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Finding A Restoration Hardware Table For Cheap

(You’ll get the meaning of that post title in a minute)

Exciting news, guys – we finally found something to take the spot of our too-small pedestal table in the eat-in part of our kitchen.

Eating Area

And we’re happy to report that it’s a lot more proportionate – and functional! – for the space. Now we can seat six or even eight people in a pinch, which has already proven to be useful with our big families (and my spread-out-all-the-tear-sheets propensities). Of course we’re still on the hunt for dining chairs so these are just for the meantime, but man, it’s such an upgrade to have room for adult sized plates again.

Restorationtable9

Just try not to stare too hard at pretty much anything except for the table. So ignore the faux-brick vinyl flooring, all that wood everywhere, and that graph-tastic wallpaper (I’ve already stripped about half of the room– so I owe you a post about that). Let’s just say that when we’re done with this kitchen, the table should make a lot more sense “in context.” In fact, here’s a similar table in a pretty BHG kitchen. Nice, right?

And you’ll never guess where this baby is originally from. I’ll give you a hint. It rhymes with Festoration Blardware.

Pedestal Table Rh

But we didn’t pay $1795 – $2495 for ours. It actually turned up at one of our favorite local shops called The Decorating Outlet (which is the outlet for Shades of Light). It’s where a lot of returned merchandise or used-once-for-a-catalog-shoot items end up – so it’s an awesome place to score a deal (we bought the pendants in our last house’s kitchen and our old bedroom rug that now lives in Clara’s room there). Turns out this 60″ table hails from Restoration Hardware (where it’s sold for $2095) and it was just used a few times in some catalog shots before it sat in a storage room for a while and eventually ended up at the outlet… priced at a cool $650 (a 70% markdown!).

The top is awesomely weathered and the whole thing is made of reclaimed wood (so no two are ever alike). As a mom I like that Clara and the bun can beat on this table until the cows come home and all of those dents will be filed under “character.” See, when I was growing up we had a shiny lacquered table and it was waaaay too precious (there was a certain especially intense spirographing incident where I scratched it and never lived to hear the end of it).

Restorationtable7

It’s nice to know that now I can spirigraph my little heart out without fear of marring some perfectly smooth surface. And really, isn’t that the definition of happiness?

Table Rustic Top

The fact that it’s such a well-made, solid piece makes us so happy (it’s crazy heavy! there’s nothing hollow or veneered about it). I’m hoping it will be one of those hand-down-to-your-kids pieces that outlives me and John. Who knows, maybe in 2113 our great great grandkids will be spirographing the days away on it. Sigh. Update: We’ve had a few questions about where our dining table from our previous house is, and the answer is that it’s in the dining room. The reason we didn’t contemplate bringing that into the eat-in kitchen area is because it’s around a foot wider (70?) and has larger chairs, so it works better in there and would be too cramped for the kitchen.

Restorationtable8

So that marks the second piece of furniture we’ve purchased since moving in around four months ago (which seems to be our pattern since we moved into our second house and bought our sectional and our dining table within a few months). Between our new West Elm dresser and this score of a table, so far we’ve spent $750 less than we did on those two initial purchases for our last house – but since our sunroom makeover is going to come in a bit higher than our patio project (which was the first big DIY undertaking that we tackled four months into that house) we’re most likely going to be on exactly the same track with the ol’ bank balance. Isn’t it funny how these things seem to have a pattern?

All mathy comparisons aside, we’re psyched to have two well-made furniture additions in our new house – especially since slowly acquiring more quality pieces was our goal here (we’ll always love thrift stores and Ikea along with building stuff, but we hope to have a nice mix of things in this forever home of ours). Now if only we could get the chairs for this table right on the first try. If our former dining room chair debacle is any indication, it might be a long road…

But at least our table is pretty. Even with our shinnnny fake brick floors. Just focus on this still life with lemon. Don’t look down.

Tabletop Detail2

Anyone else buying furniture? Or saving up for something solid and beat-up-able?

