Dining Tables
We have been making dining tables for forty-seven years, for households of every size and character, from a single leaf for a city flat to an extending oval that seats twenty-four.
Our approach
The common thread is not style but approach: the table is designed around the room, the timber and the people who will sit at it. A dining table is the piece of furniture a family uses most and argues over longest. We take that seriously.
All our tables are made at Lime Tree Studio & Workshops in Hindon, Wiltshire, in solid British hardwoods selected specifically for the commission.
Proportion and scale
The wrong table in a good room is a permanent problem. Before any drawings are made, we want to understand the setting: the floor, the light, the other furniture, the household, and work outwards from there. We will normally visit to see the room before drawing anything.
Timber
Most of our tables are made in British hardwoods: oak, ash, elm, walnut, yew. The choice of timber affects not just colour but character: the way the light catches it, the way it ages, the weight of it. We will show you samples in your home and explain what each timber does over time.
How they age
A solid hardwood table is the only dining table that genuinely improves with age. Marks and patina become part of the piece. We design for this: the finishing process is chosen to let the timber breathe and develop rather than seal it under plastic.
Selected tables
Common questions
What size dining table do I need?
As a rule, allow 60cm of table width per diner and 75cm of depth on each side. But the right size depends on the room as much as the headcount, and we would rather visit the space than give you a formula.
Can the table extend?
Yes. We have made a number of extending tables, including oval and circular designs that extend symmetrically. If you need the flexibility, it can be designed in from the start: a well-made extending mechanism is invisible when the table is closed.
Which timber works best for a dining table?
There is no single answer. Oak and ash are forgiving and age beautifully. Walnut is richer and darker. Elm has a character that suits certain rooms. We will show you samples and discuss what makes sense for your setting and your household.
Will it mark?
Yes, solid timber marks. But it can also be repaired, sanded and re-oiled in a way that no veneered or lacquered table can be. We consider this a feature, not a limitation. A table that has been lived on tells a story.
How long does a dining table commission take?
Current lead times are 12–14 weeks from deposit, depending on the workshop schedule. More complex tables, such as those with extending mechanisms or unusual timbers, may require longer. We are always transparent about the schedule at the outset.
From the archive
Forty-seven years of dining tables, round, oval, rectangular, extending and fixed, in oak, walnut, elm, ash, yew and more.