Foosball, ping-pong and chess tables: Furniture built for fun

Game tables were a big trend at ICFF. The powder-coated foosball table by Mars Made is built to order in Rhode Island. "It's furniture you can play with," industrial designer and co-founder Justin Sirotin said. Price: $12,500.

The powder-coated foosball table by Mars Made is made to order in Rhode Island. “It’s furniture you can play with,” said the company co-founder, industrial designer Justin Sirotin said. Price: $12,500. (Michael Nagle / For The Times)

May 25, 2013 3:53 PM PT

At the 2013 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, the annual May expo that is the heart of New York Design Week, one big trend was pieces meant to bring family and friends together: foosball sets, ping-pong tables, chess tables and party-ready vinyl music stations. Here’s a sample of the fun and games spotted at ICFF and related events.

“I consider my work functional art pieces,” said Los Angeles designer James DeWulf, who showed a concrete pool table. (Michael Nagle / For The Times)

A concrete chess table from Los Angeles designer James DeWulf. (Michael Nagle / For The Times)

Blake Tovin and Matt Richmond designed the LP storage cabinet from Symbol Audio. The bottom drawer pulls out for easy access to records. “Listening to music is different, and much more social, when it’s not in your ears,” Raymond said. (Michael Nagle / For The Times)

Visitors admire a high-performance western red cedar kayak designed by Nick Schade at the Bespoke Global booth at ICFF. Decorative leather decals by textile designer Genevieve Bennett are installed on the wall behind the kayak. (Michael Nagle / For The Times)

The You & Me table by Antoni Palleja Office let fairgoers at ICFF play table tennis inside Javits Center. The design converts into a large dining table, desk or conference table. It will be available in October in black and white; renamed the Bola Service Table, it will be sold through Design Within Reach for about $4,000.

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The California scene: Our L.A. at Home blog (Michael Nagle / For The Times)