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artsyannie

kitchen table dilemma- please help me!

5 years ago

I have a breakfast space 8’ x 10’. I’ve been looking almost 2 years to find a small dining set & undecided what to get . I’m
So desperate I’m getting to not care about style. The only style I don’t want is mid century pedestal. The kitchen style is very uu traditional - It was built around 2000. Pretty maple cabinets, medium hard oak flooring. The counters are dark browns, gray, black manufactured stone ? In the breakfast spot there is a fixed ( attached to the wall) sideboard in rubbed black- very traditional or almost colonial style. Walls above chair rail are off white & below a light cool gray. Those won’t be changed. All trim & plantation shutters are white. There is a lot going on as far as materials. Anyway, I want to put any shape table & chairs. Small sets seem to be made cheaply. I think its assumed they are for apartments etc. My size limit is 36”x 48” & the 48” is pushing it. Any suggestions? The area is mainly fairly dark. The shutters will remain knowing my husband won’t deal with patching etc. I have been hoping for a white dining set to brighten the space and go with the trim. Glass top will open the space but is out as it always shows fingerprints. I’m not opposed to mixing styles. I’m showing a table & stools I saw just today that I love but unsure if it may look strange.

Comments (24)

  • 5 years ago

    What about putting a bench in the recessed window area? Open bottom because of the floor vent. Then if you use a round table—maybe a white marble version of the first table you posted?—it should still be pretty easy to get in/out with the sideboard there.


    Also when you said "mid-century pedestal" the first thing I thought of was the kind of tulip table that #1 is...is there a different style you're thinking of that you definitely don't want?

  • 5 years ago

    "Small sets seem to be made cheaply. I think its assumed they are for apartments etc. My size limit is 36”x 48” & the 48” is pushing it. Any suggestions?"


    Do you have any furniture shops in the area that carry hand-made Amish furniture? They usually have catalogs of what's available even if you don't see it on display, and IME they will customize pretty much whatever you want -- it shouldn't be a problem to make a smaller table.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I think you need a round table, and the black one could work, but any round table would do. If you get the black table, stick with your sunflower theme and get yellow chairs.

    I would put the round table in the corner, and swag a light fixture over the table.

    I like the stools. You could make the whole area a kind of rustic sunflower garden.

  • 5 years ago

    Round table was my first thought. have you looked at antique / junktique / consignment stores? one country antique store near me has an attic full of dining chairs. id find solid wood used and paint black.

  • 5 years ago

    Any of these round tables work for you?


    Bianco CollectionAvella 31" Round Italian Carrara White Marble Dining Table with · More Info


    36 Drop Leaf Dining Table · More Info


    Track Round Dining Table, White · More Info


  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Maybe one of these will work. The first one at 54" might be too large for the space.






  • 5 years ago


    What They Did · More Info


    Classical Kitchen · More Info


  • 5 years ago

    I like Beverly’s second idea. I think a round heavy lookin table would work best for the space. I don’t care much for the ones with the thinner legs.

  • 5 years ago

    My dining area floor plan

  • 5 years ago

    That sideboard, I'm sorry, but it looks like a Home Depot kitchen cabinet. It's oversized and dragging down the space, If you really want something more upscale then take out the sideboard and look for one on Craigslist--there are always some under "sideboard" "credenza" "buffet" until you find the right one in wood, which you could leave as is if the wood is nice or paint off white.


    A round cream or white woodltable, possibly

    with golden wood top and wood chairs would fit very well in that space. I've seen very nice old oak tables, much better made than new tables, with base painted.



    Coastal Beach White Oak Round Expandable Dining Table 54" · More Info




    It'll be expensive, but change out the chandelier to something more modern. Round drum shade in white:

    Traditional Dining Room · More Info


  • 5 years ago

    A bench in the window idea I like. Like I A bench works for a 36” square but not so much for round. I don’t like the look of the round table with folding? Metal legs where its shown in the built in nook. It has a very cheap look but I realize t its a ‘look’ they are after & showing. All the black tables look too large. If I go round it can’t be larger than 36” or it will be too tight for 4 chairs. The black tables look much too large. The first 3 have a very cheap look to them In my mind with the thin legs. . If I go 30-36” Wide (rectangle ) then 45”-48” is my max. length. That’s what I meant when I mentioned 48”.
    I did shop consignments & even peoples homes for resale. I did that all last summer and got tired of doing so. I don’t want to paint furniture. My husband & I painted an old console in my LR white & it didn’t come out good as we had a bleeding problem. The old dark red cas coming through.
    Like I said the small white round sets on Wayfair & others are very cheaply made. I went to a huge furniture store today & saw many of the exact ones on Wayfair. Many reviews were complaints of chipping & premature wear. I saw that in the store on the edges of the leafs the chipping reviews mentioned & those are only floor models. It seems all 5 piece sets under $600 do not hold up. What does anyone think of the natural edge wood ( counter height) table & stools? The table is solid wood- so no chipping or peeling. The black legs pick up on the black sideboard. I like the natural ( unique) look of it.
    The sideboard unfortunately was built in by the previous owner . It throws the room center off . We won’t remove it as the wall will be damaged & then sidewall work & painting will be needed.
    If I don’t settle on the live edge table then I’ll go with a 36” round in the corner & swag the light or I’ll do a small window bench & look for a 36” square.
    Thanks for all the ( quick!!) replies & suggestions. 🥰

  • 5 years ago

    The 4th black round set I do like! Where is that one from??

  • 5 years ago

    Beverly?

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Not a set. I just placed black wood chairs with the 3rd table.


  • PRO
    5 years ago


    World Market

    Target

    Crate & Barrel


    CB2

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks everyone! I’ll check the one @ World Market. The 42” round will be too large. If round I can only go 36”. I did find two possibilities . Both are around 30”x 40”. The white expands to 54” oval. Not so sure about having a gray set in the mix going on.

  • 5 years ago


    another vote for a bench/banquette for that space.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I vote you remove the free standing side board. It is the elephant in the room and making any good seating impossible.



    Do something like this arrangements, to the measurements...Bar stools...not needed, and again taking up too much precious space. Use the bar counter for serving, not eating.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    We think a round table would work best in your dining room area. However we do think the banquette idea might work well too. Below are just a few of our designs to aid you with this dilemma.

    Alloy Penthouse: Breakfast Nook · More Info


    Seaport High Rise: Dining Room · More Info


    Logan Townhouse · More Info


  • 5 years ago

    I would get an antique pedestal table. They are pretty common for resale. I just bought this one for $200 on FB marketplace. Has 2 leaves that expand it to fit 10-12 people. Can seat 6 around it without the leaves and smaller armless chairs.

  • 5 years ago

    The sideboard is a bigger problem than finding the right table. Fix that, and the OP will have lots more table and seating options. This is one of those Dilemmas where the real problem isn't the one introduced as a dilemma.

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks everyone! I’ll check the one @ World Market. The 42” round will be too large. If round I can only go 36”. I did find two possibilities . Both are around 30”x 40”. The white expands to 54” oval. Not so sure about having a gray set in the mix going on.

    I know the big problem is the sideboard but unfortunately that is staying! My husband refuses to remove it & have repairs to go through. We don’t know how long we will be in this home. Possibly less than 2 years so he said that remains. Without it, I wouldn’t have an issue about size or type of table. I have decided on a pure white set. Or wood table with white chairs but cannot go over 36”.
    Now trying to decide on round or a small square.

  • 5 years ago

    Put the side table on “offer up” for free and tell the buyer to come pick it up at your house. Problem solved.