When we moved here three years ago we sold our formal dining room set. I made over our old kitchen table and it’s been fine for my little family.
However when we have friends or family over, it’s a little squishy, to say the least. We went from being able to seat at least 21 people comfortably, to just 6.
Last year when we were about to host Thanksgiving I started searching for a bigger table. I think I looked at every table at every furniture store in Massachusetts. I found some fabulous dining tables found on Craigslist, as well as some really beautiful custom dining tables that are made by local craftsmen (and craftswomen). For Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to the suggestion of my super smart friend, I ended up using a sheet of plywood over my little table, but I have continued to look for the perfect table ever since.
This table I found at the Restoration Hardware outlet is aesthetically my dream table,
but after reading this blogger’s review of a similar RH table, I was turned off by having to be careful with the table that will be center stage in our house, a table that needs to be able to take a lot of abuse from our family for many years to come without me worrying about the finish, or whether a spilled glass of water is going to create a huge crack in the wood. After reading about this blogger’s unfortunate experience with a RH salvaged wood table, I’m glad that the outlet price was still out of my price range!
Buying a new table kind of feels like an important purchase, one I didn’t want to rush into. It’s part of our dream kitchen renovation, and it’s a table that we’ll spend a LOT of time at over the years with our family. I was open to style and color; my criteria for the next table: solid wood, no shiny finish that we have to be careful with, and expandable for company.
A big old wooden table that always has room for one more.
A few of my inspirations….
SO……..
this beauty became ours last Saturday.
Solid. Expandable. And in dire need of a makeover. You know you’re jealous of this speckled finish.
I’m thrilled, thrilled to be working on this project because it feels like our vision for the kitchen/dining room space is starting to come to life. One day soon (maybe next spring?) we’ll knock down the wall between the two rooms and make it one big space. I cannot wait.
So here’s the direction we’re going with the dining area, with my new Craigslist purchase as the star of the show.
So I guess I am absolutely nuts to have committed to getting my basement done in the next 6 weeks???
Hope you are up to something fun this weekend, my friends! You can find me in my garage, where I’ll be sporting some pretty Provincial-stained hands. 🙂
Dana Frieling says
You are one ambitious lady, my friend! I'm so happy for you that your kitchen vision is starting to take life. Happy project weekend!
Cathy Wall says
Love it! Nothing like looming deadlines to get things done, you go girl!!!
Nancy {at} powellbrower at home says
Wonderful plan and that table is a great find! Good luck with all your projects and hope you have a great weekend.xo Nancy
Prince Snow Farm says
Lisa what a great find! Just what I am in the market for. I am redoing the playroom back to a dining room. I will only allow myself $$ for paint right now. I have torn the wallpaper. I have chairs, but need a big dining table too. I have sent the word around that I am looking. I have a feeling one will turn up. Then maybe for Christmas, I will use any $$ we get to buy a rug. You found a gem.
Vel Criste says
Love the table Lisa! I still have my old $75 dining table we bought as-is from a furniture store in Chicago that i would love to change someday. A trestle table is great since there are no legs to get in the way of ltos of chairs! Excited to see how this room will turn out!
Mandi@TidbitsfromtheTremaynes says
Oooh I already love it! So fantastic!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
gorgeous! i love the plan for it and the whole room!
pam {simple details} says
It's SO perfect!! I think you should tell the head of ORC you changed your mind about the room you'll be doing, I'm sure she'd understand and give you the go ahead! 🙂 You and Citrustrip have a fun weekend!
Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says
That's a good start – I know you will make it shine!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Great table! I know that some people don't see the need for a big dining room table but ours is huge with both leaves in it and I couldn't do without it! Love it for holiday events, kid parties, you name it. I hope you're giving your sanded, stained hands some rest over the weekend – so not a fun job!
Susan Maclean says
Lisa – Congrats on finding the table! We have a tiny house and our dining table takes up the whole of the room next to the kitchen (well, almost!) It will seat 8 very comfortably and with a small same height fold away table tacked on the end and a little closeness amongst friends, I can do 12. I look forward to the pics of your makeover for that table. Enjoy doing it!
marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says
Great table. I love it and look forward to seeing it in your room. Hugs, Marty
Anonymous says
HI Lisa
What kind of wood is it…
Jackie says
This will look great in your house! I can't wait to see the finished product.
Nettie Moore says
Hi Lisa!! Long time no see or talk! I love your new table, you always inspire me! I hope you are having a wonderful Monday!! Nettie <3
http://mooreorlesscooking.com
Katie says
I love this!! My friends husband made a table out of wood legs he bought off of the internet and they added planks of wood and distressed it. I will post a picture, it's amazing. It only cost them a couple hundred dollars and it's huge. I wanted to ask you too, I tried contacting the person I sent my address to for your lamp giveaway. I still have not received my lamp? I told him, this but have not heard back, it's been about a month or so? Any advice?
Lisa - A Room with A View says
The table is a fabulous find and it will be fun to work on it and so exciting to have it done and extra space for entertaining.
Donna Schuele says
Just my thoughts on that wood table. If that’s your dream table, what you can do is have the tabletop sanded down, then you can put linseed oil it. You can beat it up just like you do a to cutting board
Melissa Brown says
Love your new project table! I love to find second hand furniture and recreate it to meet my families needs, or somehow makes it more personal and beautiful!
Shegufta Anam says
Dear friend,
Love your thoughts 💚. I absolutely could relate with you. In fact I have similar experiences like you, my round dining ‘teak’ table is my favourite and I have an emotional bonding with it, my family grew old with this 22 years old table. In fact my kid is younger than this table😀. But sometimes in a big dinner, it seems, a bigger table would be nice. My liking is rustic , not so fancy thing. Now we are thinking to take my mother in law’s old eight sitters. My love, the round teak table would sit in a corner of my sitting room 💚.
Felt like share with you.
Thanks.
Shegufta