Looking for an antique farmhouse table? Read on…

So you have a brand new modern apartment, or perhaps you have just re-decorated your kitchen to feature sleek lines. An antique farmhouse table is one item that many people want to place in contemporary kitchen and dining areas due to the stately character that these can bring. There is one problem though – exactly how does one go about finding a suitable piece? An antique table is one that is over 100 years old, and as such they are not easy to find in good condition. But there are some steps you can take to maximize your chances of finding the dream table.

Firstly, and if money is no object, you can contact one of the many companies that specialize in finding and restoring old tables back to their former glory (links at the end of the article). Supply of tables from these companies is by no means guaranteed instantly; since antique tables are so popular right now the chances are that you will have to wait a while for one to come in that is right for you in terms of size and shape.

If the price of these pieces makes you baulk (the shipping alone can cost nearly $500 for the larger items alone!) then you can try out the local flea markets in the off chance that you may find a bargain. Be warned though, that the chances of finding one are slim at best, but there are many lucky people out there that do manage to find an unwanted table out there. You are more likely even end up finding an antique table that is in poor condition at many markets (often without the seller knowing the true age!) and if so, it is a great idea to buy it and find a restorer afterwards to bring the piece back to life. This will still be expensive, but there will certainly be at least $1000 saved off the price if you were to buy direct.

Other Options

While many will give the nod towards sites such as EBay for their internet options, these auction sites have so many visitors that it is difficult to find one at a bargain price. Add to this that if the seller lives far away you will have to buy the antique farmhouse table without even having seen the item and you have a certain element of risk.

Tales of buyers who have bought a piece that is ridden with marks and scuffs and are unable to get a refund are rife in the antiques industry, and many advise against any purchase that you cannot see beforehand – especially when buying from individuals and not companies.

However, if you are familiar enough with the search interface it is possible to find tables that may have been overlooked. By using the advanced search option and hunting down those table sets that are “Pickup Only” you can find some hidden gems where the buyer simply cannot be bothered with all of the hassle involved with shipping. This does restrict you to local sellers but as previously mentioned the act of seeing the furniture set is absolutely essential.

If all this is getting you down you can always look for a reclaimed farmhouse table at a fraction of the price. Many companies specialize in using reclaimed wood to construct a sturdy piece and modern techniques to artificially date a table can be very convincing.

Conclusion

Buying an antique farmhouse table can be costly and require a fair amount of effort in your hunt for the perfect piece, but no other type of table brings the character, heritage, and sense of history that a genuine antique can

You can find a wide selection of farm kitchen tables on the internet, as many of the independent furniture makers and restoration companies have started to form a strong internet presence. Depending on the kind of farmhouse table that you are after, I have listed some of the best sites to get exactly what you want.

Of course, before you buy you will need to know exactly what kind of farmhouse table you want. I’m not talking about the different sizes and shapes that you are after – your own personal taste and a measuring tape can quickly sort that out. Instead, you will need to know if you plan to go straight for an antique furniture table, a replica made out of reclaimed wood (which can often more impressive than a real antique with its modern sheen), or a straight up, no-nonsense, table from a more mainstream manufacturer.

Antique Furniture Tables

Being over a hundred years old just to qualify as being an antique, these table sets are expensive to say the least. Since the demand for these tables is so high now you will be lucky to find one yourself at local salvation shops, charitable donation outlets, and from private for sale advertisements.

Many companies have made it their sole business to obtain, renovate, and sell on these kinds of tables, and as a result good pieces are even more scarce than they were say 5 years ago. However where there is a will there is a way and if you keep on looking the chances are that you will eventually find something if you are persistent.

Take a look at the antique farmhouse table article for links to companies that may be able to help you find one of these furniture sets.

Reclaimed Wood Farm Kitchen Tables

Reclaimed wood is taken from existing buildings and fashioned into new furniture by highly skilled woodworkers. As you can imagine, this type of wood is of an extremely high quality since it has been in use and air dried for what could be decades. The farm kitchen tables made from this have plenty of character due to the age of the wood used – some would even go so far to say that tables made from reclaimed wood are superior to antique pieces.

There are none of the blemishes on these sets that you would find on true aged table. This gives the table a curious blend of old and new which fits in well with contemporary kitchen designs. More expensive are tables made from salvaged wood. What is the difference? Wood that is salvaged is still in log or timber form and yet it still dates back decades – it was never used in the construction of buildings. If you want a table set that would look just like it would when it was first handmade a century ago then these are worth consideration – if you can justify the price tag.

Mainstream Farm Kitchen Tables

Finally, there are of course plenty of stores out there that can supply machine manufactured tables. These are by far the least inexpensive option, and some of them are well made. Some companies artificially age the look of their tables through treatments. There is a great disparity between the quality of different companies so take care and make sure you see the table before buying – preferably at a showroom. You won’t quite get the perfect antique feel from these sets but it is a reasonable facsimile all the same.

Decorating Your Kitchen In An Antique Style

Where To Get The Best Deals On Farmhouse Kitchen Tables

When it comes to interior design there are so many different motifs and styles that can be inspirations for the interior of your home. Some people prefer a minimalist and sleek style in their homes while others may prefer an antique shabby chic style or a rustic farmhouse look. There are plenty of ways to direct the style of any room toward acheiving the look or style that you desire.

Creating a farmhouse look in your kitchen is easier than one might think because there is no one perfect way to know how to create a farmhouse look in your kitchen. The best way to go about it is to use a loose style and to collect items of furniture and accessory items for your kitchen that have actually originated in a farm house. Decorating with authentic style elements is the best way to get an authentic feel in the room.

