I'm chuckling. This top is suppose to look used. It is suppose to absorb oil and look like it is worn. Have you looked around at Restoration Hardware's look. It's called lived in. If you want a countertop that doesn't absorb anything, go with Formica. Quit worrying about having a house that looks lived in. I cannot tell what the top is, but if it is soapstone then the counter is suppose to be oiled.

It amazes me that people continue to purchase RH tables that are designed for patina, and then don't like the patina.

Carol, I always wonder how anyone believes that lived in look gets accomplished from blinking at it from behind a velvet rope?

these are not helpful responses. it doesn't look like patina. I have marble countertops that don't absorb oil from resting your hands on it. worn is one thing poor quality is another .

It is behaving as designed. It is not ''defective'' in that sense. Sure, it's a stupid design concept, but that isn't the argument. It is designed to accumulate the marks of living as it ages. You picked the wrong retailer, period. All of their stuff is a giant scam like that. No protective finishes on any of it.

Carol and bellbufgnaggie, please stay off this thread with your useless sarcasm. I understand worn/Patina. wow. nothing better to do?

Sophie I'm telling you it is not. I own marble. this is not behaving as designed. it's not a slab. the veins don't go around the corners. tables should not absorb that much from 1 hour of use. i

You are not ''wronged'' just because you didn't read the fine print. Or you don't like patina. Order whatever you want, and then treat it with a protective finish if you want to. Or don't buy their furniture, period. What's the problem?

If you do go with the wood top table, why not have a glass top made for it? I have a friend who did that (though it wasn't RH) because having an undamaged and unstained tabletop is important to her (which I totally get).

The only finish on a table that is going to be user friendly and durable for everyday use is a catalyzed finish. This is put on a wood product and is usually applied at the factory. I am pretty sure RH does not offer this. Since you have to exchange to recover your investment, you may want to consider a reclaimed wood look and put a rustic seeded glass over it to protect the top and make it easier to maintain. Any glass company could come in measure and install after delivery.

I agree with avilla98. RH is not for you. You want engineered quartz.

I would never buy anything such as this from RH again. Overpriced junk! We have the cement top teak table outside in our garden. It took them three tries to get it right. Once the delivery guys dropped it on the street unloading it, next time, I told them we needed at least three guys just to get it out of the truck it is so heavy. They sent two, but he table was damaged before they brought it off he truck, when I inspected it, Third table, the del. company supervisor came, put it on a dolly and wheeled it in to the yard. It is very heavy, so once it's in place don't expect to move it. The cement shows everything. I keep a clear piece of plastic on it when we aren't using it. If you are considering it for inside, beware cement will show every glass ring, every finger print. Try to get your money back and buy elsewhere.

i've been dismayed reading all of the posts regarding RH tables; i feel bad for people who are aspiring to a certain look without realizing the company doesnt have their back; i dont believe that inexperienced buyers should inherently know that a product by a mainstream retailer is designed to be dysfunctional. i've warned my kids.

i do have a RH couch thats 6 years old and is great. for the rest, beware.

Great advice in the comments. I was planning to get a large dinning table at RH. It is very expensive now I'm going to reconsider.

I have an oil rub bronze drum light purchased fm RH 7 years ago. I love it and couldn't find another as nicely shaped and made!
However, RH is incredibly expensive - there are so many furniture stores to choose from, so I do hope you find your table!!
I consider myself choosy as well and would not accept the oil and grease marks either ( what a stupid gimmick, wear is one thing, a greasy look completely another). I've been searching for the "perfect" coffee table for a couple of years. Yet to find. We have a small living room and so need nothing bigger than 2x4. The search continues.

Hiring a designer for quality furniture pieces is the most cost effective way to go. She can source from many quality vendors that are not available to the general public. I have a great coffee table and other tables my designer sourced at her price. We were able to choose from many styles and finishes. What you see retail, is one or two choices of many. Because it is mass produced, you don't get choice. RH is famous for saying things are out of stock. That really means there are 't enough orders to warrant production. It happens all the time in retail. If buyers don't order at shows etc. the product is not made.

