The LISABO desk has birch legs and a solid ash-veneered beech top with an ash drawer underneath. The LISABO desk is part of a series of furniture in which the distinct grain of the ash veneer and the natural wood feel of the birch lend each table its own unique character and craft-like expression. The series was designed by Knut Hagberg and Marianne Hagberg, who started working at IKEA back in 1979. This is how they remember their thinking around LISABO:
“The idea behind LISABO was to create a series with a distinct feeling of wood, a floating expression and durable, easy to assemble construction. We used a matt lacquer on ash veneer so that the furniture retains its natural wood feel. The special technique we use means the tables can be manufactured without a frame and with slanted edges, which conveys a hand-crafted look. The furniture pieces have several different areas of use. The TV bench, for instance, can be a sitting bench.”
One specific memory for the designers was how they had to fight to get a desk drawer with a keyhole rather than a handle approved.
“We refused to use a handle and the manufacturer refused to accept the keyhole. But we solved it with a long, drawn-out, heated argument,” said Marianne.
One particular advantage of LISABO is a small, almost invisible solution that reduces the assembly time by 80% compared to previous table designs. The legs are inserted into holes under the table and then locked in place with a smart plastic fitting.
LISABO has won the prestigious international Red Dot Award for its design. The judges commented: “The LISABO table series looks simple, honest and robust. The design exudes lightness and modern style. The short assembly time is an added bonus.”
LISABO started being sold at IKEA in 2016 and is still in the range in 2021. As well as the desk, the series also includes a dining table, a coffee table, a side table and a chair.
