Erinct-
I'm looking for a similar style for a banquette that we're building so I've also considered the table that you're looking at. It's too big for us but gets great reviews from people who have bought it.
If you don't need a trestle base, have you looked at the Crate & Barrel Basque table? It comes in a 65" length. That one I've seen in person and it's very nice. It has kind of a distressed finish. It looks like a good reproduction of a reclaimed antique wood table, for a much better price.

I have a coffee and end table from World Market (bought probably six years ago). They've held up pretty well for the price. The screws need tightening every now and then, but they are overall fine and the wood has held up up in our multi-pet, heavily used family room.

I've also looked at that table and considered it. I thought some of the reviews say the finish on top gets messed up after a little use?

I have had a table and chairs from WM for about six years. That table has held up really well and is great quality..... I hope the same is true for the trestle table, but some of the reviews scared me off. I'm curious of your feedback if you do get it!

Thanks everyone!

cmm6797: I did see the Crate and Barrel table, and it is very nice. My only concern was that it doesn't have any leaves and we really wanted to be able to expand it on those few occassions when we need the extra space. But maybe we should reconsider it?!?

KayceeFL: Thanks for the feedback! I've bought a vanity online once that I couldn't see in person and regretted it, so I'm hesitant to do it again but I really like the look and size of that table!

lolauren: The only consistently negative complaint that I recall is that crumbs get stuck in the cracks where the boards meet on the top, which I think is more of a style issue than a quality issue (it looks like a plank top). I don't recall any issues with the finish, but I will definitely check that out.

Can anyone tell me what national furniture brands are comparable to WM? I've never heard of the company before so I'm not sure what to expect for the money.

Thanks again for the feeback! I'm still not sure what to do. I'm so tired of looking for a set, but I'm also really hesitant to purchase something so substantial sight unseen. A friend suggested that maybe we should buy the bench first to see the quality (since we could use that pretty much anywhere), and then buy the rest of it if we like it. Hmmmm . . .

World Market is something like what Pier 1 used to be before they got relatively upscale, or like the old World Bazaar, if you can remember those. It's definitely not a high-end outfit--big warehouse-like store full of all sorts of things of varying quality. Some of their items are pretty nice, the furniture is more or less Target quality, only more rustique, more handmade looking. The biggest problem is quality control--just because one box has a good set is no guarantee that the next one will.

some of the reviews say the finish on top gets messed up after a little use

Yah, I know what they mean. My current table is from target.com. It's okay, but a lot of these cheaper pieces have a very soft finish. Mine polishes right out, no problem, but even leaving a placemat on it too long will leave a visible mark. On the other hand, I read similar complaints about some of the pieces from Pottery Barn, so spending a lot more is no guarantee you'll avoid this.

I would really try to see it before buying the whole set, if you possibly can.

Not sure what area you're in, but this place does outstanding handcrafted furniture, that also doesn't break the bank, so it's a great value. They have a few trestle styles -- 54" and 66" long are standard, but they can do custom sizes (60" is available) for an upcharge.

I do NOT work for this place; just love their work.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hunt Country Furniture

jgs7691: We're in CT so it's closer, but probably still not doable given our crazy schedule. But I really appreciate your post!!!

The table I have from WM is not anywhere as poor as Target quality. I don't think anything sold at Target (in the store) is solid wood. My table is very solid. That isn't to say that some pieces at WM might not be as good quality, though... and perhaps the quality has declined in recent years?

erinct, make sure you price out shipping from WM. Shipping for just the table is $150... but if you add on six chairs, shipping is $440...

Here are some of the reviews that scared me off:

"after a few months we noticed it showed water spots, it scratches very very very easily, a little area had liquid spilt on it and the table ended up warping and the top lifted away a bit where the liquid came into contact with the wood. The info that came with the box when we first bought it said it was made from real plantation wood, however based on the quick warping my husband doesn't think it's actual wood. Also, it's begining to splinter near the seams."

