thanks so much for your help! I really am leaning toward the Target one and I guess I can always send it back if I hate it...

Anyone else have experience w/ Target or rubberwood furniture?

I ordered some patio furniture from Target. It came about a week later than their furthest-out estimated delivery date and was a bit of a nuisance to assemble, but I like it now.

If you're looking for real sturdiness, I would probably go with the Pottery Barn table instead of the Target one, simply because the Target table is "some assembly required." I have an assembly-required table in my house (not from Target, but real wood), and it's not as sturdy as my non-assembly-required table. I've had to re-tighten the legs a few times.

Of course, this may speak more poorly of my own assembling skills than of the table itself.... :)

Oh, and you might want to check on how you'd return it and if you'd have to pay for return shipping if you seriouly think there's a chance you might want to send it back. The Additional Info tab on the link you provided says that it can't be returned to any store, which would mean that you could be stuck with re-packing and shipping a 132-pound table if you decide you really don't want it.

Just out of curiosity, how long do you expect this furniture to last?

My experience with rubberwood, aka Parawood, Malaysian Oak, etc., etc., is that is used in low-end and KD / RTA furniture. If it is properly dried, it can work OK, and if not, it can be subject to splitting and cracking, particularly if the engineering aspect does not allow for the inevitable shrinkage.

Thanks for your responses. As far as my expectations - I understand that for the most part I get what I pay for. If I go with the Target one, I would hope it would get me through the next 3 or 4 years until my kids get a little older and a little less messy :) My problem is I've been looking forever, and I'm just getting impatient and want to buy something NOW. I like the PB one, but if I'm going to spend $1k on a table - I'm pretty sure my dh will make me keep it for at least 10-15 years. He's from the frame of mind that furniture is a luxury item, not a necessity. It's taken me 8 years to get him to let me buy some (His parents had the same couch for 35 years and they bought it used! but that's a whole other story - LOL!)

I'd go with the PB one if it was real wood - I'm just leary of spending that kind of $$ on mdf. I also like the looks of the Broyhill Attic Heirloom tables, but have read here the problems with the finishes...

There is also some nice middle of the road dining set as jcpenny.com. This one is sort of similar to the Pottery Barn Heritage. $749 for table and 6 chairs.
I don't know much about the woods...
Good Luck!!

Here is a link that might be useful: JC Penny Manning Dining Set

I work for a furniture store and for 12 years have sold both finished and unfinished parawood/rubberwood tables, chairs, barstools etc... I'd buy the Target table in a minute! In my opinion, PB is sooo overpriced and really not that great of quality. PB has great looks, but get your ideas from them and go shopping elsewhere! You don't need to spend $1,000 on just a table! Thats insane! Rubberwood is a solid wood, so if your children mess it up, it can be sanded down and refinished! It will definately last 3-4 years - probably alot longer!!! Hope you find something soon! I know what its like to want it NOW!!!!

Thanks again for everyone's advice - this site is great at sharing tips & advice and I really appreciate it! I think I will take the plunge and order the Target one - I will let you all know how it turns out. My impatience is getting the best of me and it doesn't help that I'm 30wks pregnant and in my "nesting" phase - LOL!

Thanks again!

The target table will seat 6 and no more. There are no leaves and it's only 54 inches long.
I agree PB is over priced, but it opens to 72 inches and will easily seat 8....10 in a pinch.
I would be looking at estate sales and auctions for a good old solid oak table that already has 80 years or so of use and is good for another 80.
A table 54 by 38 is very small.
Linda C

Crate & Barrel has some options worth looking at that are between your two price points. I am considering ordering the Havana table, solid mahogany they say, for $449.

Here is a link that might be useful: Crate & Barrel tables

I think the Target one said it comes with a 12" leaf. So I'm assuming it's 54" without the leaf and 66" with the leaf?

Thanks for the C&B link - those do look nice and a good price for solid mahogany! I'm checking out Pier 1 and World Market today too...darn this indecisiveness!

I saw one table at Pier 1 yesterday with a mahogany colored finish, but the floor model on display was scraped horribly with white lines where the "wood" showed through.

My big hesitation is ordering anything sight unseen, esp since I have been so disappointed with the quality of everything I HAVE seen. I would prefer to find an old, solid library table but they are not an easy to come by as I would have thought, and anything that an antique dealer can possibly describe as a "harvest table" starts at $1200.

So I'm with you in the indecisiveness - let us know what you pick!