This morning, I explained how completely overwhelmed I was feeling. I couldn’t decide what to do first. I was paralyzed.
So, I went shopping. (Smile.)
To be fair, I didn’t set out to go shopping this morning. After my son’s honors program, I came home for lunch and then figured out that I didn’t have enough time to start on the table before I had to pick the kiddos up from school. I figured I would just run errands instead. Something in my brain told me to run by the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. I was still looking for that elusive dining room table, after all.
In this post, I explained how Dear Husband suggested – and I agreed – that we needed a bigger dining room table. In that post, I explained my parameters for such a table:
“In shopping for the table, I have some rules:
1. I would prefer it to be old rather than brand new. I am a firm believer in having something old in each room of our home. Plus, I want it to have character.
2. I do not want to spend a fortune on it, but I will not buy something just because it’s a good deal. Been there, done that.
3. I would prefer it to be expandable, so that it can stay smaller day-to-day, but be big enough for family gatherings.
4. Nothing super fancy or ornate. That’s not our style, and, after all, it’s still going to be my go-to place to grade papers when the time comes.”
Dear Husband had suggested it be oval, but oval tables are really hard to find. Also, I don’t particularly like oval tables. Dear Husband later conceded that it need not be oval. Good. We agreed. Thus, the four rules above would govern.
Today, I found the perfect table!
I need to reattach the crossbar (hardware was included – whew!), and it has this cool hardware to hide the screws:
As you can see, the table is quite scratched up. It has definitely been loved. Just needs a little TLC. Then it will be perfect for us.
Note: it satisfies all the rules.
1. It is old. Well, it’s not new. I don’t know how old it is, but it has definitely been loved. It has character.
2. I did not spend a fortune on it. I spent $250 on it, to be exact. A bargain, to be sure. But I also love it. I didn’t buy it because it was a bargain. I loved it AND it was a bargain. Score!
3. It is expandable. It has two removable leaves, so it expands to seat 10. Ninety-something inches long with both leaves in it. Perfect.
4. It is not super fancy or ornate. It has chunky legs and a thick wood top and it’s just beautiful and I love it.
I. Love. It.

And yes, that is a different rug. Bigger table required bigger rug. Nabbed it at Home Goods for a song. Yippee!
Yay.
And that made my panic go away. Temporarily.
Thanks for stopping by!
Love the new table! Great find!
Thanks, Erin!
awesome!! can’t wait to see how you work your magic.
Thanks!
You and I are on the same page this week – I’m in the middle of a dining table overthrow too!
Love your dining room, so pretty and that table is gorgeous (so is that buffet!) I also love that colourful artwork (the upper horizontal piece), what happy colours!!!
ps where did you get that rug?! LOVE it!!! I’m moving in!!!
Thanks, Anne! I got the rug at Home Goods. It’s wool, 8×10 – perfect for the space. And it was a bargain! Woo hoo!
Great find Karen! Fits perfectly in your dining room and that new rug is fab!!
Thanks, Cynthia!