Hey AT,
Thanks for posting my pics! (I am "jchang9")

There's actually a little backstory on the credenza and buffet in my recent "Good Question" posted here regarding dining table choices.

We're going to pick up the china cabinet this weekend and may be able to get a bit more background on that from the sellers. It was part of a set that their parents owned.

We still have not bought the dining table. The one that was posted is a Craigs List find. I'm not sure if it's still available, as we saw it last week but haven't gotten back to the seller about whether we want it. I like the details on the side, but felt that it wasn't quite as formal of a table as I'd like. If I were still renting in an apartment, I'd definitely consider it. But I feel like now I'm ready for a more "grown up" table. Plus, I kind of prefer a darker stain so as not to get too matchy w/ the other pieces and the floor.

Crate and Barrel's Ovation got the most AT votes, but has since been taken down from CB's site, so they probably just discontinued it (what timing!). However, I think my bf and I are kind of partial to the CB Cabria. But then I just found this table from Room and Board. It's unfortunately double the price of the CB, but I wonder if the straight, tapered legs match better? Although, if it weren't for the matching issue, I prefer the slightly curved legs of the Cabria table...I think it makes it a little more interesting.

Our couch is being shipped this week and should hopefully arrive before next weekend. There's a little more info about that on our blog: http://outsidetheaviary.wordpress.com/. I'm very excited, but also a little nervous that it will be OK. I didn't actually buy the pillows, but now am wishing I had considered that! The store owner was very pleasant to work with and sent me extra pictures and even a fabric swatch to help us get a better idea.

My bf is in love with the arc floor lamp, so that may be our next purchase for the living room.

i would stay away from the R&B table. my husband and i looked quite a bit for dining tables around xmas this past year and that was one we looked at. our R&B salesperson was VERY honest and fantastic and told us that product had not worn very well at all and he would not recommend it to us. the finish is very delicate and shows scratches easily.

we did end up purchasing another table there though and some other pieces since then, and i have been EXTREEEEEMLY pleased with the service i've received from R&B from purchase to delivery -- and even when there was a slight problem with one item, they made correcting the problem a breeze.

Hi nattles,

Wow, thanks for the heads up! I'd hate to have spent $1,000 on a table then be constantly worried about scratches. so the finish problem pertained to just the Cyprus table? I'm surprised that if RB knows it has that problem they wouldn't have done something to fix it.

it did pertain to that table. i think the problem was that R&B wanted to offer bamboo furniture, but that product hadn't been perfected yet. it may be better now (i think i recall him saying that they were working on it) but i don't know if i'd want to take that chance.

any darker table though with a glossy-ish finish is going to be prone to showing wear, even if it's just light surface scratches. you might be better off either going with an oiled finish if you go darker.

thanks, janet! i thought the credenza looked familiar, but i didn't make the connection...(to the previous "good question")