Comments

  2. Kirstin says

    Yes, I bought a real dining table the other week. I bought it about 45 minutes after I closed on my first house. So I guess it was a housewarming present to the house? Right after I left my lawyer’s office from the closing, I went to run a bunch of errands and popped into Goodwill along the way to look for cheap curtains for drop clothes (house needs TONS of paint). Their furniture is usually clunky, vintage 70s stuff but they had just put out a cherry mid-century gateleg table with high end details for $50. The top does need refinishing, but how could I refuse? It just barely fit into my car.

    Reply

  3. Lynn says

    You might want to experiment with rubbing paste wax into the wood. It will not change the unfinished/beatupable vibe of it, but it will help it resist stains and turn wear into patina.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Lynn! After hearing from a bunch of folks in the comments we wonder if it has been sealed or waxed since it’s deflecting things like spaghetti sauce and soy sauce and wine… at least so far! Will keep you guys posted!

      xo
      s

  4. Amy says

    It’s gorgeous! And I’m cracking up at the spirograph mention- I did the exact same thing on my parents’ dining room table and you can STILL see the pattern! Oh, my dad was SO mad. Now my mom actually likes it cuz it reminds her of when I was little. Funny!

    Reply

  5. Jessica Moroney says

    I must admit, I don’t think the kitchen is doing this table justice! But I know where you’re heading, and I’m lovin the journey!! Can’t wait for some kitchen loving!!

    Reply

  6. RyanW says

    SOOOOOOO JEALOUS!!! My wife and I have wanted that exact table for years, but it (and it’s price tag) is too big for our little dining room. Congrats on the amazing deal!

    Reply

  7. Kate says

    Just wanted to chime in about your comment of your table being handed down. I’m 27 and living in an apartment, and my kitchen table is the butcherblock table that my parents used as our family kitchen table until I was 12- they saved it in case one of us kids wanted it in the basement. It is a little on the small side (I have no idea how 4 of us actually ate at it) but I love it, especially because I have so many memories of childhood tea parties and family dinners around it, and I’m so glad they saved it and that I have it now in my first “grown up” apartment!

    Reply

  9. Julie says

    I can’t wait to see how your kitchen turns out.

    I used to work at the main Restoration Hardware call center and I loved it when the natural and salvaged looking items came out. I thought they looked a lot better than what they had when I first started working there. Because the table you got was used for a photo shoot, they may have sanded it down and hopefully they did or you guys did because I know a lot of those pieces arrived to customers just full of splinters. I won a Baker’s Rack Console at one of our company picnics and I can’t even lay my hand on it without getting stuck. lol

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Woah! That’s so interesting! I wonder if it was sanded down and maybe even sealed or waxed since it has been so great with soy sauce and spaghetti sauce so far!

      xo
      s

  10. bfish says

    The table — wood and style — is fabulous (liking it much better than most RH stuff I’ve seen lately and the price was right!) Also commend you for going for the “lifetime furniture” when you can.

    I love The Decorating Outlet. We can never get out of there without buying something. It’s been a great source for all kinds of lighting fixtures over the years, and I’ve bought furniture, artwork, etc. there too. Just about everything large and small added to our home in recent years has either come from TDO or GreenFront — all were extreme markdowns.

    Reply

  11. Rebecca says

    It seems like Richmond has the best stores. You’re so lucky! NJ doesn’t have any cool stores like this. And the ReStores are filled with particle board furniture. Sigh…

    Reply

  12. Stephanie says

    We bought our first house in July and ar still trying to figure out how to furnish some of the rooms. Like our foyer and dining room. I love looking at your posts for inspiration. I’m just waiting for those pieces that I find and fall in love with, so tough.

