LA Good Questions: Dining Table with Sunken Center?

ATLA reader Leona has a sourcing question about a dining table:
"I just moved to my new loft in downtown LA. Now I need a dining room table... I adore the Celine Dining Table with Sunken Centerpiece but i cannot afford it! Is there any similar table with a sunken center? I have scoured the internet and keep coming up blank!"

The closest we can remember of a dining table with a serving or display receptacle is the George Nelson designed dining table for Herman Miller, shown above or the Poggenpohl's Dining Desk we recently posted. Finding a table with the center serving option like the Celine Dining Table from Pottery Barn might be difficult at a lower price (besides making one yourself), but perhaps some of our readers have sourcing ideas?

Comments (12)

Ikea and a Sawz-all is all I'm coming up with. Shouldnt be that hard to make.

posted by Modfan on May 27th 2008 at 11:47am
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hgtv created a craft table for kids by cutting out a round hole in a middle of a table that was the size of a stainless steel bowl, which they could use to store their crayons and such things.

posted by peaceyall on May 27th 2008 at 11:53am
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I agree: get the Skil-Saw and start chopping away...

posted by bepsf on May 27th 2008 at 11:58am
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That table is on sale now, not sure if it is enough to help, but thought I'd mention...

posted by SFali on May 27th 2008 at 12:05pm
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Hmm. That looks like spilled wine glasses waiting to happen. You put something down, or push it back, where you think the table is, and boom.

posted by Lisa Hunter (Montreal) on May 27th 2008 at 12:11pm
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I've never heard of this before, but it's excellent! I say make it. Quick threadjack: I was at someone's house for a dinner and they had a custom dining table that had a piece of granite in the center. For hot dishes and such.

posted by mdtown531 on May 27th 2008 at 12:24pm
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Shelter furniture on Beverly Blvd. near Fairfax used to show a series of coffee tables with sunken centers. I don't know if they still produce the line, but I am certain they can customize a dining table with the same feature. Just guessing based on my experience with them, I imagine it would run somewhere between $1800 and $2500 depending on size, wood and finish.

posted by RichardinLA on May 27th 2008 at 2:46pm
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Off Topic: Does anyone else really love those chairs?

posted by dannyNYC on May 27th 2008 at 4:08pm
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...or that floor?

posted by mdtown531 on May 27th 2008 at 6:26pm
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SFali is right -- it's about $150 off right now. Other than a DIY version, you're probably not going to find a table like this cheaper.

posted by palindrome on May 27th 2008 at 6:56pm
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But the sunken part's ugly, like a trash receptacle smack in the middle of your place settings.

posted by holland on May 27th 2008 at 9:57pm
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I noticed that the table in question is now more than half off on clearance. link

posted by Lisa K. on December 7th 2008 at 9:24pm
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