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.

Hi Amy!!! Good feedback on the table. But too late. Deadline for returning the table was yesterday. :-) Basically, I decided I really loved the table, and loved it enough to forgive it for not letting the chairs go all the way under. The thing about tall people's feet didn't occur to me (tall people have feet?? who knew!). I'm just going to hope it works out. If someone really needs to stretch out their feet with a glass of brandy, they'd be much more comfortable doing it on the sofa or armchair anyway - which are only a few steps away! I did go back to Room & Board this week to take another look at the black steel table - it's nice, and it would have gone in the room okay, but it did seem kind of cold and hard-edged. I just don't get the same feeling looking at it that I do with the wood table. Maybe if I'd realized this thing about the wood table's legs before I actually bought it and put it in my house, I would have gone for the steel table - but maybe it's just as well. (I can always CL the wood table later if I decide it really doesn't work, and chalk it up to an expensive lesson learned - or a "table rental fee". ;-)) As for chairs - they *are* really difficult! I sat in the wood chair at R&B. Not so comfortable. The leather chair was much more comfortable. Go figure. Finding a relatively small chair that is still comfortable and attractive is crazy. So here's a form vs. function thing: I found these chairs on the West Elm web site: The size is good, the style works, the color is fun and might work in the room. BUT (lots of but's here) - the store only had them in dark gray, and I'm nervous buying them without seeing the actual "persimmon" color first. (Colors on web sites can be deceiving!) The fabric was a somewhat loose nubby weave that might prove irresistible to a cat's claws (assuming I ever get a cat again). And finally, there's the issue of West Elm furniture quality - I got my coffee table from them, and though I like the style of the table, not so happy with the quality. On the plus side, the chairs were pretty comfortable. (For now. The padding felt kind of, uh, hollow, like it might not hold up over time.) Still intrigued by the style & color though - if anyone has seen chairs like this elsewhere, please let me know! One more thing about the table... Dd50, I did go back to C&B also and look at the 48" version of the wood table. They had it up on a pedestal though, so I couldn't see how it looked with chairs under it. Anyway, it did look kind of big, and I'm not sure it would have made that much difference with the chairs, so I decided to stick with the 42" top. Finally, Amy, some extra pix showing the little orange table: Opposite the sofa: Mocked up with the picture that still needs to be hung over the sofa, the curtains that still need to be purchased, and a smushed make-believe vase munged from my green lamp base standing in for a centerpiece on the dining table:

Thanks Sea, you are right the Parson is about 4" taller than the table, i believe the table is 30" and the parsons are 34". I just always thought the chairs at the end of the tables were supposed to be taller, but the ikea option at that price would be very attractive. My girlfriend is flipping out regarding mixing the wood legs with chrome, she thinks it doesnt work, but then again shes not a designer either lol. I guess in terms of making the table look more substantial in the room, it should look more substantial when that chandelier is over it, and when I add a buffet table in the room. So I guess it really isnt an issue. I may check out those ikea chairs soon

Just dug out some pics of the room, which might help. A few things have changed since this pic was taken but the basics are the same. I'll be getting new curtains and maybe a new rug too if I can convince DH. There is now a 5' tall narrow shelf unit to the left of the settee, a "bar" type small table where the floor lamp is (floor lamp is moved closer to the settee), and the stuff on the bookcases is all different now. Hard to tell the orientation from the pics, but the bookcases are directly opposite the settee.