I love it. My sister/ brother in law have a really big table that fits the whole family. It has chairs on one side and the ends and the bench on the other side. That way it works for everyone. Proud to be still on the young/ skinny side with the bench next to my 7 year old nephew....Barely.

Looks good, and if you should at sometime be given or find some chairs they could be used nicely also.

I think it's a GREAT idea! My GF....was in love with anything made by Stickley. The store had a close out sale and she purchased a picnic style set. It's been her pride and joy for 20 years. I think she paid about $5K! I never understood the name brand made it anything special. lol Yours being home made would mean more to me! I'd be very proud of it!

I love picnic tables! I think it will work really well for your family. Be sure to keep the bench legs close to the ends of the bench! LOL! My Dad built my Mom a backyard picnic table years ago and thought the legs looked better closer together...... that didn't work out very well for anyone!

I love the idea. Do what works for you and your family MamaP. Hopefully you'll post pics when it's done :-)

I would do individual cushions... cause otherwise, it could be a thing of "he moved the cushion... and now it won't feel right for me". :)

Moni

Personally, I like the look of the one you selected. I cherish furniture that my hubby builds for us. Reminds me of my own dad.

We have a bench on one side of our table. It works great. Yes, pay attention to where the legs of the bench will fit, so as not to hit the table legs.

We like that our bench is very smooth, and kind of slick, for scootching over. I don't think that a pad would work that well (how would you scootch over?), but then again, perhaps you have a lot of room to pull the benches out (we don't).

I like picnic style tables. It will be great!

I like it and have always liked trestle tables too, although I have never had one

My only caution would be the "homework" plans and the table top not being one solid piece. Cracks and writing don't mesh well. DH made us a tressel and benches years ago, out of pine so not an heirloom piece. I wanted the benches to have piano hinges and storage. Great place for art supplies when the kids were young. Our table top had a laminate veneer. It was very durable.

Some years ago when my sons were still at home I found a heavy oak table with two benches and bought it and used it for years. I like the style you picked out, I have always loved painted white furniture.

I love the white table and benches with the two painted chairs! Individual cushions would be too slippery and you would be picking them up all the time. I would go with no cushions. There will be photos, right?

If you wish to use the table for dining and homework, crafts, etc, when building the top, use a solid plywood panel on one side. Mount the top with spring loaded pins and center swivel pins. Then you can rotate the top according to usage. You can find all the accessories at Rockler.

Cute table! Another “No” vote for cushions. Hard to keep in place, and really problematic when the person seated in the middle of the bench needs to leave the table.

How difficult will it be to clean up crumbs and spills that get trapped between the planks?

If Mike can build a table, I like the idea of the one Summer posted. No slats on the table.

Benches will be more sturdy but I would like chairs on either end. Benches are fine for sturdy kids, but I need back support if I am to sit around a table for any length of time.

I think it shouldn't be as chunky/heavy looking as an outdoor one. If someone does need a cushion for their tush, you could keep some cushions in a basket that can be put back after use.

I like the look of a white picnic table very much. Does your husband sign his work? He should! on the bottom of the table or somewhere, name, date, and maybe something like "built with love for my family."

I like the idea of cushions, too. Would you size them 2 to a bench, or 3 to a bench?

They make single long bench cushions for outdoor swings, maybe those might work if they were velcroed on.

Great solution and not silly at all! We had a homemade picnic table and benches for several years when I was a kid. I agree that the crack where the boards butt up will be an issue for homework, but you could always get some inexpensive desk mats. (I have a clear, frosted one from IKEA that I use under my sewing machine. It was maybe a couple bucks at most. A place mat would do, too.) Also, we had four kids in the family at the time and I think cushions would have been a headache to keep clean and on the benches. I like the option to have a couple nearby if someone is going to sit for longer than a meal or quick chat.

I love the look of a painted white picnic table. I would like sturdy chairs instead of benches tho. If benches, no cushions as I think they'd be a problem.

When I was married to my first husband, our first dining table was a picnic table and I loved it. I painted the table a glossy white and the benches a clear blue to set off our blue and white china.

I have two picnic tables in our back yard and we put them to good use. You made a very good choice!

I think I like the idea of cushions available for the option of using. As for the table top, even if it's slatted like a good old fashion picnic table, the kids can always put something solid under their papers for writing.

Thanks everyone.

