“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” at the Maine Wood Show
(pictured above: The Very Hungry Caterpillar table designed by Saer Huston)
Last Friday, the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship hosted its biannual Maine Wood Show, and in the heart of these very cold winter months, it offered something deeply warming. The gathering was filled with creativity, kindness, and connection. A reminder of how nourishing it is to be in a room where people care deeply about what they make and why they make it.
(A warm gathering at the Maine Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Maine Wood Show)
This year, Saer submitted a piece titled The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a drop-leaf table that quietly invited curiosity, playfulness, and reflection.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
This 38″ × 72″ drop-leaf table represents an ongoing exploration of how traditional craft can meet contemporary design. Rooted in time-honored joinery, every connection is built with the intention and integrity of classic furniture making. At the same time, the overall form leans toward a cleaner, more modern aesthetic. Familiar, yet gently unexpected.
The table is crafted from vertical-grain Douglas fir that has been wire-brushed, weathered, and whitened, then finished with a matte topcoat. The textured grain carries a rhythmic pattern, full of subtle shifts and movement. It recalls the visual language of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, where layered, tactile surfaces create motion and invite the eye to wander.
Much like the story itself, the surface encourages exploration. What is traditionally a static form becomes animated, alive with texture and quiet energy.
A classic rule joint allows the drop leaves to open smoothly, extending the table from 72 inches to more than ten feet. This dramatic shift in scale echoes the caterpillar’s continual growth throughout the story. What begins modestly evolves into something unexpectedly generous. The table adapts to its environment, expanding and contracting to meet the needs of the moment.
Brass elements introduce both function and ornament, catching light in subtle, surprising ways. Leather pulls bring warmth and a small pop of color. These details offer moments of delight, balancing the table’s restrained material palette with a sense of play.
This piece is an exploration of balance:
between old and new,
refinement and utility,
quiet presence and tactile richness.
And for those furniture-curious enough to look underneath, there is a hidden delight: a vibrant display of vintage papier-mâché fruit, hand-crafted by a local artist. A playful surprise, tucked just out of sight. The fruits draw resemblance to the many colorful fruits displayed on the pages of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, honoring the journey of the caterpillars walk on its way to transforming into a butterfly.
A Refined Take on a Classic Form
Our Huston Drop Leaf Table is a refined interpretation of a classic Shaker design. Timeless, practical, and versatile, it is available in round or square forms and can be custom designed in size, shape, and finish to suit your space.
With its simple, clean lines, the table feels at home in both traditional and modern interiors. It’s especially well suited for small or multi-use spaces. The drop leaves extend to create a generous surface when needed, then fold neatly away to conserve space.
The rule joint makes this transformation possible. Functional yet elegant, it allows the hinges to remain hidden, ensuring the table is beautiful whether the leaves are raised or lowered. A small detail, perhaps, but one that speaks volumes about thoughtful design.
Honored to Be Included
We are grateful that the drop-leaf table pictured here has been accepted into the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship’s Maine Wood Show next spring. Huston & Company has been invited to exhibit in the show for the past four years, and we are honored to continue this tradition.
We hope this table is appreciated as much by others as it is by us. For its form and function, yes, but also for its sense of curiosity, growth, and quiet joy.
A Continuing Relationship with the Maine Wood Show
Huston & Company first submitted work to the Maine Wood Show in 2018, when Saer entered the Balance Dining Table. The piece, inspired by the ocean and shaped with steam-bent curves, received the award for Best in Original Design.
In 2020, Saer submitted the Huston Coat Tree 2.0, a modern reinterpretation of a catalog staple that has been part of Huston & Company since 1989. By introducing bold color to the traditionally cast iron base, the piece brought new life and energy to a familiar form.
In 2022, Saer’s North Fork Coffee Table received the Jurors’ Best in Show award. Inspired by coastal elements, light, and texture, the table features through-tenons with inlaid brass wedges and a fluid leg structure that reflects both nautical influence and natural form.
Each submission marks another chapter in an ongoing dialogue between craft, place, and evolution. If you find yourself near the Rockland area, go and visit the Maine Wood Show for yourself. It is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm through April 1st, 2026.