"Buffalo Mountain Lodge" - Alder Trestle Dining Table

In a private residence nestled in the woods overlooking Dillon Reservoir, a local designer was given the challenge of finding, or creating a sturdy, formal dining table for a somewhat long and narrow living/dining room in a private residence. The owners, local entrepreneurs, love to entertain within a more formalized setting. Their décor is Colorado lodge style, and they wanted a table that was simple in design, yet elegant in concept and sturdy in construction. We came up with this take off of the Amish/Shaker style table that suited and fulfilled their needs (and space) perfectly. At 72" long X 50" wide X 30" high it can comfortably seat ten and with a little squeezing among friends, it might seat twelve. We suggested creating matched bench seating for the long sides to maximize seating capacity. However, the designer and owner found a matching set of 12 rush seat, Hitchcock style chairs that fit the table and their no nonsense décor perfectly. The table pedestals are constructed in the traditional manner using full mortise and tenon joinery with a full through mortise in each to accept the heavy shouldered trestle with a long, tusked and keyed tenon to hold up the massive 2" thick top. The pedestals are attached to the top with modern threaded inserts and heavy duty KD (knock down) hardware screws so that the table can be easily disassembled for transport. It has medium distressing and is finished with low VOC stain, glaze and moisture/alcohol resistant lacquer for easy clean up and maintenance. When set in place with the Hitchcock style chairs, it is reminiscent of a New England farmhouse dining vignette. I suspect many happy and hearty meals have been shared with friends around this one of a kind table.