Talk about Dining Table And Chairs
Filed Under Dining Room, Dining Room Pictures | Posted on November 25, 2007
A dining table is the centerpiece of any room it occupies. Interior designer Patrick McFarland of Madden-McFarland Interiors in Leawood says most of his clients want a formal table with a “wow” factor. If that’s the look you want, you probably want a veneered table. Good veneers have more dramatic patterning in the grain than solid wood.
The best dining table, in de Leon’s, opinion is veneer over solid wood. Such tables are also the most expensive and most often seen at designers-only showrooms.
“Veneer is great in the hands of a craftsman, but in factory furniture it is usually a cost-cutting measure. The slightest chip and you’ll see ugly particleboard underneath,” said Asa Christiana, editor of Fine Woodworking magazine.
Veneers have been around since ancient Egypt, says furniture designer and restorer Albert de Leon, co-owner of De Leon Furniture in Kansas City, Kan. Done properly, they offer some advantages over solid wood. For example, they are less likely to warp or cup over time.
Solid wood can take more of a beating than veneer — dings can add to its character over time — and is probably a safer bet in terms of quality than veneer in the middle price ranges. But solid wood definitely has a more informal feel than veneer.
The appearance of the finish is one of the most obvious giveaways of a poorly made table. Many have a high-gloss, sprayed-on acrylic finish that looks artificial.
“There’s no character or depth with an acrylic finish as opposed to a hand-rubbed finish,” said designer Caroline McCallister of Kansas City.
Legs and leaves
A table with four legs placed at the corners (often called a Parson’s table) is the sturdiest design. Corner legs and pedestal tables are the easiest to seat people around. But pedestal tables can wobble, so be sure to test one for motion when it’s fully extended with all leaves in place.
Leaves add flexibility, allowing your table to grow into a larger home down the road, said designer Joye Adamson, owner of Stoneybroke, an interior design shop in Prairie Village. Or, conversely, if you downsize, the table can be repurposed as an entry table or behind-the-sofa table.
The best place for leaves is in the fully extended table, Adamson says. When the leaves aren’t in the table, they should be stored flat, not standing up, to avoid warping.
Chairs
Since six or eight good-quality chairs may cost more than the table, Adamson advises clients to start with just a table and add chairs later. She says designers are increasingly moving away from matched dining room suites.
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dining tables that are made of wood are the best in my opinion because it has the classic look