I thought about a solid top but it will raise the price and the style. I can put something down when the boys are doing homework such as was mentioned above..a desk mat. I'll probably cover the table with one of those awful looking plastic table cloths for crafting. As for cleaning crumbs LOL.. the soft brush on my vacuum. Mike is very excited to do this lol he's drafting and drawing and making lists. We have to wait for nicer weather such as no rain but it really will only take a weekend.

I like the idea that Tjkeen posted..a basket with a few cushions for who ever wants one. Thank You.

I have a chair similar to the one posted in the pic I'll just have to paint it and perhaps pick up another one for a few bucks at the flea market. I love old chairs.

I will let you know once the build (lol) begins and of course post pics of the finished table. Thank you all!!!

Wonderful idea, MP!

DH and I once had a hexagon shaped picnic table in our kitchen. The "house" also had the shower and toilet in an outside "room". The place actually did have a washer, outside under the eves, and the washer water ran out in a ditch. We were living in Jamaica. Things were different there. :)

Thanks. I enjoyed reminiscing.

Just a thought...if you have anyone with limited mobility or joint replacements, you might want to consider a place to pull up a chair for their use.

Phoggie, I did think about Amiee in regards to this table. She wouldn't be able to sit on a bench, she will have the chair at the head of the table just like she does now after all this is her home. She also has the master bedroom and bath. LOL...I insisted on this when she was 11 and my mom gave her this place. Its the right thing to do...but that aside Amiee will have the chair with her air cushion.

I'm really pleased that so many of you see this as a good idea. At first I thought what are you thinking Cheryl a picnic table in the house, LOL.

Bjorn I'm happy to see you are hitting my *like* button because this means your around... ((((HUGS))))

Tim and Chip are all excited that Pap is going to need their help building.

I think it's cute! My only concern would be a lack of back support, but if that's not an issue for your family, I say go for it.

A cheap way to get a solid top is to use a door...

I remember my mother in 1976 buying a new kitchen table with bright red benches. She was really into the bicentennial. The benches worked well. Four boys. Mom and Dad sat in chairs at opposite end. We rarely ate in the dining room. That was for company only.

Mammapinky-- Regarding Aimee (or anyone else) sitting at the end of the table: You might consider making the top of the table overhang the "X" cross bars by at least 12-15 inches. In other words--if the top of the table is flush (or almost flush) with the vertical cross bars, it will be very awkward to sit and eat or write, etc at this spot if ones legs are crammed up against the cross bars. One would almost have to sit sideways. Leave a little room for legs, chair or wheelchair!

Hope I've explained this well enough to understand!

BTW--I love the look of the white picnic style table--I think you're on the right track!

I like it!

I came across this post while looking for something else and wondered if you have gotten your table put in yet? I would love to see a photo of it. I bet it looks and works great in your kitchen!

Wonderful idea! Everyone loves picnic style tables!

^^^^ Is he waiting for his picky-nicky basket ^^^^

Thanks for asking. No its not completed yet. Hope its not much longer. Everytime I turn around my son is asking mom you sure you don't want it built this way or that....no just an old fashioned picnic table and bench style. I did find a wonderful cream and pale green linen runner for it on sale at Target. Its from Joanna Gaines (Fixer Upper) line of home goods. I'm searching flea markets for a nice centerpiece. Maybe something to fill with apples.

I got my vintage wood chair out of storage and need to decide on a color to paint it. I don't want it white like the table and benches. I could do almost any color since my walls are a creamy white wallpaper.

Anyway hopefully in the next few weeks the table will be done. I can't wait.

Wonderful project which will create family memories and be useful too! I don't have a fancy dining room set, just basically wrought iron patio set, but it works.

Get each of the kids a clip board! I buy them at dollar stores and big lots for cheap. I like them to hold my pages to color.

If you have a habitat restore store in your area check there for the boards! I have seen very cute ones made with old doors too.

I think it's a great idea. There are so many different styles but Google has instructions and patterns for them. My big farm table has the benches that matched but I decided to go with chairs instead.

What color to paint your vintage chair? May I suggest a color right there in your name? :-) I think it would be a fun color and a little private joke.

Raven Thanks for the clip board idea its a great and inexpensive idea. I will definitely pick a few up one day when I'm out. When not in use the boys can keep them in their cubby in the laundry/mud room which is just thru the door way to the kitchen. Ya I like it.

Elizabeth LOL my kids have already suggested painting the chair pink. it won't be to much of a private joke though since my off screen nic name is pinky...Haha. I'll have to give pink some consideration. LOL. Thank You.

What color did you decide on for your vintage chair? Would love to see your picnice table.