Sophie, I read the fine print very carefully. I'm a very educated consumer, if something g is advertised as a slab of marble, it should be just that. it isn't a marble slab. since I'm now stuck buying a table from them, which I would not have done if not for the false advertising, I was hoping for useful advice.

I would choose something else from them to use up your credit and go elsewhere for a table IMO RH is not my go to for clients at all

thanks Patricia, unfortunately I'm stuck exchanging and therefore hoped someone could advise what table might be best. I'm well aware of my 4k+ mistake, but now that I'm stuck hoping someone will offer a suggestion on a table vs how I didn't read or know about patina. thanks to the earlier posters comment on the experience with the concrete table, will stay clear of that.

Wow, everyone chill. Honed stone surfaces definitely show more finger prints etc. if you are set in stone I would definitely go for a polished granite or Quartz. I have honed granite bar counters, which I love, but was aware in advance about the fingerprint issue and decided it wouldn't bother me. I also purchased a granite kitchen table for my kitchen in a black granite from Room and Board because I was sick of the wear and tear on glass and wood. Our kitchen gets a lot of use. I am happy with it because the black granite they use has a lot of movement in it and shows spots less. That way finger prints just blend in. It is also order able in custom sizes. Very durable. It's been a year and I am still really happy with it. I attached a pic of the top so you can see the stone. Good luck!

Also, using method granite cleaner and polish regularly has helped keep the fingerprints down on my honed granite bar.
Good luck to you!

thanks wanjess. that was the other table I looked at before deciding on the rh table. I wish I had made the other choice. your table looks good!

Unfortunately, your two alternate choices will probably come with their own issues regarding wear and tear. The wood table is beautiful, but I doubt the finish will put up with a warm pizza box. All natural surfaces are porous and most synthetic ones are subject to scaring when there is heat. Have you considered greasing the entire surface of your marble table? If it's ruined to you anyway, maybe get some olive oil out, spread it around, let it sit, wipe it off and see if it changes the surface enough to mask the other incidents. The only other suggestion I have is to agree with the suggestion to put glass on top.

I actually bought a second one for my covered porch because I was happy with the durability and look of the granite. It was covered with pollen yesterday and cleaned right up with a little stone cleaner. Here is a pic of that table and a pic of the honed black absolute granite on my outdoor kitchen. The black absolute has less movement so it shows more fingerprints. Have you thought about talking to a supervisor about a refund or using the credit to buy something else?

I agree with Avila 98. If you can get a store credit there would be more options for you. In our local area people were selling RH coupons. If you were able to get a store credit you might be able to sell it. Just a thought.

I don't have any experience with RH tables but you do have my sympathy when it comes to getting inappropriate answers (to questions you didn't ask).

After looking at the RH website, I believe the stone is Pietra Cardosa, which is like marble, but not exactly. My countertops were fabricated of this stone four years ago, and I love them, as they have been impervious to stains. However, they need to be sealed with the correct sealant. If you contact a reputable stone yard that works with this stone, they can advise you.

What kind of store makes you return a purchase a table for a table?! That is just very poor customer service. I would demand a credit for whatever YOU want or take it to your local ombudsman. Period.

I am glad we got the thread going. If you charged it on a credit card, return the table and contact your credit card company & dispute the charge. You should get a refund. If you didn't use a charge card, you should contact the BBB to open a complaint.

hmarney -- to be honest, RH response is appropriate. I'm after 30 days return policy so I they are being accommodating. I hadn't used the table during that time as I was waiting for chairs. I sealed it with the recommendation of RH and the fellow who did my marble countertops. Within 1.5 hours of using the table the table stained from simply having my hands resting on it. I'm ok with stains that come from long term use, but not the magnitude of what I saw after 1.5 hours (the pic I posted doesn't fully show it -- it looks like bike grease. They were nice enough to allow me to exchange for another table. I'm going to close this thread as it's not been helpful, with the exception of SandyC who actually answered my question.

