I so appreciate all your thoughtful responses. I'm pretty sure this was my first post here, not convo. First question, anyway. Good point, Mimi, about the linens and stuff to block any views. I love that Mercer table, the simple lines and dimensions, I never noticed any sounds on our existing glass tables, Ingrid. Mtn, footsies? Very funny, ha. The Mobler table is pretty but too small, I think. I did look a bit on customade.com and need to do more. Thanks everybody. I had thought that this search would turn up lots of low priced options but not so. Oh, we also want a pedestal so there is room for knees. I had thought this would be easy, --wrong, wrong. Back to work.

I wouldn't say the roller is a poor choice,I can only say that I've been able to achieve far better results with brushes. Fast? Yes,alot more paint can be laid down with roller in the same amount of time but in my experience, quality has always been lacking. Please understand that I have been for years and still strive to improve with every project. If you are serious about the best results possible,I have an exercise that will help. Enter next stage as you feel each has been mastered. Stage 1. Aquire a light with defelector/shade that is easily adjustable for height and angle. Mine is a reading lamp with heavy floor base,telescopic pole, fexiable neck and small conicial shade. No need for extreamly bright bulb but as room/work area is better lite,the bulb must be brighter. Lay scrap boards on saw horses/bench at comfortable working heighth then adjust light so it reflect's off board you are working on. Choose some spare paint and a crap brush. I recommend water clean up paint for ease of clean up but the glossier when dry the better for showing mistakes. As you apply paint,spread thin as possible while maintaining even gloss of fresh paint. DO NOT GO BACK AS PAINT DRYS TO TRY AND EVEN OUT GLOSS. Play around with thinning to find consistency that work's best for you,your board,your paint and brush. Spots where paint is to thin or missing when dry are called "holidays". Don't fret about hollidays at this stage because uneven absorbton of paint due to inconsistancies in board will look the same as too little paint. If necessary,we will handle that with primer later on when doing projects. At this stage,we will see a difference with a second coat. As you practice,try and pick up the speed with which you move along. It's very important to move fast in order to maintain (wet edge as mentioned by Mac earlier). Maintaining wet edge go's hand in hand with what I said above IN CAPS about not messing with partly dry areas. Stage 2. Repeat with oil base paint,oil base clear or clear poly. Stage 3. Use a clean quality brush and clean clear finish while using all suggestions we have made about keeping dust out of finish. Stage 4. Critique each project as you do them to see how you can improve. I would appreciate hearing wherter you learned any thing form stage 1.

How many/often do you normally seat for a meal or a dinner party, formal or informal, how big is your space, etc? My favourite tables are called "Irish Georgian Wake Tables." They run to tens of thousands for a real table from Ireland made in the late 1700s to early 1800s, but modern ones are a lot less. They're endlessly versatile, lovely to sit small or larger groups at, easy to decorate, and when not in use they sit tidily against a wall, great for a buffet or fork supper. They come in numerous styles, too, of course. Your chairs (which are wonderful to look at, so I hope they're comfortable!) would lend themselves to the elegant simplicity of Irish/Scottish Georgian furniture, more than, say, Elizabethan or its later knock-off iterations, which are generally heavy and dark. I wouldn't upholster them in any sort of light-coloured fabric, if you want it to stay pristine. ;)

On my screen, the table looks too yellow to work. I would probably look for an white tulip table. I see the white counters and I would probably want to add to the that look. You can add all different styles of chairs with a white tulip table.