Here are some 54" regular height table that I found: http://www.homelement.com/products/Dining-Room-Furniture/Casual-Dining/Adrian-Dining-Collection-Homelegance_1348.html http://www.homelement.com/products/Dining-Room-Furniture/Casual-Dining/Daffodil-Dining-Collection-713-Homelegance_4388.html http://www.homelement.com/products/Dining-Room-Furniture/Casual-Dining/Sedgefield-Dining-Collection-Homelegance_1319.html Good luck!

I went to a couple of local stores today, just randomly chosen because they looked like they would carry formal dining furniture (Walter E. Smithe, Thomasville, and Drexel Heritage). As I expected no one had oak (except for mission which stylistically will not go with my china cabinet). So I looked for woods that were the right reddish brown color, which turned out to be, for the most part, mahogany. What I saw in all of these stores seemed to be really nice quality but I did experience sticker shock. (More from the price of the chairs than the tables: is $300 and up per chair normal? ArghÂ) I realize I havenÂt shopped for much furniture; when our kids were small utility ruled, and most of my good pieces are family antiques that I refinished myself. Subtracting the styles that wouldnÂt go and ones with distressing (I donÂt like distressing, at least not on a formal dining table), that left really only 2 tables found in 4 stores, one by Henredon and one by Thomasville. All of the stores said they had few styles on display but could order anything from the manufacturer. However ordering was what I didnÂt want to do, since I want to see the wood and workmanship close up. If I have to order anyway I might as well do it online. I have read about people on these forums ordering online but I have been concerned about getting something that is not the quality I am imagining. Are there any brands or vendors in particular I should look for, so I will not be disappointed? Thanks for any advice you can offer.

I assume you’ll sprinkle in a few other dark/mahogany pieces in your home so the china cabinet doesn’t stand out? Consider looking at an Amish furniture store. They can hand make and stain or paint any color you would want. The styles are not all Amish/country by an means. You could find something contemporary/transitional and ask for part of it to be stained in a dark wood and the top in another color. We just did this trying to match a set of chairs that I loved. Wanted a rectangle table with self storing leaves and they were able to match colors perfectly. Think of it as a canvas of bare wood, high quality that you are customizing.

Thanks! Photos attached^