Quality Wood Question - Need a Dining Room Table!

[ashtray]

We're looking for a nice, quality, fancy (but not gaudy) dining room set. Seating for 8-10, at least 105" long with leaves - if not a bit more. Trouble is with my Telecaster knowledge, I've learned something about quality of woods, and veneers and construction. By no means anywhere near an expert - I also know what I like and I don't like.

The problem comes in - I'm hosting the holidays at my house this year - we're having my extended family over for the big meal on the 25th of December, and we need to have this dining set by then. The stuff that is affordable has veneer tops and whatnot, and that really scares me. Looking underneath the table is very unimpressive. :( Also, some of the display models have knicks and whatnot - and with the veneers, there is no way to fix this. I want solid wood!

I looked online for different places, but have come up not finding anything I liked. Price is a concern - I have a budget - say in the range of a new (lower end) custom shop tele, not in the range of a vintage 60's tele! :D That puts it into terms we can all understand.

Anyone have any recommendations of where to find quality dining room furniture that will be large enough, have some contemporary but also classic styling, and be well made to outlive me?

Thanks!

Here's one set I am considering - to give you a reference:
http://www.furniturebrokersnc.com/cmrendr02.html

[TheGoodTexan]

Just speaking in generalities here - using a thin veneer top on a dining room table does not necessarily carry the negative conotation as it does with guitars. It's a perfectly acceptable thing to do with furniture, providing that the construction of the table is good to begin with.

So I guess I'm saying, looking for solid wood it great....you may even find a solid wood table, with a veneered top. But don't feel like you've settled for an inferior product, just because it has a veneer top.

I do agree though, that if you're wanting a table for the ages, don't consider getting a particle board, press board, or MDF table.....with a veener top.....that is inferior.

[Eric Karonen]

Estate sales/auctions are a good source for quality furniture and you usually save a buck or two, but sometimes it takes a bit of patience to find something you like. Antique stores are worth a look too.

[ashtray]

Thanks for the feedback. I went looking at an "upscale" store - and found a set I liked (hope my wife likes it!). It's marked down 70% off b/c it's a floor model, but it doesn't show any signs of wear. So it's about the same price as the "cheap" models from the chain stores - but a ton nicer. It's all hardwoods, chairs are all hardwood, and the top has a veneer over "butcher block wood - furniture grade" - according to the salesguy. Not Mdf or plywood. The table and chairs were very solid.

Will post pics and everything if I end up buying it.

Thanks for the insight!
ps - I have been checking antique stores - but it seems their prices are WAY high! Yikes! (and talk about distressed finishes!)

[KC]

OK so I was shopping for a table not long ago, found one I liked at Pier 1, nice size, nice color, really heavy solid wood -- but get this: the table had been relic'ed at the factory, nail holes, worn spots, grooves and dings. Doesn't even look much like an old table, just a new table with a bunch of dents in it. I bought it anyway, on the theory that it was the right size and color, and I like it fine. But once in a while I just look at it & laugh. What an odd world we live in: people in Vietnam making a perfectly nice table and then purposely messing it up so the American idiots (like me) will buy them . . .

[ashtray]

The table in the upscale store has a "lightly distressed" finish. No nail holes or anything like that - just a matte finish, and some areas where there is plenty of finish checking and whatnot. Really looks nice - doesn't really make it look old to me though, maybe since it's only lightly distressed. I'm thinking that style finish will "age" better than a nice glossy finish - in 10-15 years I want the table to look as nice as it does now. Think I found my solution! :D