"I love the look of this table. I really do, but it just hasn't held up well at all. It is starting to warp along the seams and the finish is wearing off. We always use place mats and I only clean it with a wet rag and use a hand vac to clean the crumbs in the grooves."

"I REALLY love the look of this table and get many compliments on it. My complaint is that the finish dings and wears off easily. I returned the first table as it was starting to bubble and warp in spots and now the second is doing the same thing. I have only had it a year, always use placemats and only clean with water."

*shrug* I have been scared off of lots of tables after reading reviews, though :) It seems really hard to find a nice quality dining table (agree with PB comments above.... their finishes are terrible for all furniture I own.)

Actually, I was thinking more of target.com than the stuff they sell in stores, but that's not a huge difference. My dining set is all wood and I'm pleased with it for the price, but I'd never describe it as quality furniture.

Not saying I wouldn't do it--sure I would, since I'm on a budget. But if you're a Restoration Hardware kind of person, this is not equivalent, not unless their mrechandise has changed dramatically in the past few months since last time I was there. As long as you're cool with that, and with the fact that you may have to do some exchanging to get enough good pieces.

This is flat pack furniture, after all.

Erin - wer're in the table market too. Here's my impression of WM. Good value, yes! And nice to look at! But the table at our local store did not pass my thumbnail test. (If my thumbnail can gouge... how much more can a toddler-wielded fork do?) And with three kids, we're looking for something that's going to last. This just wasn't it.

If you're okay with changing it out in 3-5 years, I'd say give it a whirl.

One thing that many people do is to put glass over the top on these inexpensive tables and that's not expensive to do, but of course it's a huge nuisance when you want to use the leaf, unless you have plenty of storage space to park the glass when you extend the table.

hmm, I hadn't read the reviews lolauren posted. There were so many I just scrolled through and saw all the stars and chose a few to read. But those you listed definitely give me pause too.

Based on what others here have said, I think I'll keep looking. The thumbnail test kinda seals it for me. I have two young boys and they love to add their own distressing to everything! But some things distress better than others!!!

So, alabamamommy, where are you looking?!? I'm out of ideas!!!

just a thought - have you checked out craigslist? i have found some great stuff on there (including my two darling cats!!!). you usually cannot beat the prices either!

I have not. Our local one isn't that great, but maybe it's worth a try -- I'm getting desperate! Thanks for the thought!

I'm also wondering if putting a more durable finish on these tables would help any. Parawood (which is what most of them are mostly made from) isn't very hard, but maybe it would help. If I planned to keep my current table I'd give it a try, but since it won't go at all with what we're planning to do, it's not worth the effort.

bumping because I'm curious if anyone has recommendations on table vendors, too. erinct - what size table are you needing? (http://www.tevaliving.com/product.php?id_product=25 ... this trestle table looks nice, but it is way too long for our home....)

Writers block: good question. I've never heard of that but maybe worth looking into.

Lolauren: that's exactly why I posted the question. I've never heard of that site and the tables are nice but too large for our space. Ideally I'd like one 60-66" long that could expand to 80+" with leaves. 90" is too large. I'm hoping someone else has ideas for us!

Add me to the list....I have been looking for a new table on and off for years, also one that could expand. Has anyone ever priced out having one made? It's crossed my mind but I've never pursued it.

Our cabinet maker said he could make us a table but not chairs and I was concerned about how everything would pull together. I don't recall his exact price but it was around $800 for a 54" round pedestal (which is what we were looking for before we realized that rectangular would look better in our space).

I did a post on Trestle table price guides over a year ago, but when the website was moved, we did not move the story (since prices may not have been current). These were the bottom three in price:

Kate Madison http://www.katemadison.com/

Cottage Home Maine http://www.cottagehomemaine.com/

Amish Tables http://www.amishtables.com/

Erinct - so sorry I'm just seeing this.

