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

I like the look. In the photos the legs of the chairs look great with the table. You can scotch guard the upholstery for kid protection. If you do end up deciding on a rug, I used to use those felt back vinyl tableclothes as dropclothes under my kids. They are easy to shake off and fold up between uses, can pop in the wash easily, and are cheap to replace if they tear.

Does it look like wood? My 1980s table top looks like wood but is actually something like Formica. They are still made like that, but I can usually tell at quite a distance that the top is not real wood. Mine looks a lot more realistic than anything I have seen since I started to look for a replacement. We have never had to baby our table so I am a bit apprehensive of buying an all wood replacement. My cabinetmaker said I could get a table, find a matching realistic sheet of laminate/Formica, and have him put that on top of the wood.

Here’s a couple more pics.. only the round because I cut the cardboard. :) I’m leaning towards round as well.. softens all the angles.. And really.. this size is fine. We placed 4 dinner plates and it’s ok.. I could find a table with a leaf but I honestly would hardly ever use it.