A patio dining set has to seat your household on a Tuesday and your friends on a Saturday. Count both numbers before you look at tables. Four chairs on a weeknight and eight a few times a summer call for a different table than six chairs on a weeknight.
Count seats, then choose a shape
Round and square tables suit two to four people. Diners sit close, the salad stays in reach, and the table has no head. A long rectangle suits six and more. It lines up with a wall or a hedge and leaves the rest of the terrace open.
Give each diner about 24 to 30 inches of table edge. At 24 inches the party feels full and elbows touch. At 30 inches people can use a knife and fork without negotiating. Behind the table, leave about three feet so a guest can push the chair back and stand.
four checks before you order
- 01Head count the everyday number and the party number
- 02Shape round or square for four, a long top for six and more
- 03Clearance about 3 feet behind each chair to stand up
- 04Material teak, stone or marble top against your weather
A table built like a portico
Kettal Il Colonnato is a set of dining tables that Mario Bellini designed in 2022. He looked at the colonnade, the row of columns under a classical portico, and put the tabletop where the roof would be. From most angles the columns overlap into a solid drum. Walk to the side and they separate, and the space under the top opens up.
The tables come in three shapes and three materials. Square and round tops stand on four or five columns. Rectangular tops stand on six or eight, which keeps the rhythm even along a long side. Tops come in teak, Minera stone or marble, nine tables in all. See the Il Colonnato collection.
Each top asks for its own care. Teak turns silver gray if you leave it unoiled, and a sanding with a coat of oil brings the honey tone back. Marble can etch under lemon juice or wine, so seal it and wipe it after meals. Minera stone gives a mineral top with a quieter surface than veined marble and takes the same simple care.
Chairs that show their frame
Il Colonnato ships as tables only, so you choose the chairs. Kettal Band by Patricia Urquiola, from 2019, pairs well with the columns. Urquiola built the chair from separate angular members, so the frame stays on view. The plain chair and the chair with armrests are the dining pieces, and a garden armchair adds a club chair for the lounge corner. See the Band collection.
Each of the three Band shapes comes in aluminum and in teak with the same geometry. You can run teak chairs around a teak Il Colonnato top, or put aluminum chairs by the pool where splashes land all day. A common trick: armless chairs along the sides, armchairs at the two ends.
how many chairs each table shape takes
| Diners | Table shape | Width per diner | Il Colonnato option | Band chairs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4 | Round or square | About 24 to 30 inches of edge | Round or square top on 4 or 5 columns | 4 chairs with or without armrests |
| 4 to 6 | Large round or short rectangle | About 24 to 30 inches of edge | Round top, or rectangle on 6 columns | 6 chairs, armrests at the ends |
| 6 to 8 | Long rectangle | About 24 inches for a tight party | Rectangle on 8 columns | 8 chairs in teak or aluminum |
Match the top to your weather
A teak top suits a dry garden and an owner who likes the silver patina. Stone and marble suit a terrace in the sun, where a heavy top stays put in the wind. If your table stands under a tree, pick a top you can wipe fast, because leaves and sap arrive daily.
Tell us how many people you seat on a normal night and on a party night, and send the size of the terrace. We reply with an Il Colonnato shape and top, a set of Band chairs, and a price for each piece.
