A Guide to Our Amish Dining Tables
This guide answers several common questions about our tables. Our tables are made from solid wood. The standard table top is made from 1.5" thick hardwood. The top of the table is generally 30 inches from the floor. We can customize and add details to make your table unique for you.
Several new options available include distressing, using reclaimed barnwood, and have lengthwise (rather than the standard horizontal) plank. We have even made tables from lumber from trees or an old table provided by the customer.
To help you decide on a wood and a finish, individual wood samples and wood sample color collections are available for purchase.
Commonly Asked Questions
Select a link below to move down the page to that question's answer.
What styles of dining tables do you have?
How do I choose the right size and table for my family?
How do I store my table leaves when they're not in use?
I want a very solid, sturdy table. What do you recommend?
What kind of custom work do you do?
Delivery Dates and Completion Times
100% Quality Guarantee
Warranty Information
What styles of dining tables do you have?
Colonial, Eastern, Farmhouse, Harvest, Lancaster, Mission, Montrose, Pedestal, Railroad, Serenity, Shaker, Trestle, Turin, Western, and Zen. You can see small photos of these table styles in the image to the top-right.
All of our tables can expand with additional leaves to seat your extended family during the holidays. As a rule of thumb (which is generally, but not always accurate), leaves be added to double the size of the tabletop. In other words, an 80" x 42" table can expand to around 160" x 42" with the addition of 12" or 18" leaves.
What are my table top shape options?
What are my table edge options?
Table border option
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How do I choose the right size and table for my family?
Our dining tables are designed to be an heirloom that will become a part of your family. To make sure that they fit your needs both now and for generations to come, here are a few guidelines to help you make the right choice.
Mission: Mission tables have ample open space below the tabletop, the main limitation is the location of the two columns on either end (see measurements for several mission table sizes to the right). Mission tables smaller than around 50" x 42" will not self-store leaves, and will have limitations on seating on the ends when no leaves are added to the table.
Trestle: Trestle tables are very similar to mission tables in terms of available space in the undercarriage.
Pedestal: Pedestal table undercarriages are very non-intrusive. We recommend pedestal style tables if you anticipate any difficulty with legroom beneath the table. This is particularly true for square or rectangular tables under 50" long, and all sizes of round and oval tables.
Mixed Hardwood: This depends on the style of the table base used.
Oval and Round: Oval and round tables are generally created with a pedestal base, and have similar space and legroom characteristics. They can also be created with mission and trestle bases. Oval tables created with a mission or trestle base should be at least 48" X 42". Round tables created with a mission or trestle base should be at least 46" in diameter.
Lancaster: Lancaster tables are very open underneath the tabletop, but between the legs on either end is a low-hanging piece that covers the interior joinery and hardware. Lancaster tables smaller than 70" in length have difficulty seating anyone at the ends of the table until one or more leaves are added. Lancaster tables over 70" in length have no such limitation.
Harvest and Farmhouse: Harvest and farmhouse tables are very open underneath the tabletop and have ample legroom. Harvest and farmhouse tables ordered without leaves have four legs (for tables 80" or shorter) or six legs (for tables 81" or longer). Four-legged harvest and farmhouse tables ordered with leaves have a fifth leg in the center of the table to support the tabletop when leaves are added.
Western: Due to the curved legs, the western dining table style does not fit as many people as our other styles of dining table. Roughly speaking, a western table seats two less people than a mission or pedestal table of the same size.
Measuring Your Room for a Great Table Fit
When determining the size of table you need, it is helpful to measure out the room each person at the table will need. Each place-setting usually requires 22 inches wide by 14 inches deep to be generous. Sometimes, you can squeeze that to a tight 18 inches wide by 12 inches deep (which is a typical placemat, and the width of a typical chair).
You will also want to allow 30 inches of clearance around the table for chairs, with a minimum of 24 inches. This is what is necessary to be able to get in and out easily.
Dining Room Table Types and Shapes
When we refer to 'square and rectangular tables', we mean tables of all designs (mission, trestle, harvest, etc) that do not fit into any of the other categories. This includes most of our tables.
Square and Rectangular Tables: See below for detailed seating charts.
Tables With Large Cut or Rounded Corners: These cut down a bit on available seating space, but this difference is not very significant.
Oval Tables: Oval tables are similar to rectangular tables, as the slightly smaller tabletop is moderated by rounded corners (which provide more space for seating).
Western Tables: Roughly speaking, a western table seats two less people than a mission or pedestal table of the same size.
Round Tables: A 36" round table seats 4 people, a 48" round table seats 6 to 8, a 60" round table seats 8 to 10, and a 72" round table seats 10-12.
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Adding Leaves
12" or 18" tables leaves can be added to all of our tables. When adding leaves, keep in mind that most chairs are 18" wide and a comfortable amount of space per person is 22".
Please read down farther on this page for information on how to store the table leaves when not in use.
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Table Seating Chart with 12" Leaves - Square and Rectangular Tables
- The smaller number in the range in each column is for a gracious-sized setting (14"x22") .
- The larger number in the range in each column is is for a tight setting (12"x18").
