Good Questions: Choosing a Dining Table

Help Janet choose a dining table:"Before we moved into our new place, my bf and I bought a great vintage dresser from someone on Craigslist. The sellers had bought it for their bedroom along with a matching armoire and nightstand, but didn't end up having enough room.

We ended up using the dresser as a buffet in our dining room (see pic) b/c the dimensions fit the large space really well."

"Then last week we saw another CL posting for the same buffet as well as a matching china cabinet left over from an estate sale! What are the chances? We bought the cabinet and are in the process of figuring out how to get it back to our place.

Now, my dilemma is figuring out what dining table/chairs will go best with these two pieces? Would it be too out-of-sync to get a darker colored chocolate or walnut table? Our wood floors are roughly the same color as the buffet/cabinet. I don't want everything to look too matchy, but I don't want something that's going to stick out like a sore thumb either. I like the look of the Danish teak tables, but I don't want the look of a Danish modern show room.

I've seen some nice tables at Crate and Barrel, but just can't decide...

A designer suggested the Cross-Extension table from DWR, but it looks kind of bulky to me (in design and price).

Cross Extension

As for chairs, I saw a picture once of a honey/walnut covered table with white dining chairs, and I liked that look. But I think the table has to be the right color for it to work well...

Can anyone provide some suggestions? "

Well Janet, this seems like a perfect question to run a survey with, so here we go:

Comments (8)

I think this table from Room and Board would work well with the dresser/buffet. Its lines mirror those of the buffet and it has the same mid-century-but-slightly-zen feel. The finish is lighter and a bit more yellow, but I think they'd go well together. You could pair it with simple contemporary chairs, vintage mid-century ones or ones with a blended style like this -- I like how the rattan gives it a British Colonial feel.

Something glass and metal could be a cool contrast wth all that wood. Maybe with curved lines to match the pulls on the buffet. (btw, I have the highboy dresser that matches this set, and I love it!)

I'd go with Lyric. It continues some of the line from the chairs, but not overly so since that would conflict with the lines from the dresser/ credenza. The rectangular shape echoes the other such shapes in chairs and credenza. I just can't tell on my screen which wood color the tables match better: chairs or credenza. If you're pretty close to either, it will work. Of course, my two cents is worth considerably less than two cents, but there it is!

I personally love the cross extension table myself, more in keeping with that mid century feel, if that's what you are going after. Also, with the dark floors, darkish chest and cabinet, I'd not go too dark on the table, something lighter will help add some life to the room. Too much dark stuff can darken the room up, making it claustrophobic in some cases.

I also agree that not going matchy, matchy is best although there is a time and a place for that.

Good luck and I like the suggestions already given too.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments!

The floor and buffet are actually not as dark as they appear in this photo. I've uploaded some better pictures as well as a photo of the china cabinet on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jchang9/sets/72157600764155516/

The votes seem to be close, with the Ovation and Cambria slightly edging out the others. I'm partial to the Cambria myself. Only downside is that it does not extend. However, I think it's fixed size would work well in the room. I like the color, too...not too dark or light. The Lyric is close to the Cambria, but I don't know about the slightly more curved legs...

I had debated about going with an oval shape before, but it's really hard to find decent oval tables! I like the Ovation, but wonder if the legs are too skinny?...

Also considered something not wood or w/ glass. Except I know how I hate keeping glass-tops clean...

On the other hand, it is a lot of wood...but I'm hoping a rug and some drapes and other decorative pieces will help mute that...

Has anyone had experience w/ Crate and Barrel tables? They seem pretty well-made/sturdy to me, and I've heard good things in the past about their furniture overall.

Your dresser is from the Kent-Coffey "Perspecta" line. I'm fairly certain Perspecta came only as a bedroom suite but if you want to go the vintage route with the dining set Broyhill's Brasilia line has very similar lines and it isn't terribly hard to find pieces here and there.

Charlie got it right on the head!

Here is a 1960's ad of your buffet with the bedroom set in the background. http://www.tias.com/3943/PictPage/1922863349.html

Here's a woman who bought five pieces at auction just a year ago. Sorry I couldn't find the dining table. But here is the Broyhill Brasilia set that Charlie mentioned. Looking at that, the Ovation legs with a rectangular top would be the best fit.

I sure hope it will be as easy to track down the maker of my platform rocking chair when AT-NY posts my question. I definitely hope Charlie will be around too.

The perfect table is broyhill brasilia. There are several different styles that complement this line of furniture. Although we have never been able to determine the manufacturer, it is quite similar to Broyhill Brasilia. As a hobby, we buy and sell Broyhill Brasilia (only). We have several tables that will go with this furniture of varying sizes. We ship anywhere by economical Greyhound express. If you would like some pictues, please send us your email. Our email is fallschurchtitle@msn.com Art and Bonnie Friedman