    Reply

  13. Stacy says

    I am SO jealous of that table and that you have an outlet store that sells pieces made by glam stores like RH for killer prices. We have nothing like that here (as far as I know of) in Boston. If we did, I’d be all over that. I’m in the process of hunting for furniture to go in our new home and honestly have been trying to make do with what I already have until I have the money to put into a good solid piece of furniture. I did however score a beautiful slip cover couch and chair for my living room on sale a few months back that are being delivered tomorrow. Looking forward to actually having some furniture to sit on instead of uncomfortable and ugly camp chairs.

    Reply

  16. Shannon says

    OMG! This is so strange, a couple weeks ago, you posted exterior paint colors that were identical to the ones that I used on my house. I used SW mark twain gray, white trim, and full sun front door. Today, i look at your post and see that your table is identical to one i ordered in Sept. mine is by Zimmerman and won’t be done until mid-November. I have been looking for just the right chair but havent had much luck. I want a modern chair to go with the rustic table. I’m thinking clear or possibly white leather. ANd that glass jug on your table is sitting on my center island. I will send pictures even though mine is “in progress”.

    Reply

  17. Megan says

    Love the table. In the last 8 days I’ve purchased a 9 piece wooden dining table (table plus 8 chairs, and two lounge suits (two 2 seaters and two 3 seaters). I was able to save $300 on the price of the second lounge, I also got to add it to the first delivery so I saved $70 and they gave me 5 free cushions of my choosing (which would have cost me $132 if I’d purchased them myself) and lastly I got the dining table on sale so I saved $130 on that. The one thing I did was go for the better pieces because I want them to last especially with four children who are a bit rough at times. Our dining table is reclaimed timber and I love the fact that a heap of people might own one but not one of them will look like mine :) Enjoy your new table..

    Reply

  18. Courtney says

    We’re in the process of giving the house a little cosmetic facelift with paint and new flooring. My boys recently broke into some oil pastels and decorated half of the dining table. Being in the same boat as you and wanting to have a surface that won’t get destroyed easily (while giving them a creative outlet), I’ve decided to remove as much of the pastels as I can and paint the top of the table with chalkboard paint.

    Also, not being able to afford real rustic-looking floors, we’ve found some wonderful Evoke laminate flooring that resembles reclaimed barn wood, complete with little paint specs! Nobody will ever be able to tell if there’s wear from five humans and five animals- yay!

    Reply

  19. Katie says

    As soon as I saw this post I yelped a little on the outside and screamed a lot on the inside. I’ve been a little obsessed with this series of salvaged tables from Festoration Blardware (wink, wink) and have spent some considerable time searching for cheaper versions that normal people might have a chance of affording. So for all of your readers who aren’t going to find a screaming good deal like you guys (congrats BTW,I’m very jealous) allow me to offer some alternatives. Here’s one match and I actually have another waiting in my draft folder that I’m going to post soon. You can also do a search and find the matching mini-me side table. Enjoy! http://rhlookalikes.blogspot.com/2013/09/restoration-hardware-pedestal-salvaged.html

    Reply

  21. Lori G says

    This table post thrills me! About 2 months ago I found a similar but darker wood large round table on a local facebook resale page for $100, after having been looking for about 6 months. Then 2 weeks later I found a perfect matching set of comfortable chairs on craigslist, even better cuz I need 5 and it was a marked down set of 6 with one slightly damaged chair! I was feeling all”young house love” proud of myself and then look…. ya’ll went and did the same thing! Woohoo!

    Reply

  22. Corina says

    I have the same table, but I don’t let my kids near it. Lol (maybe its because I got burned and paid full price.) I paired it with Orbit white arm chairs from cb2.

    Reply

  23. Jaz says

    Beautiful table! Love that it is reclaimed, too.

    I saw some comments/concerns on the durability of the surface for spills, etc… We made an island counter top out of reclaimed 2×6 Wyoming snowfence and just rubbed several coats of butcher block conditioner (it is food grade; the brand we have is Howard) on the planed pine surface. Works great! No stains or spots to speak of. We maybe recondition it two or three times a year (10 minutes).

    As always, thanks for sharing your great blog!

