Four months in and I feel like I should be done decorating but I’m not. The living room took up so much of my time when we first moved in, but since that’s all finished I’ve been concentrating my efforts on the bedroom. The bedroom is pretty much finished besides a few pieces. I want a full-length mirror (something like this or this), some more decorative objects for the mantel, and I had my heart set on wallpapering one wall, but I think I’m going to hold off on that for right now. I also moved from a tiny apartment to a much larger duplex so I had to acquire some larger pieces (like my couch) which added up fast.
Now that I’m recouping from all my purchases for the living room and my new bedroom furniture, I’m on the market for a larger kitchen table. My old kitchen was tiny and I couldn’t really afford anything larger than a two seat bistro table. We moved in our West Elm Tripod Table just to hold us over until we could upgrade. I’ve been looking for weeks but I can’t come to a final decision. I thought I would turn to you guys for some advice. Also, how cute are Bowie and I? He’s the love of my life.
Here he is eating my popsicle. I mean pupsicle.
This kitchen is definitely larger than our last one. My old one was shaped like a long rectangle and this one is still eat-in but is shaped more like a larger square. The counters are on one wall, and on the opposite is a fireplace/mantel and my mid-century china cabinet. I really wanted a marble top table to give me another surface for photographing drinks on, but also because I love the look. I was pretty much set with this one from West Elm, but of course, it’s no longer available. I emailed them to see if it was coming back in stock but they assured me that it wasn’t. It’s unfortunate because it was a really nice match to the wood of my china cabinet plus the wood counter tops and gave me the top surface that I desired.
This got me to rethink my original choice of wanting a round table. Maybe a square or a rectangular table would fit in this space more? I could have one side on the wall between the windows and have it come out into the room parallel with the counters. If I had company over, I could easily pull it out into the center of the room to make more space for an extra seat.
Then I thought, what about an expandable table? I have only found two that I really like, both from West Elm. This one seems like the best of both worlds. It’s round and seats up to four and expands to seat six. It’s from the West Elm x Fishs Eddy collaboration and has a white laminate top. So I can have a round or long table, but not marble which is what I think I really want.
This one is the Modern Expandable Table also from West Elm. I love the angled wood legs and pecan finish but I’m on the fence about the white lacquer top. The tripod table I have is white lacquer too and the scratches it gets from normal use drives me insane. I polish it all the time so I don’t see the scratches because I have OCD about it. I like the look and functionality of this table but I’m not 100% positive about purchasing another lacquered table. They look cool and sleek until they get a little worn in and then they just look dull and messy.
I really love this round marble table on Wayfair. It has the white marble top that I’ve been dreaming about and the polished gold legs make it look super luxurious. It says it fits up to six comfortably but I’m not sure. The thing with buying a table like this is Friendsgiving or any other holiday might be limited to four or a tight six guest list. I also really like the ghost chairs that the table is paired with in this photo. They are on my list as a chair option because I love how they take up no space visually, but we will get to that later! It all depends on what table I decide to go with.
This is the rectangular version of the last table above also from Wayfair. White marble top and polished gold legs. It would be in the center of the room going long ways parallel between the counter wall and mantel wall. I’m dreaming about the tablescape possibilities already!
This is another one from West Elm and a complete show stopper! I love this one so much. It’s called the Silhouette Pedestal Dining Table. White marble, very dramatic gold base, and seats up to four. I might have to cut my guest list down permanently.
Or should I just stick to the good old classic Saarinen Tulip table? High gloss white and marble are both options. Decisions, decisions.
I’d love for you to chime in and tell me what your favorites are. I really need help narrowing it down. You can check out my board over on Pinterest as well to see what other goodies I find!
Cheers to Monday! Hopefully, I find a table for my happy hour cocktails to land on. 😉
xo – Natalie
The Saarinen tulip table, and Bertoia wire chairs, being able to see through the chairs will make things feel mire open. I do love the Eames Eifel Towere fiberglass buckets, but opaque chairs for a kitchen feel cramped. My opinion: don’t spend a nickel on West Elm clunkily ill porpotioned furniture. Save and spend on "real" designers/architects they only appreciate in value, runaway from everything labeled mid-century modern unless it actually is.
Hey Bryan!
I rushed into having bedroom furniture and bought two dressers from West Elm. They are pretty but for the price they aren’t that functional. They are big and somehow not spacious inside at all. I wish I would have held off and bought vintage pieces but I was tired of piles of clothes on the floor. I agree that the furniture is a little overpriced for what you actually get. I think I am leaning towards the Saarinen tulip table anyhow. That’s the one I really want but was entertaining more functional options for having guests over.
Sigh. The decisions continue.
xo – Natalie
I like that last round one from West Elm! The brass isn’t as shiny, so it will compliment your bar cart, but yeah. It’s small!
Hey Stephanie,
I love that one too. I’m leaning towards that one or a Saarinen tulip table in either marble or white. If I go with a table with a gold base I’d like to get clear chairs. That way they don’t take up any visual real estate and the gold/brass will shine through.
We shall see!
xo- Natalie
My vote would be for either that expand, but then west elm got the shade, so now I’m not sure. I will say, as an expanding table owner (vintage, Formica top), it’s really great for when you have guests. Second.. err.. third choice would be the last one. Good luck!
Thanks Hannah. It’s a tough decision. I would really love to have guests over and be able to accommodate them. I really love the round Saarinen though. I do like a lot of stuff West Elm has but I always prefer true mid century vintage over new. I’ve been stalking Craigslist for a few days to see if anything pops up.