MK Designers Hides Storage Inside a Bamboo Coffee Table for Frayer

A bamboo coffee table with storage concealed inside its own geometry debuted at the 14th Czech Design Week international design festival in Prague. Marek Kounovský of MK Designers designed the piece, called Handle Table, for the Prague-based furniture company Frayer.

The design explores what Kounovský describes as the idea of 'just enough' — balancing function, material and form without adding unnecessary details. The reduced silhouette keeps the focus on proportion, construction and the bamboo itself, while an integrated compartment holds everyday items without disrupting the table's clean appearance.

What drives the design?

Kounovský draws on the Japanese principle of hodo-hodo, which emphasizes moderation, restraint and balance. Rather than treating storage as an add-on, the designer folds it into the table's overall geometry. A handle integrated into the tabletop adds a functional detail that doubles as the piece's namesake feature.

The approach strips the object to essentials. Proportion and construction define the table's visual language, and the hidden compartment disappears into the form rather than interrupting it.

How is the bamboo finished?

The bamboo surface carries an oil-based wood stain that MK Designers developed through experiments with application methods suited to the material. The finish enhances the bamboo's natural structure and tactile qualities while keeping its texture fully visible — a deliberate contrast to opaque coatings that mask the substrate.

Bamboo forms the table's main material throughout, aligning the project with Frayer's specialization in the fast-growing grass as a furniture material.

Who made it?

Handle Table results from a collaboration between MK Designers and Frayer:

• Designer: MK Designers
• Lead designer: Marek Kounovský
• Collaborator: Frayer, Prague

The presentation at Czech Design Week marks the young Czech company's latest showing on an international stage, and the project signals how restraint-driven, single-material furniture continues to find room at Prague's flagship design event.