lantiques

Tables in the home serve numerous functions, possibly too many to mention is this brief blog. The table is often seen as just a piece of furniture in a home. However, from my personal perspective as a furniture and antique dealer, there is a lot more to a table than just function. Particularly in the case of a dining table, the table can take on a point of focus for a family. It’s a place where families gather to share meals, play games, or simply spend quality time together. Very often it’s a place where the highs, lows and memories of family life are shared. The dining table is also where many family traditions are established. Possibly top of this list would be festive and birthday occasions. I am sure we all have memories of candle laden birthday cakes and glistening turkeys sitting proud before prospective diners. The meal experience on those occasions is something that bonds and brings people together. This alone sees many dining tables passed on through generations along with the stories and experiences shared by what many would consider to be just a simple piece of furniture.

The availability of styles and designs of tables is endless and without a doubt, too vast to included here. That said, below are just a few of the most popular types and styles.

BESPOKE OAK TRESTLE TABLE

Finding the right table, in terms of size, style and comfort can be a challenging affair. Getting the aesthetic right along with the size balance within a given space can be frustrating. Having decided the size of table and style that will work best, you then have to begin the search for that ‘perfect’ piece hoping all those boxes will be checked. This becomes the second challenge. The internet has become an invaluable search resource offering thousands of choices and possibilities. Whereas twenty years ago, most searches for any item, be it a small inexpensive kitchen utensil to a large bespoke oak trestle dining table, would involve some form of journey to a shop, retail park or similar. Shopping online certainly for large items of furniture requires the need for specific and honest information. For anyone searching for a dining table, this is where the bespoke oak trestle table comes into its own. You can specify exactly the length and width required gauging your ideal number of people to be seated. You can also very often specify and discuss any special finish required to match a give decor. Oak trestle tables are not only sturdy and durable, they also add character and depending on the style a certain sophistication. Oak is a hardwood known for its strength and resilience, making it the perfect material for a table to be used rather than just dusted and polished. The original trestle table design dates back centuries in an age where aesthetics took second or third place even. The priority was to create a sturdy functional surface for multiple uses. Today, we see the classic trestle table as furniture for the home to be cherished and enjoyed by all the family and in many cases, due to their solid robust construction, to be handed down through generations. It’s true to say the classic oak trestle table has become a firm favourite with clients preferring a more rustic, country look embodying all the charm of natural wood. The beauty of the bespoke oak trestle table is the ability to make it work in your own space without the need for compromise on size. In our experience, this style of table has earned a place in the go to list for tables for architects.

ROUND TABLE OR ROUND PEDESTAL TABLE

A round pedestal table depending on its style and size will make an imposing impression. Possible its main advantage is the amount of space it can save and certainly in the case of a round dining table seating more people than a conventional rectangular table. For this reason a round pedestal table is ideal for smaller dining areas where space is at a premium. One of the main attractions of a round table is how everyone seated is on equal footing in so called social terms. With the lack of a traditional ‘head of the table’ a round table will promote a more relaxed, friendly dining experience. It’s probably true to say a round table positively promotes social interaction between diners.

GUERIDON TABLE

The gueridon table, is also widely known as gueridon pedestal table. The French term gueridon implies a small side table and is not restricted to any particular historical period of furniture. In today’s world of interiors combining the new with classic period styles the gueridon table has become an essentially finally dressing item. Characterized by their slender and often ornate pedestals, supporting more often than not a polished marble top. Their popularity rose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in their traditional French antique finish. They became one of the most widely used French antiques furnishing elegant French town houses and apartments.

The simple design of the gueridon table makes it ideal for a variety of uses in a home. Often used as accent tables, placed next to a sofa or armchair to hold lamps, books, or decorative objects, their smaller size makes them perfect for tight spaces or as a standalone piece in a hallway. Large gueridon tables can also serve as functional pieces, used for small dining or breakfast tables in a kitchen or dining room. It really just depends on the space available.

One of the key features of the gueridon table is the pedestal base. It is this that gives gueridon tables their distinctive look. Varying in design from a simple column to a more elaborate, curvaceous vertical support.