First things first: we’ve renamed our new dining table. The huge 70″ table finally arrived, and after some debate we realized it wasn’t right to call it Woody — it’s a she. With those elegant curves and graceful lines, a feminine name made more sense, so we chose Stella. She feels like a stellar addition to the future dining room and balances out our household of named furniture (we already have Ed the bed and Karl the sectional).
Update: several people asked about the paint swatches in the background — they’re from an older project. If you’re curious, that post covers the details.
The tabletop is hand-carved with a varied texture that’s perfect for everyday life. It’s made from durable, sustainable sheesham wood, so it hides dings and dents from kids and clumsy adults alike without feeling rough or impractical. The carving reads as gentle waves rather than deep crevices, so you can balance a glass or brush away crumbs without worrying.
We also like the base design — it’s less intrusive than a table with many legs or a leggy pedestal. That means when we surround it with eight apple-green upholstered chairs, no one will be awkwardly straddling a tabletop leg during dinner. It’s a much more comfortable and welcoming setup.
Stella brings a relaxed, inviting vibe to the space. We centered her in front of the large picture window, leaving room on the far side to form a defined entryway so it won’t feel like you walk straight into the dining area. Once we widen the opening between the kitchen and dining room to about six feet and align it with the picture window, then hang a chandelier or pendant above the table, the room will feel balanced and intentional.
Her round silhouette is casual yet classic, and the rich wood tone gives a slightly luxurious feel. We intentionally chose a wood-toned table over a painted finish because we wanted something that will age beautifully. Wipeable chairs, colorful art, and curtains can add personality over time while the table stands up to everyday use. I keep picturing apple-green parsons chairs — leather or faux leather — paired with Stella; the contrast of upholstered seating against the warm wood will make the room feel cozy and a little library-like. I’ve mentioned those chairs a few times because I truly think they’ll complete the look once the budget allows.
We’re aiming for a multifunctional dining area: a place for family meals, crafts, homework, and general life. The large round surface will be perfect for projects and gatherings alike, which is exactly the vision I keep coming back to.
For now, Stella is parked in the center of our future dining room waiting for the rest of the pieces to fall into place. We still need to decide where the slipper chairs from the living room will go and when we’ll finally list the white slipcovered sofa for sale. When that happens we’ll share the details for anyone local who’s interested. In the meantime, here’s the current state of the room:
Feel free to suggest a caption for this awkward setup — mine was: “Gary was such a couch potato that he preferred to eat his potatoes on the couch.” I’m clearly better at decorating than captioning, so yours will probably be much funnier.
We’ll shuffle furniture around until the room feels right, and when it does, Stella will be the star. She’s solid, heavy, and confident — that chunky wood tabletop took two strong movers about half an hour to position — so she can definitely hold her own. In short: we love her, and she’s ready to take center stage.
P.S. We’ve started babyproofing and have been sharing the process elsewhere. If you have tips, especially about outlet covers and other simple solutions, we’d love to hear them — we’re complete novices and could use the help.