Seattle Culture
This Modern Outdoor Table Also Stores Your Drinks
A modern outdoor table gets its signature finish from an ancient element
By Chelsea Lin July 16, 2018

This article originally appeared in the July 2018 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the July 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe.
Susan Mills, owner of Susan Mills Showroom (Seattle Design Center, SoDo, 5701 Sixth Ave. S, Suite 200; 206.682.6388 ), believes outdoor furniture to be as important as what you find indoors, and options beyond the standard teak and powder-coated stainless steel to be as crucial.
She’s the only local carrier of Sutherland furniture, a leader in the luxury outdoor furniture market, whose new zinc cubist cool table (approximately $3,100) is eye-catching—as much for its look as its built-in beverage cooler. “It has this sort of low-brow look to it,” she says, referring to the zinc’s unique patina, which develops naturally over time (faster, usually, in wet climates like ours), imbuing the table with a found-object quality.
While Mills sells only to members of the design trade (she’s one of the few Seattle Design Center merchants that hasn’t opened to the public), if this table strikes your fancy, the center offers gratis on-site design consultation, which includes the option to purchase what you like.