Dining Nook Table

I have finally found a table for our dining nook!  And I say finally because making this decision has probably taken me longer than any decision ever should.  We have had our current table for years and we bought it used.  To say it is ready to retire would be an understatement!  There are crayon drawings on the bottom of it, scratches all over the chairs, and all sorts of interesting things carved into the table top from drawings and homework.  I was ready to replace the table a few years ago but decided to make it last until our next house.  I know the new table will be with us for the long haul enduring the same type of abuse so I wanted to find something I loved that was up for the challenge.  :)

When we were originally designing our dining nook I pictured a round table in the space.  In fact, I had this table from Restoration Hardware picked out and was all set to buy it as soon as we moved in.  

 But then we moved in and put our old rectangle table in the space.  

And while I didn't like the actual table here, I liked the size!  It fit the space nicely... 

and allowed plenty of room for people to get in and out of the french doors on the side (something I was a little worried about with a round table).  

Plus we would be able to fit more chairs with a longer table which is always a good thing.  

So the hunt for the perfect rectangle table for our space began!  

I had already bought my all time favorite table for our formal dining room (Restoration Hardware farmhouse table) so I was really starting from scratch.  

Here are a few that I considered but didn't make the cut:

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I liked all of these tables and considered each one.  Measured for them, checked them out in the store when possible, and pictured them in the space.  But for one reason or another they didn't work (too long, not the right finish, didn't love the legs, etc...).

I have a small obsession with zinc right now (bought Kenny a zinc desk for his office that is SO cool) so my designer/friend sent me this picture of a table from Ballard Designs with a zinc table top as a suggestion.  I LOVED the idea of a zinc table top, but wasn't crazy about the legs.  A little too weathered for my space and we already have so much white going on.  I thought about painting the legs, but then I read reviews about the table and realized I couldn't fit two chairs on the ends because of the bar across the bottom.  It just wasn't the one... even though I wanted that zinc table top!  

Pottery Barn has an outdoor table with a zinc top that I have loved since it came out and I was always planning on buying it for our outdoor entertaining area.

It's the Abbot Zinc top fixed dining table and I seriously can't picture a more perfect table.  LOVE the thick zinc top.  Love the wood X legs.  Love the simplicity of it.  I was admiring it again one night and said to Kenny "Man - I wish this was an indoor table because it is EXACTLY what I want for our nook space."  And Kenny said "why can't it be an indoor table?"  Oh my word.  DUH!  I can be a bit clueless at times.  :)  WHY couldn't I put it inside!!??  I can!  So I did.  I ordered it that night.  

 And here it is in our space.  The size was perfect!  Yea!  I'm so excited about this table.  The fact that it is an outdoor table means it's even more durable for the abuse my kids will inevitably dish out!  

The wood legs are perfect with all of the wood we have going on in our family room.  

And I knew that the zinc table top would work well with our light fixture and all of the chrome hardware we have in the kitchen.  

One thing I was also looking for was a smooth table top.  I've found that tables that have a lot of grooves or planks work for a formal dining space you only use once in a while, but not for every day dining with kids.  I can't handle fishing out all of the crumbs!  This zinc top is so smooth and easy to wipe clean.  My love affair with zinc lives on.

Now for chairs!  Our old chairs are killing the look.  I've found lots of options and just need to narrow them down.  I'm also searching for a rug to go under the table.  But for now I'm just happy to finally have a table figured out for this space.  I have thanked my husband multiple times for giving me a light bulb moment that I'm quite embarrassed didn't come sooner.  

:)