Who doesn’t enjoy a long story about searching for the perfect dining table? Here’s ours.
We’ve been hunting for a large round table almost since the day we moved in. When we first toured the house in late fall of 2010, John immediately suggested converting the small formal dining room into an office and adding French doors for me. Sold. That left us with the challenge of fitting a larger, more casual dining space elsewhere for our big family gatherings.
Our family gets together in twos and threes—or a dozen—so six seats just wouldn’t cut it. After many floor plans, sketches, and passionate discussions, we decided to open a wide 5–6 foot doorway between the kitchen and the former living room, turning that space into a casual dining room and library adjacent to a defined entryway. The goal was a room that would host large family meals, after-school projects, and crafts—versatile, comfortable, and welcoming.
From the start, I envisioned a round table. A circle feels softer and friendlier than a rectangular table, and it helps keep the room from looking too formal or wood-heavy. I also love the idea of pairing a rustic, chunky table with bright, wipeable green parsons chairs—kid-friendly materials that still feel fresh and modern. The vision was a communal table for everyday life, not just special occasions.
The main obstacle: most round tables seat four. You can find 60″ round tables that seat six, but our target was seating for eight. Adding an island with seating in the adjacent kitchen would help—four at the island plus eight at the table equals a comfortable total of twelve. Still, finding a true 70″ round table proved tougher than expected.
I did the research and taped prospective diameters on the floor to visualize fit. According to measurements, a 70″ round table should accommodate eight people with modest-sized parsons chairs, so I focused my search there. Online options I found were either too small or priced between $1,000 and $2,000—well beyond our ideal budget.
We visited thrift stores, antique shops, and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, but a single-piece 70″ top is rare. The closest find was a 50″ laminate diner-style table—cute, but not the warm, solid-wood table I had in mind. DIYing a top that large raised concerns about sourcing a single, thick slab of wood and avoiding a patched-together appearance. The vision called for a chunky, solid look, not a cobbled-together top.
Then John’s sister suggested we try The Dump, a local discount furniture store. The name sounded off-putting, but the store often carries surprising bargains. To our delight, there it was: a rustic yet clean-lined 70″ round table with a non-invasive pedestal base—perfect for legroom and guest comfort. I immediately loved its sturdy, simple aesthetic.
The table’s listed price was $1,800, which made me swoon and then wince. The manager mentioned that price included eight chairs, which explained the high tag. My plan, though, was to find different chairs—specifically green leather or faux leather parsons chairs—so paying for the set wasn’t ideal. After some earnest negotiation (and a bit of charm), the manager agreed to sell the floor model without the chairs for $799. I bought it on the spot.
We walked away with a solid wood 70″ round table that will seat at least eight people. The wood is sheesham (Indian Rosewood), a durable hardwood suitable for functional, everyday furniture. Durability was essential: we want furniture that can take family life—meals, crafts, and the occasional rough-and-tumble—without worrying about every scratch.
The tabletop itself has a hand-carved feel: not perfectly smooth, but subtly rippled and irregular. Those natural peaks and valleys will hide dings and nicks from daily use, while still providing a stable surface for glasses and plates. It’s the opposite of a glossy lacquered finish that shows every hairline scratch—this table looks better as it gets lived on.
So that’s the long, happy story of our table hunt. We found the right size, the right feel, and a price that worked for us. We can’t wait to welcome it into our home and to share meals and memories around it. Photos will follow when Woody—the table’s nickname—arrives in the next week or so.