If you are starting with the furniture feel free to collect pieces that are simple, understated and even used. Pieces of furniture that can be found in farmhouses are typically old and have been used for years and will show the wear and tear of being out in a country farmhouse. One great way to add a farmhouse feel to your cabinets is to take out the middle section of the cabinets leaving the frame and install chicken wire as the facing of the cabinets.

Once you have the basic furniture you will need for your farmhouse kitchen there is another great way to add a farmhouse look to the space. Collecting old farmhouse pottery like old milk jugs will add some traditional farmhouse detail to the space. Adding gingham fabric like on the table cloth or curtains is a surefire way to add a splash of country farmhouse.

If you want to know how to create a farmhouse look in your kitchen another good way to get some ideas is to take out a picture book from the library of farmhouses in America or any other country. The book is likely to be filled with some inspiring images of farmhouses and even farmhouse kitchens so you can gain some ideas or flag the pages that you really like to draw some inspiration from. Remember, old farmhouse furniture, pottery, milk jugs and gingham are all really good ways to bring some farmhouse appeal to your kitchen or eating area.

Every kitchen, no matter how small, needs a table where people can gather for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. The ideal table is small and compact to save space, lightweight so it can be moved around easily if needed and can have multiple uses. So what are the best kitchen tables when you have limited space ?

Try a Pub Table for some cozy style
Pub Tables fit snuggly into small spaces and are available in a variety of heights and materials such as wood, glass top and wrought iron. Try staying with a square table and chairs that can be tucked under the table when not in use to maximize your space.

Bistro Tables add a modern flair
A Bistro Table set can add a fun, elegant atmosphere. These are probably the most popular tables for small places and come in a variety of colors and materials. Their round shape makes it somewhat difficult to place them against a wall but their stylish appearance and attractive price make up for this disadvantage.

Folding Kitchen tables maximize space
Folding Kitchen Tables are truly ideal for small spaces. Some fold only partially but on some models the table folds so compact that you would never know that it can seat up to four people comfortably. A lot of these tables feature a set of matching chairs that can be stowed under or in some cases even inside the the table when it is not in use. These tables generally come in a wood or a wood finish. Some sets are now even available with casters, which truly makes it a snap to move them out of the way and against a wall when not in use.

Wall mounted tables can work well in a kitchen
Wall mounted tables are a great way to save space and can add a lot of functionality to a small kitchen space. Since they obviously cannot be moved it is important to consider how the table will be used. If it will be folded up most of the time choose a material that blends well with your decor and make sure the folding mechanism has a clean look to it.

So which is the right kitchen table for your small place ? The wide variety of styles and options available can make it difficult to decide. Be sure to shop wisely and carefully consider a table that best matches your needs while adding the right character.

Antique farmhouse tables are not big in the public eye today but for they were many years and now their rustic appearance and the beauty of their construction are regaining popularity. Typically the farmhouse table was situated in a large kitchen which was the primary place for a farming family to gather and the seating arrangement was probably a mix of benches and chairs to take care of a large number of people. Both the seating and the table were made of the beautiful and tough wood available at that particular place and time. Most people think of farmhouse tables as being long rectangular tables, however these tables were also built in square, round or rectangular shapes and besides being used for dining tables they could be and often were used as desk or work surfaces. Typically these tables were constructed of wood, with long planks placed on top of the legs which ran along the longest edge. Often the table legs had hand carvings which replicated patterns found on the first French farmhouse tables and they most often matched or enhanced their environment.

The kitchen farmhouse table was the place where the adults of the family met to make serious decisions and the children, who worked on the farm during the day, were schooled by their parents in the evenings and then did their school home work. It is probably fair to say that the hub of family life centered around these tables and perhaps that is part of their attraction in today’s world. Life may not be as simple as we envision the past to have been, but there is something reassuring and supportive found in the atmosphere of a family or group of friends sitting around a table conversing and sharing their lives.

Finding an affordable genuine farmhouse kitchen table is not an easy thing to do in today’s world and it can be pricey. New farmhouse tables are being made, with prices generally determined by the skill and effort of the craftsman and by the quality of the wood used. Add the cost of delivery of the table, which will be considerable for a large table of solid wood, and a new farmhouse table will require a considerable investment.

It can be hard to decide which color to buy when looking to purchase a farmhouse kitchen table. Everyone’s kitchen is different size, and everyone’s kitchen units are different colors! Luckily, a farm table should fit right in no matter what colors are already present in your kitchen due to it’s wooden top. While most people associate a rectangular shape with a farmhouse table, they can also be found in a round or oval shape. Thankfully, gone are the days of every farm piece being too big to fit into a modern kitchen. By doing a little searching, you will find that most manufacturers sell smaller tables too.

Buy a wooden topped farm table if you want the table to be the centrepiece of the kitchen. The top work surface of a farmhouse kitchen table is frequently wooden, which will allow it to match the color-scheme of most kitchens. On the other hand, if you would like the table to blend in, choose a harmonizing color that matches the kitchen worktops. For exampel, if you have black kitchen appliances then obviously dark shaded tables will be a good match.

If the table is going to sit in the very centre of the kitchen, then just about any shape of table will look good. Try to avoid buying round or oval pieces if the table is going to sit against a wall – this will drastically reduced the working area of the kitchen. However, round tables in corners can look great. Other than that, the traditional rectangular table looks good no matter where it is positioned.

With a little bit of hunting in shops, it can be straightforward to find a farm table to suit your current kitchen. The come in a variety of shapes and colors, and it is now easier to find smaller country tables than ever before. The easiest way to find quality tables is over the net -the Internet is a great place to buy furniture, why hunt high and low when you can have a farmhouse kitchen table delivered straight to your door?