    Reply

  25. Karen says

    I love that you are waiting and searching for real wood pieces. My husband and I (married for 12 years) just bought our first “real” piece of furniture. It’s an antique secretary and I love it. The charm and craftmanship is just something you don’t seem to find in a lot of houses. I also think its great that you are planning for your great grandkids to be playing on it…that was our plan too, we are trying to fill our home with pieces our kids (and their kids) will treasure for years to come.

    Reply

  26. Hayley says

    Love the table and what a great find! I was lucky enough to find the Restoration Hardware Salvaged Wood Trestle Table ($4995 – $7995) on craigslist for $750. It had a bit of damage, but nothing to bad. So I offered $350 and got it!

    Reply

  27. georgia says

    so funny you should post this at this time… so timely. just last night as my small family of four {one of which is currently in my belly, myself, my husband and my toddler son} was eating dinner at our small kitchen table {same size as your old one}, one third of the top completely fell off and to the ground, sending glass items and our bose stereo and other items to the floor along with it… very loudly, i might add. and just as the table was severed in two, so were are fragile nerves from this very unexpected incident in the middle of a fun dinner. never in a million years did i think this table could be destructible. it comes from the sixties when my husband’s parents bought it for themselves and their two boys and has lasted more than a generation to reach the beginning of my son’s life. it served as a dining table, a coloring table {you should see the marks my husband and his brother put on that thing… not at all like your growing up experience}, a computer desk, and back to an eating surface again. it {was} a very sturdy butcher block round top with the heaviest iron pedestal legs i ever did see… and lift. i thought it would be around for my son’s grandchildren and beyond. well, my husband reached across the table to tickle or tease my son after we done eating… or something like that… leaning one hand on the table to support himself. then crash, bang, boom. it was the most shocking after meal i have ever experienced. we all just sat there stunned and then my son started crying because he thought he broke something. poor little guy. needless to say, i’m bummed about the table {although it can be repaired} but sort of glad in a way because i wanted a more mid-century modern table in there anyway, and now i have an excuse to hunt one down. =)

    if you ever see an mcm style table at your gem of an outlet there, give me a shout! and when you eventually replace your chairs, if you get rid of the old ones, let me know, too. those would look swank in my mcm kitchen!!

    love your new table. especially the no-two-are-the-same part.

    Reply

  29. Geralyn says

    YES! spirograph! i had forgotten about those. i had one and i LOVED it! and yay for a table that is spirograph compatible :)

    Reply

  30. Stacy M says

    Gorgeous table! It would look fab with metal tub chairs! Target has them for two for $99!
    My hubs is building us a rectangular table with a similar finish. We’re gonna have four tub chairs and two upholstered! So excited!

    Reply

  32. Stefanie says

    For some reason I can see your table paired with some deep navy chairs…not sure what style (maybe like your office chairs?). It would create great contrast should you keep up with your tastefully white kitchen trend. :)

    Reply

  33. Kim says

    Score! What a great find!!

    Now that my husband and I are settling into our new home, we are finding that we have a lack of furniture to fill the space (gaining about 1,000 sq ft in the move). Last week was a big Craigslist week for us. We, too, bought a dining table (sans chairs) as well as a dresser. I’m particularly excited about the dresser (which is currently in the garage, being man-handled by my husband) because we can finally move our clothes out of the linen closet… the only shelving we’ve had to store our clothes… and actually put linens in the linen closet!

    Reply

  34. Jessica says

    Congrats on the find! Looking at these shots of your kitchen, my husband and I are curious…what kind of floors are you planning/do you want to do in this kitchen?

    Reply

  35. Kelley says

    We purchased the RH super long (seats 8 without extensions, 12 with)table that matches yours about 3 years ago. Although we don’t have children, we entertain a ton and that table has been amazing. One night (shortly after purchase)my husband and I were having a wonderful dinner when I wanted to make a point by waving my arm and managed to knock over an entire bottle of red wine onto the table. Nice. With dollar signs screaming in my head I bolted from the table to grab a towel to try and mop up the mess …. which by the time I returned had already soaked into the non finished surface.

