If there’s a name to be counted on, it’s been Ligne Roset. From its inception in 1973, the company has become synonymous with modern furniture. As a side note, the company has been family owned and operated since before Ligne Roset became a registered trademark. Before making furniture, the Roset family owned a wood processing facility, where Antoine Roset had the bright idea of making walking sticks, chair frames, and wooden umbrellas. And eventually, the name and its products were born.

Stem Sideboard. Designed by Eric Jourdan for Ligne Roset.

New in 2009 is a clever collection of occasional tables, including Stem by Eric Jourdan. Like Ligne Roset, Jourdan has a family heritage in design. One of an entire clan of architects, Jourdan may have been born to draft. He admits as much when he describes his artistic bent: “In a project, what is interesting is to retain the spirit of the original drawings one made.” With a well-known penchant for classic modernist furniture, Jourdan’s signature marks are “serenity and clarity.” His new sideboard illustrates this beautifully.

At 32″ high and almost 22″ deep, Stem offers two widths (45″ and 86″), thereby accommodating spaces small and large. Stem can be further customized by mixing drawers and flap doors, both of which come with convenient “push-catch” mechanisms. Additionally, Stem gives one a choice of finish: gloss white, gloss taupe, or gloss anthracite lacquer–each of which is shiny and smooth, allowing the eye to focus on the occasional table’s frame. The frame, always finished in American walnut veneer, is a U-shape–its curved bottom contrasting with its sharp-edged top. With no visible hardware, the facade remains intact, in keeping with Jourdan’s hallmark style of serenity and clarity.