My parents built a house when I was 5 years old and they lived there probably 30 years or more. I grew up with living in the same house and my grandparents had the same house they had forever but once I left my parents’ home, the moving from place to place began. We once counted it up and Chad lived in more than a dozen houses while growing up. Addie isn’t even 3 yet and she’s already lived in three houses in three different towns . . unfortunately for me, none of those towns are in Texas!
Moving a lot taught me that things were never perfect. The colors I loved would probably not be the colors that would help a house sell and since we knew we’d be moving again, the colors were mostly always neutral. I was so happy that the previous owners in our MO house broke the rules and even though they knew they would have to sell the house, they painted the kitchen, breakfast room and dining room green!
Breakfast Room
Of course, the first thing the relocation company did when we moved out was paint everything a neutral color.
Also, the furniture that we end up with . . we somehow make it work in the next place because if we got rid of what we have and bought new stuff that worked better in each house . . well, some people do it but we don’t.
Here we are .. probably never moving again and our dining table just isn’t right!
Table
Let me take you back to Kentucky. We bought that little house in town when Chad was in high school, so we would be closer to town. It was a tiny little house and this was the dining table we bought for that house. One small table and our chairs.
We bought the house in MO before we left KY so we knew what furniture we needed. Our dining table at our home in KY was way too big for the small dining room in MO so we sold it, kept the little table for the MO dining room and bought a small square-ish table for the breakfast room there.
Then, we moved to TX. The small square-ish table ended up in the sewing room. I like it a lot and when we first came here, I didn’t know if we would be staying here forever so I didn’t want to get rid of it but now, if we ever end up with a decent pickup, I’ll probably take it to Chad and Nicole if they want it.
The small dining table that has made the last few moves with us just isn’t big enough for our current spot or needs. 99% of the time, it’s just the two of us but fairly often, there are four at the table and even with four, it’s crowded. With six, we bring two chairs over from the sewing room and we are elbow to elbow!
So . . here’s the debate: Why do we need a table for 6 when, for the most part, there are 2 of us? (That’s Vince’s side of the debate.) So, then I say: Why do we need sofa that seats three and 2 recliners if there are just two of us? Why do we need three vehicles? Why do we need 14 lawn mowers?
Tell me .. who has a table that’s only big enough for however many people live in the house!
You know I’ll be looking for a table and chairs soon! I want something extremely durable and more “ranchy” than formal/fancy. Actually, rustic is probably easier to find around here than formal but . . . I just have to convince Vince that we need a bigger table.
Vivian Oaks says
Look for a table with leaves, so you can adjust the size as needed. Works well for us!
JudyL says
No, I don’t want leaves. That would mean chairs and leaves to find a place to store. I want one that comfortable seats 6 and I think it will fit fine in this room.
wanda jordan says
Yep I would go with table with leaves too. There are are all kinds with drop leaves that are good. Maybe look at the Amish furniture online. I bet they/you can find just what you need.And it is really good stuff and made well just like the rest of the things they sell. Might be able to buy direct say you tons of money too. If chairs are good keep chairs and just get table in the same color as chairs.
QuilterBea says
Recently, I found a table that was a nice square but had attached leaves that folded up into a nice circle that seated 6 easily but I think 8 could work in a pinch. It was a rustic design and extremely functional. Meets both needs. ????
Good luck on your search.
Ranch Wife says
LOL…I’ve got table stories too! I’ll have to write about it some time too. We were married for 22 years before we bought our first dining room table. Its solid Texas Oak…heavy as all get out, but made to last. Just 2 of us here too. Tell Vince we bought 8 chairs and 8 chairs are always around it. We have 2 extensions for it and we always have 1 leaf in it making the table 95 x 48. The extra leaf adds another 2 ft.
Tinkerfeet says
Sorry to say but I am on Vince’s side. Lol when our kids and grandkids come out no one sits down to eat. I hope you find what you want and need.
JudyL says
It’s different here. We don’t eat anything ever except at the table. Maybe it’s the dogs or maybe it’s my messy nature that I would leave dishes all over the house but we always sit down at the table for meals, snacks . . everything we eat.
Howdy says
I like a bench at a large dining room table – it’s easier to fit adults and kids together without all the pushing and shoving chairs around! A bench is less visual clutter too – just push it under the table and it just disappears!
Looking forward to seeing what you come up.
Sandy says
I’m the only person in my household now. My dining table is the third one in 50 years. It seats 6 as is and there are 2 leaves that store under the table top. I have 6 matching chairs. When I need more I use the folding chairs that match a card table. The best table I had was the first one and I regret getting rid of it and the matching chairs. I still have the matching buffet.
Sherrill says
It’s ALL true what you say, Judy. It’s just me yet I have 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage, seating for 6 in my family room, a dining table that can seat up to 8 and a kitchen table that seats 6!! And MAYBE have people over twice a year. But it’s all staying (in fact, I just replaced the loveseat just because).
Judy says
I would suggest buying a table with one or more leaves and six chairs. If you find a table you love and at some point end up retiring to a smaller place, the table can still go with you — just without using the leaves except for special occasions. That’s what we do and it works just fine. The leaves are stored under our bed. If you get a solid large table now, you’ll probably have to get rid of it when you eventually have to downsize! And just because your table with leaves seats more than 6, you don’t have to have all matching chairs. Just bring in whatever you have elsewhere (as you are doing now.)
Carol says
we had a table made by Amish (store not far from you in Lott) and had 3 leaves made which store under the table and so nice! We got 6 chairs made as well and when more are needed, just get from elsewhere in the house. Table can seat 10-12 when all leaves are in. It’s quarter sawn oak and gorgeous. Picked everything out in Lott at Falls Furniture and the Amish owner drove to Ohio to pick it up and delivered to our home in north Texas for $100. My DILs will have fun deciding who gets this when we are gone. It will last for generations.
Shari says
A table for six only leaves room for one more grandchild! BTW – I’m single and have a table that seats ten. I have six chairs in the dining room and bring in four from the kitchen when needed. There’s also seating for four on the porch. I suppose I should start entertaining again. Enjoy the hunt. Shopping for the house is much more fun than shopping for myself.