contrast the timber, never to dominate it.
04
Finishing
The top is machined flat, sanded through the grades and finished in Odie’s Oil, a penetrating finish that protects the timber while letting it breathe. It can be refreshed locally over years of use.
05
Base and delivery
The base is fabricated in heavy-gauge steel, powder-coated black and proportioned to the top. We deliver across the UK, quoted per piece, or you collect from the workshop by appointment.
Materials and finishes
Chosen for performance, not just looks.
From structural fixings and adhesives to the resin and the surface finish, every component is chosen to keep a solid timber top stable and serviceable for decades of everyday use.
Timber
Every slab is kiln dried, flattened on both faces and stabilised before any resin is poured. Cracks, voids and bark inclusions are cleaned back and filled so the top stays flat for decades.
Resin
We use professional-grade resin systems developed for furniture, chosen for clarity, strength and UV resistance, poured in controlled stages to the colour you have chosen.
Fixings
Professional-grade fixings and construction methods that allow for the natural movement of solid wood. Where needed, C channel reinforcement and threaded inserts support long-term stability.
Adhesives and finish
Titebond adhesives, chosen for their reliability in furniture making and food-safe once cured. Tops are finished in Odie’s Oil, a penetrating finish that protects the timber while letting it breathe, and can be refreshed locally.
Tell us about the room, or the slab.
Every commission starts with a conversation and a specification agreed before any timber is cut.