Kitchen Tables That Give... Legs vs Pedestal

When shopping for kitchen tables or dining room sets you may notice a little wobble with tables that have a pedestal. A leg table will give you more stability on the corners, but will reduce the ability to put chairs at the corner when you have guests. A pedestal table will feel like it has give at the edges, but you will be able to seat more people around it. Of course you do lose a little leg room with a pedestal, but it also provides a foot rest for the kids.

Dinette Sets and Their Longevity

So far I have blogged about many tips on how to make your dinettes last longer. Avoid leaning back in your chairs, use a coaster for your drink and store your leaf properly. The other day my dad was sitting at my dinette set while we shot the breeze. I looked down to see he was spinning his Blackberry Curve in circles... on my wood table! My father began selling dinettes on his own in February 1979 (video proof). It felt weird me telling him to not spin his cell on the dinette.

Remember: No matter how strong the wood or how good the finish, a wood table is always vulnerable to scratches. Fortunately for me my table wasn't damaged by the wild Blackberry.

Oh, and to explain the picture, your dinettes should hold up under the weight of a burrito the size of your friend's head.

Kitchen Tables and Dinettes

Have the use of dinettes and kitchen tables shifted in recent years? Traditionally, dinettes were used for eating meals and homework. In my home we use the kitchen table to sort the mail, use the laptop, read the newspaper, pay the bills and of course have dinner. Today's dinettes get a lot of use, and thus the importance of picking out kitchen table sets that will hold up under the daily grind in your kitchen. Here is an example of an inexpensive sold wood dinette.

Keep Those Legs Tight... Not Too Tight

I still remember putting together my first dinette as a kid. Growing up in a family business which sold dinettes, pretty much required me to learn this skill early on. Well I think it was a Ligo dinette, but my mistake was getting excited with the wrench. I overtightened the screw on one of the dinettes legs, when POP!, I split the wood. I learned the hard way that day, that you should only make it snug not super tight. Also, when you notice tables with legs that start to wobble, that means it needs a little tightening. This usually occurs during autumn when the wood begins to dry out.

The White Ring of Death

So you sit back after balancing your checkbook at the kitchen table, then you set your hot cup of coffee down for a few moments. The next day you notice a strange white ring on your table that can't be wiped off. Hello heat mark. It can occur from a hot drink, pizza box, or a pot. Mr. Know-it-all will tell you, "Shoulda used a coaster, I always do." No kidding? Well now how do you get rid of it? There are quite a few products out there that help. One that I've used with great success is Jasco White Ring Remover. It is usually sold at your local hardware store, and last I checked, they don't have a company website. It supposedly works on water marks too, although most new dinettes have a catalyzed or other finish that helps prevent that. Good luck!

Super Comfy Chairs

When you think of a tilt and swivel chair with casters, you may think of this. There are, however, a few other options if you're looking for a dinette with wheels. Here are a few things to consider when making this purchase. First, a chair that swivels will hit the edge of the table. That is why it is very rare to find a glass table with a swivel chair. Second, a chair with wheels should not be located next to stair. (This shouldn't need more explanation) Third, these chairs are usually very comfortable, so be ready to spend more time with your family in the kitchen.

Knots Landing... On My Table

I'm sure that you've noticed a time or two that the face of a cabinet shows few knots, and some table tops show the same. I remember from my days on the sales floor (2000 - 2004) that some customers wondered why their table had more knots (or less knots) than those on the showroom floor. The same question arose from customers interested in high-end granite table sets. The answer is simple. God made it that way. That's not sarcasm, that's reality. When stone is cut from a mountain in India that piece of stone is going to have different character than the one cut from the next mountain over. The same goes with a wood table. Each tree is a little different and the character is to be enjoyed as a part of creation. So if you are ready buy a real wood table or a granite dinette, be prepared to enjoy years of nature right there in your home.