Walnut X-based Table or Natural Pine?

12 years ago

We have a transitional kitchen; white shaker cabinets, with white large subway tile, stainless steel appliances and BM BunnyGrey painted walls. We have hardwood floors that are stained 3/4 walnut and 1/4 jaco bean (slightly darker)

We were considering this RH X-based Farm table in natural finish but it is out of stock until mid April. Plus, I am slightly annoyed at the way they handled one of my orders

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2480773&categoryId=cat2390168

We were also concerned that the salvaged wood might have too many nooks and crannies where food can hide. We have toddlers.

Our alternative could be a custom built table, that looks like the X-based RH table. They could do it in pine for slightly more than the same price and likely with better quality. Or they could do it in unfinished walnut, for my guess, about 50% more than the pine. Is that the going rate for custom? We're in the north east near NYC. We like the idea of upgrading to walnut but aren't sure it is worth the price or if it will look better.

What do you think of unfinished walnut vs. pine? Is it odd to have unfinished walnut (with a wax seal which the furniture make thought was more kid friendly)? Will we get enough contrast in color? We wanted something lighter than our floors. The finished walnut seemed a lot darker even without a stain. One of the tables we saw had high contrast which I sort of liked, though I don't know if a more consistent grain color is considered more valuable. I like the grain of the walnut better than pine. Would love to know expert opinions.

The furniture maker said they sold more Xbased 2 years ago and now the pedestal is popular. We were thinking the pedestal looked a little more formal (but that version is in stock.) Any thoughts on trends?

Also, what can we do about chairs? The furniture maker only makes one type of chair (others will break and he won't make money on repairs). The RH chair that goes with the table has a wicker seat which won't be sturdy enough for kids, we need a solid base and something not too traditional or too expensive.

Thank you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Majra
12 years ago
If it were me I'd find a way to splurge on the walnut AND have it finished. This will be your family table, where your children will grow up and you will create and share many meals and memories. I'm all for a great dining table.

After twenty years with our yellow pine RH table, we could not bear to part with it during our remodel, so I had it refinished in a dark walnutty color. I probably could have bought a new table for the amount that project cost, but it is beautiful and we still have our family table. I think we will keep it forever.
bookworm4321
12 years ago
Out of curiosity, did you look at Pottery Barn? I've seen X and pedestals there. I'm sure others may add more suggestions.
Related Professionals
El Dorado Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Oxford Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Cody Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Cornwall Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Orlando Kitchen Remodelers · Lake Charles Kitchen Remodelers · Newark Kitchen Remodelers · Janesville Kitchen Remodelers · Flagstaff Kitchen Remodelers · London Kitchen Remodelers · Waco Custom Countertops · Manchester Custom Countertops · Marinette Custom Countertops · Monroe Custom Countertops · Olympia Custom Countertops
CT_Newbie
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you both! Good to know that the RH table has stood the test of time. However, I recall reading that they've shifted manufacturing overseas so I don't know if there has been any change in quality. I think we could spring for a walnut table if justifiable. I do know what you mean about the family table and memories.

As for the finish, do you think I should be concerned if my floor is stained 3/4 walnut and 1/4 jaco that a finished walnut table would be too similar in tone? I don't want to go darker because the island is Jet Black. By the way, I might be defining "finish" incorrectly. When I say it, I mean a stain and a final protective coat (not sure if it is just meant to be the final clear coat). But at any rate, I think if it is finished with poly?, the furniture maker said we had to be more careful with it (as it is easier to get a ring left from say, a hot mug). With young kids, they put wear and tear on everything. With a wax finish, he said we could just sand it and rewax each year and it would look good as new. So it's not just the money, it's the functionality.

Do you think pine chairs stained to match would go with a walnut table? Or do I then need to find walnut chairs? I looked at some online companies that sell unfinished chairs and saw the same types of styles appear in pine. It's not that they were bad but they were a little traditional/generic. The local shop that sold chairs said they just buy them from the online guys and finish them. They don't actually make them.

I did look at Pottery Barn quickly but found their tables a little too traditional or they didn't have the right extensions/sizes/or color. Crate & Barrel didn't have the right size with extension for the style I wanted. I also thought I had read in an article that RH had better quality, though my friend's PB table looks good to me and really can handle a large buffet.

Do you think these specialty furniture makers will deliver better quality? The one I talked to at least talked the talk about materials used, thickness of the table vs. 1", etc. I put in a feeler to someone who is going to ask her furniture maker but she thought he might not be able to meet the RH price. I have bought a bunch of PB Kids furniture but I am troubled with buying MDF/veneer vs. "real solid wood". On the other hand, even fancy dining room tables that I've seen at Safavieh for $8K-$10K+ are veneers. Is this just robbery or are veneers worth that much?

Thanks again for the suggestions/comments.
romy718
12 years ago
We just put walnut floors in and an island with a walnut top. The darkness of your wood will depend on whether you put a stain on it. Our island, we chose to have a dark stain applied and it has a poly type finish. The floors, we chose a lighter stain. I prefer the floors as the grain of the wood is much more visible. You might ask him that if you do a wax finish now, would you have the option to do a poly finish down the road. I think you'd love the walnut. Maybe Breezy or 2littlefishies will chime in. They both have walnut islands with a wax type finish. Both are beautiful.