I had the privilege of building this table for a young couple in Cabbagetown, Toronto. As part of an extensive renovation, they removed a number of century old floor joists which with some TLC we were able to transform into this stunning centrepiece for their home. Measuring just over 7 feet long (increasing to 9’6” with the two 14” extensions), this table is the perfect for a young family looking forward to hosting larger holiday gatherings.
When it comes to wood species in older Toronto homes on generally finds that the skeletons/structure would be built using softwoods: White Pine, Douglas Fir, Hemlock. Builders would generally save more exotic woods for accent pieces throughout the house: Floorboards, flooring, trim, inlay, wainscotting, etc. In this case we were working with what appeared, for all intents and purposes, Hemlock. As well, thankfully, the wood joists were actual size 2”x4” , 2”x6” and 2”x8” pieces. (as opposed to the nominal sizing you find in hardware stores these days (2”x4” actually being 1.5” x 3.5”), That extra half inch adds a lot of weight and aesthetic appeal to tables … IMO.
While many of the tables I design incorporate custom-welded metal bases, in this instance the clients were keen to keep the table more natural and wanted to maintain a warmer feel. We opted for this wooden x-base with a trestle spanning the legs. The trestle adds an extra level of support, allowing the table to be easily moved while mitigating much, if not all, of the loosening that might otherwise occur over time. Really this table could host a dance party without much worry. Though, sadly, you might damage the patina a little bit.
Another part of the design was building the bench. The client wasn’t sure at first, but after a little deliberation opted in. If it’s something you think you’ll want in the near future, it is important to remember that it’s generally simpler to build these things simultaneously, to ensure similarity of colour, style etc. As well the bench allows for wonderfully versatile seating. You can fit loads of kids where you might otherwise only have room for 2 chairs.
All things said, it was a wonderful project and I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to work on with the clients. And, in the end their reaction more than made up the extra hours of finishing and building (honest truth, I built two tables for this project … I wasn’t happy with the first result).
“We absolutely LOVE the table. It is easily our favorite piece of furniture ever. I really wanted to send you a nice photo of our first dinner on it but the reality is that we have been supporting the take out industry pretty heavily these days lol. I promise to get you some photos soon and a shoutout on Instagram!!”
