Sixixis Elefant Table Review

Typical price:

£1,900

We like:

The local manufacture and local materials; the quirky design

We don't like:

The stratospheric price

SmartPlanet judgement:

Maker Sixixis says it's inspired by ancient table roots, but we think they mean kitchen stools. However, we can agree on one thing -- this is a great-looking coffee table. Made in Cornwall from local Ash -- and a spot of European Ash -- it's also impeccably ethical and green. The only real drag is the price, which puts it out of reach of most of the ethical consumers who'd love to buy it.

Score:

Contact:

Nice Car Company at http://www.sixixis.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1209 217 774

If you're hunting for an unusual coffee table, this may tick your boxes. It's made in Cornwall not China, features good wood, not tropical hardwood, and sports a tabletop illustration of a beating heart, replete with arteries.

There's a distinctly local vibe here. Based in Cornwall, designers and manufacturers Sixixis create the legs from Cornish Ash and source the tabletop from European FSC-certified European Ash. As the gold standard in sustainable wood, the FSC badge guarantees that the table benefits from the virtues of using wood -- it's renewable and hard-wearing -- without any of the downsides, such as illegal logging and deforestation.

The choice of wood also makes for a lovely-looking table with a handsome grain. It feels fairly sturdy too -- we lugged the table around the office for deliveries and video shoots several times and it was reassuringly solid.

The legs and tabletop illustration split opinion here at SmartPlanet Towers. The legs, which are steam-bent and connect to the tabletop with plugs of British oak and a water-based glue, were considered "too fussy" by some. Encouragingly, there's very little glue used in the entire table. Others also felt the legs took up too much floorspace. We like them, but we're not utterly convinced they evoke the ancient tree roots they're apparently based upon. They remind us more of four up-turned stools. Incidentally, you can buy matching stools from Sixixis for £290 a pop.

Then there's that illustration by designer duo Elefant on the tabletop. While we like it, a heart and arteries that morph into a tree and leaves may not be to everyone's taste. No big deal there -- you can't please everyone all the time, but we can't help feeling it detracts more than it adds.

There's a lot to praise here. The Elefant is UK-made, supports a business in a county with some of the worst unemployment rates in the country, uses local renewable materials and has a quirky yet good-looking design. The foresters Sixixis works with even plant four trees for every one tree used for the tables. The catch is the price. At £1,900, this is well beyond the budget of most of the ethical shoppers who'd be prime candidates to buy it. Still, you are buying exclusivity -- it's one of a limited edition of five.

Score breakdown:

 

Read more reviews of green and ethical products at www.smartplanet.com