Kitchen Tables for Back to School

3 Ways to Tell if You Have the Right Table for Back to School

It’s that time again - back to school - and that means back to the kitchen table for homework! In most homes around the world, kitchen tables are the hub of activity. It’s where we break bread, make memories and help our kids with their homework. But, is it a comfortable place to gather? Does your kitchen table suit your needs?

Right Size

First off, do you have plenty of room for everyone to spread out with their books, folders and papers? It’s important to measure your dining room or kitchen space to determine what size table is right for you. Perhaps you have room to grow. Have you considered other shapes of kitchen tables? We carry round, oval, square, rectangle and boat shaped table tops. Our design gallery provides custom options with endless combinations of tops, table bases and seating options. For example, a pedestal table will allow for more chairs around your table. 

This gorgeous wood butterfly leaf table with self-storing leaves can expand up to 132"!! Our store carries a wide selection of dining and kitchen tables that can easily change their size to fit your needs as well as your budget.

  




Comfort

Comfort could be a big factor in productive homework time. Are your chairs comfortable? If they usually hit you in the wrong spot on your back, you may want to explore other chair designs. You can choose a wood, metal or upholstered chair. Canadel Furniture has a huge selection of chairs in shapes and sizes to maximize your comfort. Terrified of upholstery with kids? Fear not! Canadel also offers Sunbrella fabric to cover your chairs. It’s strong enough to withstand your messiest guest and keep looking great! Height is another option to consider with kitchen tables. If you’re always banging your knees on your table apron, a counter height table or pub set may be a better fit for you. If your kids are younger, a traditional 30” table is a great height to suit their needs.  

Style

Finally, does your kitchen table suit your lifestyle? Is it too formal for your needs? Do you get worried when someone drags a plate across it or leaves a glass sitting too long? Today’s styles of kitchen tables include various textures for your tabletop, from wire brushed to metal or natural stone. A distressed table could be the right style for you. Several of our manufacturers offer various levels of distressing, which makes for a unique and custom look. It can help you enjoy worry-free meals and homework time around your kitchen table without obsessing over a perfect finish. Most of all, a distressed table can hide those little scratches and marks that are certain to happen. I’ll discuss how to protect whichever table you may choose in the next blog, as well as a fun DIY project.

Wishing you comfort and joy in your home!

Kristin

Kitchen Noir - A Dining Table Drama

A little drama in the kitchen is a good thing - in the design anyway. Drama in the kitchen discussion is another thing entirely. A kitchen noir comes with high contrast colors, oversized lighting fixtures and bringing in formal elements normally reserved for the living room (think oil paintings, candelabras, upholstered armchairs - anything luxe).

The color that brings the most drama to the kitchen or any other space: black. Black is all the hues combined. What do you get when you put the entire extended family into a room? That’s right, drama. It’s so rich and deep, you get visually pulled into its warmth.

If black were to employ an online dating service. His ideal match would be white. This high contrast couple is classic and timeless. Every ying needs it’s yang, and for black, it’s white. If your kitchen demands a more modern spin on this classic, try adding a silver metallic to the palette.

Here’s some black, drama-inducing kitchen and dining room tables from Kitchen Tables and More to get you all moody.

Loft natural and black set by Canadel Furniture {source}

Black upholstered chair set by Canadel Furniture {source}

Copper table with Lorraine bar height chairs, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

For more nior kitchens and table sets that will knock your socks off, see our new Kitchen Noir pinboard.

Let your table go natural in 2014

Kitchen and design trends don’t change as quickly as fashion, but one trend holding strong this coming year is the raw, natural look. Incorporating materials such as copper, or unstained and natural edge woods is popping up in the forecast for 2014 trends in articles like this one and this one.

Options like these can be hard to find because of the fine craftsmanship needed to make a table in these materials. Luckily, Kitchen Tables and More is honored to carry these custom table options.

Naturale table with Jordan side chairs, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

Natural table edge detail {source}

Copper table with Alsace side chairs, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

For more of the rustic, natural look, there are many other table options and looks for your kitchen on our Farmhouse kitchen and Copper pinboards.

Mix it up - Eclectic Kitchen Tables

Eclectic design (kitchen and otherwise) is all about mixing up design styles. Eclectic style can range from hanging a baroque chandelier over a modern, streamlined dining table set to incorporating elements from all different time periods and styles. The only rule is the elements harmonize with one another. Done well, the effect is quirky rather than chaotic.

Incorporating eclectic style is as easy as mixing up your kitchen table and chair styles. You could even incorporate different chairs around the same table. As long as they coordinate well together, there’s no rule that says they all have to match. Or, pick a different style of table than your chairs. Here’s a few examples from Kitchen Tables and More.

Latitude Round Table 5 piece set by Universal Furniture {source}

Champlain Almond and Honey set by Canadel Furniture {source}

High Style White and Red set by Canadel Furniture {source}

Wanting more eclectic inspiration? Check out our new pinboard.

5 Tips for a Kitchen Table Survival during the Holidays

Phil Vinson from right here at Kitchen Tables and More shares his top tips for preventing and repairing Holiday damage to your kitchen or dining room table and chairs.

Champlain Weathered Set by Canadel Furniture {source}

1. Cleaning: It’s typically best to use a damp cloth followed by a dry cloth.  If  you need to step it up a notch, try adding a mild soap to the damp cloth. Phil demonstrates here:

2. Leaf Storage: Do not store the leaf on end.  Lay it flat under a bed, this will avoid warping.

3. Chair Glides: Put glides on the chair legs. If your floor surface is hard, you should use felt glides. If your set is on carpet, go with the vinyl glides. We prefer the ones that peel and stick.

4. Chair Care: Don’t lean back on them. Leaning back in your chair regularly will reduce it’s life by about 80%. Phil demonstrates 4 on the floor here:

5. Avoid Damage: When you put a coffee mug, pizza box or hot dish on the table, make sure you're not causing heat marks. If it is too hot to touch, then it is too hot for the table. If you happen to do some damage, here’s how to repair heat marks:

Now that your table and chairs will be in their top condition, check out our Christmas tablescapes pinboard for holiday decorating inspiration.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours from Kitchen Tables and More!

Top Your Table with Zinc

Zinc tables and accessories have been around for hundreds of years but are just starting to resurface in popularity. Zinc tables can feel at home in many design styles including Old World, rustic, industrial, country, and farmhouse. The rustic patina gives this metal a time-worn quality that can even add depth and richness to a modern or contemporary color palette.

A zinc table may be just the unique item to add that punch of interest you’ve been looking for in your kitchen.

Zinc table with Grace side chairs, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

Zinc table edge detail, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

Zinc tabletop detail, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

Not sure how to care for your new copper table? Check out our post on copper and zinc care.

For more ways to incorporate zinc into your kitchen, check out our zinc pinboard.

Top Your Table with Copper

You’ve probably eaten food prepared in a copper pot, but have you eaten at a copper table? Copper is certainly no new kid on the block, but the design community has been using it in new and innovative ways - way beyond pots and pans.

The beauty of copper’s warm metallic hues makes it versatile enough for any design style. Shiny, polished copper goes well with more contemporary or modern styles while copper with a worn patina looks great in more traditional or Old World styles.

Copper table with Alsace side chairs, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

Copper table with Bentley side chairs, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

Copper table with Lorraine bar height chairs, Palettes by Winesburg {source}

Not sure how to care for your new copper table? Check out our post on copper and zinc care.

For more ways to incorporate copper into your kitchen, check out our copper pinboard.