1. good luck closing a thread. 2. were the chairs from RH? that would be in your favor if you were waiting for chairs from them. 3. its pretty rare that a thread stays on topic but lots of info can be gleaned in the oddest places sometimes.

best of luck.

thanks nnigrt. No, unfortunately. I'm stuck, therefore I asked for a specific RH table recommendation to make the best out of my current situation. I've tried all of the other recommendations (marble expert, sealant, using a poultice to remove the stain, negotiating with RH for returning, asking for store credit, etc.) My only option now is to get a new table from them and select one that minimizes staining. (i.e. understandable if I rest a drink or a hot plate on the surface, or leave a spill, not understandable if it absorbs finger prints from clean hands in 30 min. I hope someone has a recommendation! You are right about threads meandering, though the other thread opened last year on sealing RH tables was very, very helpful and people were pretty thoughtful.

I have a serving piece that has a similar 'living' surface. After trying to clean it and being unhappy with the result, I ended up treating the entire surface with mineral oil, the same way you would butcher block. It is now a consistent black color, once or year or so I wipe it down with more oil. The first time took a couple treatments to not be blotchy. I realize this is a risk with an expensive table.

You could also try to get a remnant from the stone manufacturer if you like the table and replace the stone.

We hear a lot of complaints about RH on Houzz.

no comments are really wasted, because they bump your dilemma to the top of the queue, where the person with the perfect answer can see it.

in the old days, people used tablecloths. Their reason was exactly to prevent your problem. I suggest placemats and table runner at meals, minimum, and a desk protector when doing work there. Available at office supply stores.

I use a runner and placemats on my outdoor RH cement top table. Still marks from birdie poop and leaves, but I have learned to accept it. They really are not practical. RH spends oodles of money on those 10 pound catalogues and their showrooms, but the furniture itself is manufactured overseas and is just overpriced inferior quality.
Pretty much the same for most retail stores these days, unfortunately. Crate and Barrel and all of it's sister stores, Room and Board and such are not much better, but less money, so can be replaced in 5 years. Great for a starter home, trendy styles, but not much substance.

I would try mineral spirits to clean the surface of the stone, if it works, try another stone impregnator, maybe try a few coats. If they're taking it back anyway, it's certainly worth a shot.

If you get the Dumont table, try using a good wax or tung oil, something that a fine furniture maker would use.

Good luck with whatever you do

I've had nothing but good luck with room and board and had most pieces for 15-20 years. Recently bought a "designer" table from North Carolina and the design was beautiful but so unsteady it was dangerous. I had nightmares about that 500 pound slab of wood landing on my dog or child. I had to design a reinforcement myself and have a carpenter make it and install it. At least with stores that deal with mass production the design flaws are worked out before they hit your home. Just because something is hand made doesn't necessarily mean better. The furniture designer of my table clearly didn't understand physics. I kind of like RH designs but have never purchased from them.

The design flaws are not worked out all the time, lol. Such as with this dilemma.
Custom furniture is not necessarily hand made, not sure what that means really.

We have had two requests in the last few months to help people that bought the RH concrete dining tables. One was able to return theirs, the other had to live with the stains and chips. Once the stains are there they don't always come out.

Yes, they are low grade and therefore overpriced.

But, even low grade concrete can be sealed properly. So can stone. Any quality concrete fabrication shop should be able to help you out if you opt for the concrete. I'd still push for store credit if at all possible. Trinic LLC's H12 water based sealer will protect the concrete. Any factory applied sealer should be stripped first.

We're sorry to hear of another bad RH story.

thanks for the help regarding the concrete. I'll go with wood and seek a professional advice on sealing. I did that with the marble table, but the sealant did not work as it did on my counters

what was the advice on sealing the Dumont? I have lightly used it and no stains so far. It is veneers so I'm wondering if it even has to be sealed.

Depending on how you paid for your table at Resto you may be able to file a claim with your credit card company that the merchandise was "defective" and perhaps get your money back from your credit card. I guess they reverse the charges to Resto.

I think we have this same grey marble RH dining table, we purchased it in 2015/2016. It’s the worst! Every little thing stains it. I noticed they don’t even have it on their website anymore, I’m sure this why. I wish I would have exchanged it too, but it was back ordered and we waited so long to get it that I didn’t want to wait for a new one. I’m still trying to figure out a way to seal it or even oil it up to hide all the stains.