Sobremesa by Sheila Llovet and Charlotte Taylor for Obstacles
In a design collaboration that celebrates connection, daily ritual and the subtleties of lived experience, Barcelona's Sheila Llovet, founder of Obstacles and London-based artist and designer Charlotte Taylor, have come together to create Sobremesa, a table that transcends function to become a backdrop for conversation, creativity and contemplation.
The partnership, initiated through a shared sensibility and mutual admiration, brings together two distinct yet complementary perspectives. Sheila, who trained as an interior architect, is the creative force behind Obstacles, a studio dedicated to crafting objects that deepen the dialogue between furniture, architecture and the people who inhabit them. “I approach design as a way to connect with what is essential—both functionally and aesthetically,” she says.
Charlotte Taylor, meanwhile, is widely recognised for her imaginative take on domestic architecture, developing digital and physical worlds that blur boundaries between art and design. Through her studio Maison de Sable, she creates visual narratives where soft tones meet sharp geometry, often blending the real with the imagined. Her interest lies in creating pieces that exist in a liminal space—between uses, between moments—inviting slowness and offering room for everything from a working day to a lingering, late lunch.
Their first collaboration, Sobremesa, draws on the Spanish expression for the period after a meal when conversation lingers and time stretches. It's a word without a direct English translation, an idea more than a definition, and one that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the project. "I like to observe and think about the in-between moments that happen around the table," says Sheila. "It's about what happens around the table, those in-between moments that make life feel full."
The design takes the form of a generous, geometric table crafted from French oak with walnut detailing—a material pairing that echoes traditional marquetry techniques while feeling strikingly modern. Starting from a set of solid wood blocks, the designers developed a language of repetition and modularity that allowed for practical integrations, most notably, a built-in chessboard that hints at the table's playful, open-ended purpose.
From the outset, flexibility was essential. Rather than creating a static object, the designers envisioned a table that could adapt to real life—supporting work, rest, play, conversation. It’s a piece that responds to shifting needs and moods, encouraging fluidity in both use and meaning. Whether functioning as a desk, a dining table, or a stage for games and gathering, Sobremesa was conceived to evolve with the people around it.
The table debuted as part of the Home from Home exhibition at the Noura Residency in Copenhagen, held from June 17–19. The exhibition explored domestic dualities—stillness and motion, function and emotion—through intuitive object placement, natural light, and thoughtful composition. Situated at the heart of the exhibition, the kitchen, Sobremesa anchored the home as a sculptural and social centrepiece. "It was important to place the table in a setting where life unfolds," notes Sheila. "The kitchen is where things begin and end. It's where the stories are."
More than a table, Sobremesa is a reflection of its creators’ shared belief that design is inseparable from life. They see creativity as something born in motion, conversation, and moments of rest—rarely at a desk. This collaboration is a tribute to those fleeting, beautiful pauses, the spaces between structure where memory, connection, and meaning take shape.
Following its debut in Copenhagen, Sobremesa will travel to Portugal to be featured as part of The Orb Gallery, launching in October.