- "n/a" means that this number of leaves is not recommended for this table
Number of People You Can Seat (gracious space to tight fit)
|
Number of 12 inch Leaves
|
Table Size
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
36x36
|
2 - 4
|
2 - 6
|
4 - 8
|
6 - 8
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
48x48
|
4 - 6
|
6 - 8
|
8 - 8
|
8 - 10
|
10 - 12
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
50x42
|
4 - 6
|
6 - 6
|
6 - 8
|
8 - 10
|
8 - 10
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
58x58
|
6 - 8
|
6 - 10
|
8 - 12
|
10 - 12
|
10 - 14
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
60x42
|
4 - 8
|
6 - 8
|
6 - 10
|
8 - 12
|
8 - 12
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
68x68
|
8 - 10
|
10 - 12
|
10 - 12
|
12 - 14
|
14 - 16
|
14 - 16
|
n/a
|
70x46
|
6 - 8
|
8 - 8
|
8 - 10
|
10 - 12
|
12 - 12
|
12 - 14
|
14 - 16
|
80x46
|
6 - 10
|
8 - 10
|
8 - 12
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
90x46
|
8 - 12
|
10 - 12
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
16 - 20
|
100x46
|
8 - 12
|
10 - 12
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
16 - 20
|
110x46
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
16 - 18
|
16 - 20
|
18 - 22
|
120x46
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
16 - 18
|
16 - 20
|
18 - 22
|
Table Seating Chart with 18" Leaves - Square and Rectangular Tables
- The smaller number in the range in each column is for a gracious-sized setting (14"x22") .
- The larger number in the range in each column is is for a tight setting (12"x18").
- "n/a" means that this number of leaves is not recommended for this table.
Number of People You Can Seat (gracious space to tight fit)
|
Number of 18 inch Leaves
|
Table Size
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
36x36
|
2 - 4
|
4 - 6
|
6 - 8
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
48x48
|
4 - 6
|
6 - 8
|
8 - 10
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
50x42
|
4 - 6
|
6 - 8
|
8 - 10
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
58x58
|
6 - 8
|
8 - 10
|
10 - 12
|
10 - 14
|
n/a
|
60x42
|
4 - 8
|
6 - 10
|
8 - 12
|
10 - 14
|
n/a
|
68x68
|
8 - 10
|
10 - 12
|
12 - 14
|
14 - 16
|
16 - 18
|
70x46
|
6 - 8
|
8 - 10
|
10 - 12
|
12 - 14
|
14 - 16
|
80x46
|
6 - 10
|
8 - 12
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
90x46
|
8 - 12
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
16 - 20
|
100x46
|
8 - 12
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
16 - 20
|
110x46
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
16 - 20
|
18 - 22
|
120x46
|
10 - 14
|
12 - 16
|
14 - 18
|
16 - 20
|
18 - 22
|
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How do I store my table leaves when they're not in use?
Table leaves can be stored inside many of our tables when they are not in use. This self-storage ability is available on the following tables:
Rectangular tables 42" wide or larger, between 50" to 80" long, created from our standard 1.5" thick hardwood: All designs can self-store two 12" leaves. Trestle, Pedestal, Colonial, Farmhouse, Shaker and Harvest tables can self-store one 18" leaf.
Rectangular tables 42" wide or larger, between 81" to 107" long: Cannot self-store any leaves.
Rectangular tables 42" wide or larger, between 108" to 120" long: Can self-store two 12" leaves. Trestle, Pedestal, Farmhouse, Shaker and Harvest tables can store one 18" leaf.
Square tables 42" or larger in width and depth: A square table without any leaves added is not capable of leaf self-storage, as the leaves are the same size as the table.
Oval Tables: Cannot self-store any leaves.
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Leaf Storage in a Sideboard
Our sideboards are designed to store table leaves. They can be created to any size, but need to be a bit larger than the leaves they are designed to store. It is best to decide on the size and number of leaves you need for your table, and then decide on the size of the sideboard that will store these leaves.
A sideboard will safely store away the table leaves when your family is not using them. Simply open the cabinet door and the leaves are slide off the pegs they rest on, ready to expand your table to seat the whole extended family.
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I want a very solid, sturdy table. What do you recommend?
Harmony Cedar tables are individually handcrafted by Amish craftsmen with decades of experience. Creating a beautiful, durable tabletop requires this level of expertise. Our tables are created from solid hardwood, the tabletops are created from 1.5" thick hardwood. We use high quality hardware in our mission tables. The interior leaf mechanism (click here for a photo) is created from solid hard maple, and the metal gears are mechanized to ensure stability. This assures a very strong, sturdy table base.
Our tables are designed to be very strong and solid, but we also offer several ways to make them even more durable:
Thicker Tabletops: We can also create your table from even thicker hardwood stock, using 2" thick hardwood instead of 1.5" thick wood.
Janka Rating: Our wood sample section includes details on the relative hardness of all of our hardwoods. For an exceptionally solid tabletop, Maple and Hickory are excelent choices.
Wood Finish: Our standard finish is rated to protect against common houehold spills and abrasions.
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What kind of custom work do you do?
We can accommodate most custom requests that do not change the overall character of the design, or compromise its strength and integrity. For example -- we can remove slats from a mission table for aesthetic purposes, or make the table more narrow to fit into your . But we cannot remove a structural element, nor can we make a table so narrow that it becomes unstable.
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