    I almost cried and then we promptly opened another bottle of wine to drown our sorrows after ruining the most expensive piece of furniture we’ve ever purchased. We finally made our peace with the experience and went to bed.

    Woke up the next morning to the red wine stain completely gone…GONE GONE GONE! I guess that table soaked it right in. We were so happy and screaming so loudly that I didn’t even notice my red wine headache.

    You will LOVE that table and it IS virtually indestructible. ENJOY!

    Reply

  36. Ariana says

    Is there any way to figure out if a similar designer outlet is in our area? Any google keywords you could suggest if there isn’t one handy dandy website list? We are just north of Annapolis, md.

    Reply

  37. Laurie says

    Thanks for the info on the kitchen table–BIG SCORE, eh?!! See it’s times like this I find Canada unable to live up to the bargains in the states. Having just moved into a new home, I feel a strong urge to come down to your area and pay you to help me find good deals!! I love the sound of the lights you are using for your kitchen. I am trying to decide on my own kitchen lights. I have lovely, but conventional builder lights and need to find ways to make this home feel different from everyone else’s! Keep up with your inspirational ideas!!

    Reply

  39. Amy says

    Now that you’ve had the table for a while, I’m wondering if you’ve had any need for a sealant on top? I just found a Restoration Hardware boulangerie table at the outlet yesterday and am wondering about wear and tear on the unfinished surface. Ours is the medium brown tone, so it has been stained but otherwise is unfinished. Does the safecoat seal you typically use leave a sheen? I’d love to keep the non-glossy look and current color, so I’m looking for something that won’t darken it anymore also. Any recommendations? Thanks!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We haven’t sealed ours because it seems to be waxed or something. In other words it looks really matte and unsealed but we have spilled everything from jam and grape juice to soy sauce on it and it just wipes right off. Safecoat comes in a satin or a semi-gloss finish, but it would look glossier (even in the satin finish) than the wood on our table looks now (it’s matte and almost chalky if that makes sense).

      xo
      s

  40. Kirsten D says

    My Husband made our dining table, modeled after a Pottery Barn Table. I love that we can beat on it and do whatever on it and it just adds to the character of it!!!

    Reply

  41. Autumn says

    Love your style and ingenuity! QQ: how did you find these outlets for such great finds? I’m in SE WI and I have no idea how I’d find the kind of places you find. Any suggestions??

    Also, do you do any type of seminars on how you blog for a living?

    Keep up the great work! I’ve been a lurker for about four years.

    Autumn in Wisconsin

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Autumn! We do speak at Haven or other events sometimes about how we blog for a living, but we’ve also done a ton of posts about it, so if you click the button on our sidebar near the top that says “blogging FAQs” you can see a ton of posts about how we grew, how we make money, etc. As for outlets, we just chat up neighbors and friends and google around to see what we find. We’ve been known to just stop in when we see something intriguing from the highway as well!

      xo
      s

  42. Myra Lolkema says

    This is such a late comment but hopefully you will see it. I literally just had this table delivered to my house yesterday. It is my first furniture purchase ever…YAY! However, I know that I need to put some type of wax on it. I like the finish look on yours and you said it was matte and chalky….do you think maybe it would be something similar to using the Briwax Liming wax? I am so nervous to put anything on this table….

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I would test out the Briwax Liming Wax on the base or side, just to test it! I hope it’s great and then you can do the whole thing and have some nice peace of mind!

      xo
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We didn’t but we think some must have already been applied since we have spilled everything from grape-juice to soy sauce and it beads up and can be wiped right off!

      xo
      s

  44. Helen says

    Hey guys! I’m looking for a table for my dining room right now and I *think* I may have found a steal on craigslist–it’s actually a display table from my local Urban Outfitters that they’re selling cheap. Fingers crossed! I was wondering what the dimensions of your eat-in area are. The table I’m looking at is 60″ across, but I’m worried it might be too big for my space.

    Reply

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