Hard wearing dining table recommendations

[CoolShoeshine]

Hi, please could you give me some recommendations for a large-ish (approx 8 seater) table. I’d like one which could fit in with a country kitchen so not too shiny chrome etc. However I’ve always had wooden top tables which I’ve constantly kept covered with oilcloth to prevent staining and I’d love one with a hard wearing surface that I could now have uncovered for once! Any recommendations please as I’m struggling to find something the right size with the right look. Alternatively has anyone replaced a table to with another material such as laminate?

I like zinc topped tables-hardwearing, industrial vibe and get a patina with age- or you can buy it ‘distressed’. Try UK Architectural Antiques and they will make you one with wooden base painted in F&B if you want. Not cheap but very nice.

I've had two dining tables over the last 20 years. One was solid oak and my current one is Ercol.

Both second hand, so no great panic if there's not a cloth on the table and there's an accident.

I chose them both according to the houses I lived in/what I liked at the time then did the looking/waiting for something second hand to come up.

I think I'd probably still have the oak one if it had fitted into my current house.

Instead of a tablecloth I just have lots of place mats and coasters ready to bring straight out.

Danetti have a white HPL laminate one that extends. I'd buy it if you could store the leaves inside the table. It's pretty reasonable though.