The Centerpiece, Vol 2
What's on Ochuko Akpovbovbo's Coffee Table
My coffee table is the centerpiece of my home. It’s where I keep the things I’m most excited about at any given time. Fresh flowers . . . the books and magazines I’m reading . . . a slab of malachite, a pretty mug . . . a cozy candle. Every month in The Centerpiece, I will be asking a different woman I admire to let us into her space, take a look around, see what’s on her coffee table.
I’ve never smashed a “subscribe” button sooner than when turned on paid subscriptions for As Seen On. An instant “yes, please take my money immediately.” Her newsletter is one of the few I stop whatever I’m doing and read instantly. Sometimes, I will have to leave an edition up for a few days to get through everything. She has her pulse on everything I want to read: trends, business stuff, media news . . . she keeps me up to date.
Meanwhile, her Instagram is an extremely pretty treasure trove of book recs. I was thrilled when she agreed to this feature and even more thrilled to see what a bright, colorful home she has.
What do you use your coffee table for (i.e. work, entertaining, etc). My coffee table was one of the first pieces of furniture I got for my apartment. I knew immediately that I wanted this waterfall style, and I built the rest of my living space around it. When I entertain, I lay a cloth on the table and have my friends sit around it. My rug is really comfy. Otherwise, it's mostly for my viewing pleasure.
What's the most important thing on your coffee table? I love the books I've collected in the two years I've lived here. As a recent grad, I remember thinking coffee table books were the height of sophistication. I have a few I switch out, and I know they'll move with me from home to home. The three coasters I have were a birthday present from my best friend. They actually came in a pack of four. I enjoy being the sort of person who uses coasters—again, the height of sophistication.
When you're sitting by your coffee table, what are you drinking? Coffee, or something else Tea! Gosh, coffee makes me so nauseous, and it sucks because I’d love to be that girl with a sexy coffee maker, but here we are!
Describe your style in three words. Bright, eclectic, comfortable
What are you reading right now? I'm reading a book called The Eighth Life. It's a 900+ page Georgian family saga, and it's stunning. I try to read one big book a month, but this might be my biggest yet. I'm trying this thing where I read 50 pages every other day while reading other books in between, and it's working really well.
Where can people find you? My Substack is As Seen On, and my Instagram is Reading Aesthetically.
Get all the exact details and links (and more photos!) below the paywall.