Where HAVEN'T we looked :) I should tell you we've moved into round tables, so that narrows it down a bit from the original field. We understand that ALL finishes can be scratched, but it seems the issue is that, at all price points, many manufacturers are using soft woods and/or veneers which can't be touched up once gouged. And unfortunately, materials vary from model to model within manufacturers. (And as someone pointed out, in the less expensive case brands... from table to table)

The best finish I've found is made by Henredon, but that gets in the 3-4k+ land. They stopped making the 60" in the table of theirs I liked.

Hickory chair makes a great finish, but I found there's too much of a "crevice" between thier planking, and I don't want to have to scrape out crumbs and mac n cheese.

The model we liked by Bernhardt was a fail.

I've found lots of wonderful eyecandy on sites like Laylagrace and shopandelabra, but the issue is finding one to test in person.

So far, the only tables that have passed our test in person have either been too large (70-72") or on a wobbly iron base.

I know that doesn't help, but it lets you know you're not alone!

I'm patiently waiting for a World Market table to arrive, myself. I was looking for a kitchen/dining table that will be our only table (no formal dining room). I also had a size requirement that it not be too wide or too long because it's going in the space between my kitchen and living room, but I needed to be able to make it larger for company.

I looked around a lot, for months, including craigslist. I already knew I was getting the chairs separately because I'm getting red bi-cast leather parsons dining chairs. When I looked at the cost of a table on craigslist (most come with a set of chairs) versus a brand new table, I'd only be paying $100 or $200 more for a brand new table, so I stopped with craigslist.

I also needed something durable since we have three kids (ages 6 to 13) so veneers were out. This table is wood all the way through. Furniture gets damaged over time, and that's something I'm prepared to live with. I'll be a lot less upset with a $500 table getting some scratches in it than I will with something a lot more expensive, so the price point is good, too.

A girlfriend of mine has a few pieces of World Market furniture, including her dining table set, and loves it. (She has no kids though).

Good luck on your shopping.

Here is a link that might be useful: WM table I am buying

World Market furniture is more like what you'd find at an import store than what you'd find from Thomasville and the like.

We have several pieces of WM furniture. DH and I can agree on the style of a few things plus they tend to have some smaller things. For example, I didn't want a giant, overwhelming entertainment center that would take up half of our smallish living room but I wanted something more than just a stand. WM to the rescue!

Our dining room table is from WM and we've never had a moments trouble with it. As with everything, especially at places where they attempt to keep the costs down and you assemble the furniture yourself, the quality can vary greatly. I've seen tables at WM that I would never consider because the quality is clearly too low to stand up to actual use. Other tables are as solid as a rock. FWIW, their fixed tables w/o a leaf tend to be much better than the tables that expand. Also, ones that do not have a thick finish but rather a stain tend to be better as well.

I am going to agree with the poster that said check out Hunt Country Furniture. Did you look at their site and see any table & chairs you might be interested in? I am sure they would send any information. The construction of their furniture is unbeatable and I am not sure when but sometime in the summer they have a huge tent sale.

Thanks so much everyone! We were away last week and I took a total break from all the kitchen decisions (kinda regretting it now that we're so far behind!).

allison0704: Wish I had seen your article, but I'll definitely check out the sites you listed. Thanks so much!!!

alabamamommy: Thanks for letting me know that others out there research and agonize about this stuff as much as I do. It seems crazy that I can't find something that I thought was fairly common and simple. I wish table manufacturers offered their styles in different sizes. It would make life so much easier!!!

tazochai: Thanks for the reality check! All good points, and I hope you love your new table!!

OUKatie: Thanks for the info! It's so hard to know what a store, or piece of furniture is like, if you can't visit in person. So I really appreciate your insights!

eandhl: I did check out Hunt Country Furniture and it looked like well made furniture, but they didn't have any styles that I thought would work well with our kitchen and surrounding areas. Maybe I'll have to check them out again. Thanks for the second vote!