Dinner's Ready: Great Tables for a Meal
We think a lot about what we eat, but maybe we should think more about where we do it. Lunch at your desk or a bagel in the car on the way to work save time, but they aren't exactly inspiring. Great meals deserve great tables.
Great tables also encourage great conversation, laughter, and deeper friendships. Plus, of course, a fantastic table can really make a room.
My dining room table is a functional hand-me-down - nothing special, but it works. I'm constantly on the hunt, though, for the ultimate table for dining. Here are some of my favorites:
Great tables also encourage great conversation, laughter, and deeper friendships. Plus, of course, a fantastic table can really make a room.
My dining room table is a functional hand-me-down - nothing special, but it works. I'm constantly on the hunt, though, for the ultimate table for dining. Here are some of my favorites:
I absolutely love round tables - my favorite restaurants are the ones with round tables for large groups. They just make conversation so much better - no getting stuck in the corner next to somebody boring. My dream dining room table is one that's round and somehow has an extension to make it larger, but still round. I've never seen one...I'm close to trying to build one myself!
Square is an unusual shape for a dining room table, but I really like it. Like a round table, it's great for conversation. Plus, it's just unexpected enough to add some spice to the room.
I love the idea of a glass (or plexiglass) table. For one thing, it's super practical - so easy to clean! Plus, it's a blank slate for table settings. This table would look terrific with so many different types of dishes and accessories. I like it with these Phillipe Starck chairs, but I think it would also look cool with something more substantial - it would be interesting to pair it with chairs that have a bit of texture or a crazy color.
There's a lot to be said for a really simple, Parsons-style table. It's neat, functional and fits with so many different styles.
The kitchen table - it's where breakfast is eaten, homework gets done, and family meetings happen. It's important. But is it nearing extinction, now that every kitchen has an island? I hope not. I really like this simple table tucked next to the window. But I do also love the island. So much of life happens in the kitchen - why not have an extra spot to sit?
If I could, I'd eat every meal outside - and on a table like this one. It's got enough heft to stand up to weather, but it doesn't sacrifice any style. I also really like the combination of the stone and iron table and delicate wood chairs - it feels like something you might find in the backyard of an ancient country chateau.
Eating at the kids' table doesn't always have to be a bad thing. Sometimes kids need their own space to eat together and have fun - but not always, so it makes sense to invest in a kids' table that can fill many roles. This little table is cute and multifunctional. It's perfect for dinner, crafts, coloring, homework - and it looks great, too.
There is a lot to be said, I think, for pretty, traditional dining room tables - the kind you'd find in your grandmother's house. For me, deep wood tables, especially oval ones, evoke childhood memories of holiday dinners and so many special occasion meals. I really like the idea of a dining room - like this one - where meals aren't just food, they're also ritual and tradition.