In the spring of 2023, after 2 years of longing for a dining table in our apartment, I decided to dive into furniture making at the Herron School of Art & Design. We were tasked to make a table of any kind and be creative with our design. With many cutting boards along the way, I was able to finish a custom live-edged Kotatsu.

A kotatsu is a Japanese low wooden table frame that's usually covered by a futon, or heavy blanket, upon which a table top sits during the winter.

The tabletop comes off and is set on dowels that are attached to the frame and flushed to the tabletop. There is also a heater attached to the frame which can also be taken off. The "live edge" was hand dremel for an organic bark texture. Woods used were bloodwood, African mahogany, padauk, and mostly cherry wood.

I love the idea of having a kotatsu for the apartment but wanted a "nice" one without spending $$$$ amount of money.....so here it is!