We are back to give an update on the dining room table. Last time, we were hard at work deciding between three lovely options: West Elm’s Angled-Leg Expandable Table, Haverty’s Copley Square Trestle Table, and the Avington Salvaged Beam Dining Table from Restoration Hardware. Though they each had their pros (and cons), we ultimately decided on… drum roll please… the Copley Square Trestle Table from Haverty’s.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, The Copley Square Trestle table is the big sister to our previous table (which has since been discontinued). We loved the durability and craftsmanship, so it was hard to see it go, but we knew we couldn’t go wrong investing in a similar, yet much bigger table. Our worries about it being “too traditional” went right out the window when the delivery guys brought her in. I snapped this photo as soon as they walked out the door:

The table comes with two 18″ leaves. By adding both leaves, the table expands to 100″x44″ making room for 8 people comfortably. We started out wth both leaves in and lived with it for a few days, but it seemed to overpower the room. Even though it fit just fine, it was just a little much on the eyes and it made the room look a tad chair-happy, so we took out one of the two leaves, making the table 82″x44″. This seemed to be a much better fit for everyday use.

As for the unused leaf, for now, we are storing it in the guest room closet, since that room is currently empty. Later down the road, however, we are going to find a more suitable and permanent place to store it.

Since we took out one of the leaves, we now have two additional chairs to store when we aren’t using them. We thought about covering them with plastic and storing it at the top of the attic stairs, but we are worried the Virginia summer heat will harm the wood. In the mean time, we are trying to come up with another storage solution.

Though the table and chairs are unmistakably “traditional”, we plan on finishing off the space with modern accents that will surely tone down the traditional and amp up the eclectic vibe. We also plan on adding some sort of clean-lined overhead light fixture down the road as well as panel curtains.

Overall, we are super excited about the new table and can’t wait to adorn the room with personality. But all of that will come in due time. After all, patience is a virtue.

Now that we have a larger dwelling, we’ll definitely be entertaining more often here at the Brown abode (once the kitchen is done). However, at the moment, we only have dining room seating for four people. Seeing as how there are typically about 12 people at my family’s gatherings, a four-person table just isn’t going to cut it. Therefore, we are officially on the lookout for a new dining room table.

In searching for the new addition, we decided to make a list of our wants when it comes to the perfect dining room table for us. This is what the list looked like:

• Modern & Traditional. We love modern lines and design but we also love the warmth and character of more traditional pieces. So we’re looking for something with a mix.  Modern and traditional, but not too traditional.
• Make room for guests. Sure, the dining area is larger than what we had at our apartment, but we’re not living in a mansion here. While we probably can’t fit a 12-seater table in here (no matter how much we’d like to!), we would like to find a table that would be able to seat at least 8 people with a bit of elbow room to spare. We also decided to keep our eyes out for an 8-seater table with a leaf that would expand it to fit ten.
• Take a seat. One thing is for sure, we want to purchase a table that will go well with our current chairs. They are so comfy and durable that we can’t bear to part with them. Obviously we are going to have to purchase more chairs. Luckily, Haverty’s still carries them.

Over the weekend, we set out to find the perfect dining room table for the new space and we’ve narrowed it down to three possibilities:

First off, there is the Angled-Leg Expandable Table from West Elm. We’ve been in love with this table for what seems like forever so it easily made it to our short list.

PROS: Our style is a mix of modern and traditional (“moditional” as Greg calls it), so the clean lines of the table will contrast nicely with the traditional lines of our chairs and tie in with the style of the rest of the house’s furnishings. This table even has a hidden storage drawer which would come in handy when storing linens and maybe even a few small serving platters.

CONS: Though to color of the table and the chairs are similar, the difference in finishes might not flow well. With the addition of the leaf, it only seats 6 people.

Our second option is Haverty’s Copley Square Trestle Table. This is the big sister to our current table  - which has since been discontinued.

PROS: We love our current table and how durable it’s been. So we know this table will be just as durable and loved. It perfectly matches our dining chairs without being too “matchy matchy”. Also, if we purchase this table, we can purchase the needed additional chairs at a discounted price. Yay for package deals! This table seats 8 comfortably, but up to 10.

CONS: It’s very traditional. Maybe even too traditional. Another con is the price tag. It’s double the price of Option # 1, but then again, from our experience with the smaller version, we know the durability and quality justify the price.

Our third and final option is Restoration Hardware’s Avignon Salvaged Beam Dining Table.

PROS: First of all, it’s made from antique pine timbers salvaged from 100-year-old buildings in Great Britain. Who wouldn’t love that?! My mom & dad have a similar table in their dining room and we love it. They also happen to have the same dining chairs as we do. Online, it doesn’t look as though they would go together, but trust me. They do! It’s a great contrast of light a dark wood. As with option number two, this table seats 8 comfortably–up to 10 people elbow-to-elbow.

CONS: It’s the most expensive table on our short list, coming in at $1,299 (marked down from $2,695). However, considering it’s a reclaimed wood Restoration Hardware table, that’s a pretty good price. But is it worth it? Another con is the fact that it doesn’t have a leaf. Even though the table is already pretty large, we’d like to have the option of adding a leaf for expanded seating.

So there we have three very different, very unique table options. Narrowing it down to three was the easy part. Over the next few days, we’ll be deciding which one is going to be the right fit for us. In the mean time, we are going to list our current dining table on Craigslist. Fingers crossed!