I have a very similar table, and I, too, love the legs. However, when the table is expanded, the kind of leg configuration makes it impossible for me to use two of my (wide) dining chairs on the longer side. The opening is simply not large enough to push the chairs in, so make sure to measure your chairs.

That is a decision only you can make based on your needs, your tolerance of the chairs and table together, and how you will feel about it after you have it in place and if you can send them back if you do not like them. I hate to try to tell people how to spend their money. That would not be a look I would like but some people do. However, I think that is a decision you will need to make. For me it would be a big decision because I tried to buy furniture that would last me for years and instead of buying a $25 chair I would save for the $250 chair if that was what I had my heart set on. Of course, no one knows how anyone else will see things but that is my opinion. Try to buy what you have your heart set on as long as your investment serves you well.

Thanks outsideplaying...I had mentioned a bench to DH before, but he was not for it. We already have the chairs...leftover from the new house...and we are mostly adults who prefer the flexibility of the separate chairs and the back support. Bassett makes nice furniture...we just ordered the sofa for the library from there. denali, thank you for asking! I just did a google search on trestle tables and came across the image. Never occurred to me to look further than that until you asked. Turns out these guys are custom furniture makers in VT and designed the tables themselves. They do great work and I will definitely follow up with them....I'm already imagining a nice vacation trip to VT to bring up the wood and hike around the mountains! Will have to see if DH will go for it! Here is a link that might be useful: Dorset custom furniture

Hmm, interesting. I felt like it would be less flexible and functional, because you have the huge feet and stretcher in the way of peoples' feet and in the way of shoving the end chairs in all the way. No one would normally sit right at the corner anyway, so legs at the four corners would almost always be out of peoples' way, right?