The reason I got started building furniture was out of necessity. I had a great new patio and wanted a farm table for it! Sounds simple enough to find online, right? Well sure, if you don’t mind spending an arm and a leg for one! And if its suitable for outdoors. So there began my research and design and experimenting…..
See the thing of it is, that anyone can build a GREAT table to gather around. It doesn’t need to have fancy legs, or a dazzling finish. But what happens when you put your heart into a project like this is magical! Meals don’t need to be fancy, but they take on a special meaning when people you care about are gathered around.
The first table I build was a pretty simple design. I found pictures online, and copied and modified the ideas to accommodate the size of the table I wanted. My table design started out at a standard 6 foot table, and evolved into a 9 footer with benches. I know that sounds huge, but it’s not! It’s Perfect! Even if there are only a few people eating, there’s plenty of room for lots of plates of food and nice cold beverages. The bigger the table, the better the meals are that are served at it.
Once I got the table done, and it was getting used all the time, it then became apparent that I needed more outdoor cooking space. So the outdoor island was built. It is a necessity! Having a sink where I can rinse my hands either after gardening or while cooking is a blessing. And the counter space is required when using one of my grills. (Yes, I have a lot of grills!)
So maybe you don’t have the space for all of this, but that’s not what’s important. What IS important is making a space where you can disconnect, relax, and enjoy those people around you. And whether you cook, order food in, or throw a burger on the grill, spend time with your friends and family, and your home will become a place where people will want to come. At my house, we do no cell phones. If someone is spending time looking at their phone, we make them put it down. Tables are meant for conversations, and sharing, not searching.
Also, Since I LOVE cooking, having a table where I can serve a bunch of food is requirement!
So, build it and they will come! Or at least, buy a table that makes you happy and makes you want to gather around it. The times spent together don’t need to be holidays, they can be the daily moments that become special memories.
Enjoy!